Martins Amaewhule, speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, of running the state in a manner he said endangers democratic governance, alleging that public funds are being spent without legislative authorisation.
Amaewhule spoke on Thursday, January 8, shortly after the Assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy over “gross misconduct”.
He said the budget standoff between the executive and legislature has created the conditions for what he described as unlawful spending, insisting the governor has “deliberately refusing” to present the state budget as required by law.
“Nothing is holding the government from presenting the budget; he chose not to,” Amaewhule said.
Amaewhule also alleged that the governor has been dismissive of the legislature’s constitutional role, claiming Fubara boasts about seeking presidential intervention to direct lawmakers.
“And the governor has been boasting that he will always go and meet the president, for the president to call us and give us instructions.
“He has been telling his followers that this assembly, we are nothing but a toothless bulldog, that this 10th House of Assembly cannot do anything and cannot enforce the constitution.”
On the specific allegation of spending without approval, Amaewhule said the executive has continued to move around and disburse public funds without clearance from the House, linking the dispute to previous impeachment attempts.
“And they are moving about from place to place, spending taxpayers’ money without approval,” the speaker said.
“Part of what led to the first impeachment effort and second impeachment effort has to do with refusal to present budgets.”
Amaewhule described the situation as a direct threat to the state’s democratic system, naming both the governor and his deputy.
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“This is a sad commentary for our democracy. Sir Siminalayi Fubara and Professor Ngozi Odu, they are nothing but a threat to our democracy,” Amaewhule said.
“If they are allowed to remain in office, I don’t know what will become of our democracy.”
He said attempts to resolve the crisis through interventions by President Bola Tinubu and former Rivers governor Nyesom Wike had not produced a breakthrough.
“Mr President has called several meetings, and our leader, His Excellency Chief Nyesom Wike, has called several meetings,” Amaewhule said.
“He (Fubara) said he will not present the budget, that he is above the constitution, and nothing will happen to him if he does not present it.”
Amaewhule further alleged that even when spending approvals existed in 2023, the governor moved away from the appropriation framework.
“Even when we had approval in 2023 for the governor to spend, the governor left the 2023 appropriation law and started awarding contracts to spend,” he said.
The speaker said Rivers State had not witnessed a governance breakdown of this scale, delivering a harsh verdict on the governor’s leadership.
“Rivers State has never had it this bad in the entire Nigeria. Siminalayi Fubara is a mistake; he is a mistake,” Amaewhule said.
He added that the continued absence of a 2026 appropriation law is extraordinary.
“It is unbelievable that in the 21st century, a state like Rivers has neither presented nor passed an appropriation bill for 2026,” he said, adding that nothing constitutionally prevents the governor from presenting the budget.