The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has taken aim at Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, accusing him of neglecting governance duties while focusing on his political future.
Wike made the remarks during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, where he expressed concern over what he described as misplaced priorities in the state leadership.
According to him, the governor has yet to present the state’s budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly, even while allegedly concentrating on securing a second term.
“The governor is yet to submit his budget to the House of Assembly, but he is busy pursuing his second-term ambition,” Wike said.
He warned that the continued delay in presenting the appropriation bill could disrupt government operations and affect service delivery to residents of the state.
Wike further referenced earlier political tensions in the state, recalling President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the impeachment threat against Fubara.
“President Tinubu intervened in the impeachment proceedings of Fubara and said to withdraw, and the governor said, I’m ready for peace. I’m no longer interested in contesting for governor.
I will not do it. Now, having withdrawn the impeachment, you’re playing smart on what you agreed before the president,” he added.
The political crisis stems from an ongoing power struggle between both men, which has split the Rivers State House of Assembly into rival camps.
In December 2024, Fubara presented a N1.1 trillion 2025 budget proposal to lawmakers aligned with him under the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led faction.
However, on February 28, the Supreme Court upheld a Federal High Court ruling restricting the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Accountant-General of the Federation from releasing statutory allocations to Rivers State.
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The court also ordered that funds be withheld until the governor submits the budget to the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Assembly, which is aligned with Wike.
Following reconciliation efforts led by President Bola Tinubu and the court ruling, Fubara wrote to the Amaewhule-led lawmakers seeking a new date for budget presentation.
In a letter dated March 13 and personally signed by the governor, he proposed a March date for the exercise.
However, when he arrived at the Assembly quarters in Port Harcourt alongside some commissioners, access was reportedly denied despite prior communication.
Fubara maintained that his actions were in line with the Supreme Court’s directive requiring him to present the budget before the recognised Assembly leadership.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State House of Assembly, in a statement on Sunday, accused the governor of failing to fully comply with the Supreme Court judgment and demanded a fresh presentation of the 2025 budget.
The lawmakers, loyal to Wike, also claimed they had not received any official correspondence from the governor regarding the budget presentation, contrary to his position.