In what looks like a face-saving tactics, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara appears to be dallying the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment to gather more support from the public.
The Supreme Court on Friday ordered Fubara to present the budget to the Assembly, stating he has been spending public fund illegally.
Forty-eight hours after the Supreme Court handed down two judgments that threaten the soul of the Rivers State government, the governor Sunday announced his intention to fully obey the orders.
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In what looks like a twist of the Rivers State politics, Fubara told Rivers residents that he expected to get the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment by Friday to enable him to take the necessary action.
He had ordered the 23 local government chairmen, whose election was voided by the judgment, to quit Monday after handing over to heads of personnel.
However, the delay may hit a rock as Rivers Assembly has given Governor Fubara 48 hours to present the 2025 budget.
The Assembly gave the deadline when it reconvened for plenary on Monday.
The Supreme Court on Friday gave two judgments – one by Justice Akomaye Agim, which recognises the Martins Amaewhule-led 26 members of the state House of Assembly, and the second by Justice Jamilu Tukur, which declared as invalid the election conducted on October 5, 2024, that led to the emergence of 23 chairmen and 319 councillors.
The apex court further invalidated the state budget and ordered the Central Bank and the Accountant-General of the Federation to stop releasing funds to the state government pending when Fubara would re-present the budget to the authentic House of Assembly led by Speaker Amaewhule.
In a state broadcast, Governor Fubara said: “I have had a meeting with my team of lawyers and they have assured me that the certified true copy of the judgments may be available to them by Friday 7th March 2025
“I assure you that upon the receipt of certified judgments, we shall study their ramifications and implement them without reservations to move the state forward.
“Furthermore, given the outlawing of caretaker arrangements in the local government system, I hereby direct the heads of personnel management to immediately take over the administration of the 23 local government councils pending the conduct of fresh elections by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
“I further direct the outgoing local government chairmen to formally hand over the levers of power to the heads of personnel management by Monday, 3rd March 2025.”
Fubara said since its inception, his administration conducted the affairs of government within the framework of the constitution, due process and the rule of law.
The governor noted with regret the trying times the state had been plunged but urged everyone to remain calm and peacefully go about their legitimate daily activities and be sure that his administration would continue to do everything in meeting their aspirations.
Fubara said: “We are all aware of the recent Supreme Court judgments and pronouncements regarding aspects of the lingering political disputes in our dear state.
“Although we disagree with the judgments, we are bound to obey the orders made therein as a law-abiding government.
“Since inception, we have conducted the affairs of government within the framework of our Constitution, due process and the rule of law.
“While we are not above mistakes because we are humans, we believe that we have not, as a government, done anything deliberately to trample on the rule of law or the hallowed principles of constitutional governance.”
