By Joy Ude
Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers,on Wednesday said that his administration would not represent the 2024 budget as demanded by the factional state Assembly lawmakers led by the Martin’s Amaewhule.
Fubara said this when he received the Ogbakor Etche, the apex socio-cultural organisation of Etche Ethnic Nationality Worldwide on solidarity visit at Government House in Port Harcourt.
Fubara said that his administration had started the process of preparing the 2025 budget instead of helping the defected lawmakers to nullify their vacant seat that was declared by the court on Dec. 13, 2023.
Fubara insisted that the legislative seats of Martin Amaewhule and others that was declared vacant by court remain so.
Fubara said that the lawmakers desired their seats to be vacant when they defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the platform on which they won their election, to the All Progressives Congress (APC),voluntarily.
Fubara sated: “But, they thought they are smart. What is holding them is the declaration of their seats vacant that was done on December 13, 2023. That is what is holding them. We are not doing any budget to nullify that decision. It is what will send them to their villages.
The Governor stated that the factional lawmakers recent demand of representation of budget was distraction, urging the 25 factional lawmakers to acknowledge the fact that the ship of governance is sailing smoothly in the state.
Fubara the details of the 2025 Appropriation Bill, would place priority on education, healthcare and agriculture.
“Our children need to go to quality schools. Even if they can’t go to private schools, let them go to the public ones that have standard. We need to go to good health facilities owned by government and get standard healthcare services.
“And when we get to the issue of agriculture, it will address the issue of unemployment. When we start engaging our youths, they wouldn’t have time to be involved in crime. So, our thinking is to secure and protect our state,” he said.
Fubara while responding to the requests of the people, said his administration would continue to collaborate with the Nigeria Police in finding lasting solutions to the hydra-headed issue of herdsmen attacks on farmlands and farmers in the area.
The Governor advised them to continue to provide vital information of strange people and their operations to the relevant authorities.
The Governor also promised to address the issue of illegal dredging activities in the area, and undertake reconstruction work on priority areas, including roads, schools and health facilities.
Fubara also announced the donation of N50million to Ogbakor Etche Worldwide for the smooth running of the organisation.
In a speech, Eze Emmanuel Opurum, the paramount ruler of Etche, said Etche and Omuma people would continue to give full support to Gov. Fubara and ensure that his administration succeeds.
Opurum,said that the political crisis in Rivers state is an ill wind that will do no good to anybody.
He called on the 36 states governors to meet and collectively find a lasting solution to the crisis,suggesting that the Governors should communicate their solutions to President Bola Tinubu for approval.
Earlier, the President General of Ogbakor Etche Worldwide, Mr Charles Nwonuala, said the Etche people shared in the travails, joy and the many victories of Gov. Fubara, and came to pledge their unalloyed support, confidence and faith in him and his administration.
Nwonuala also presented a list of roads, schools and other developmental needs plaguing the Ogbakor Etche people.