Rivers State House of Assembly reconvened yesterday with a vow to probe the budget and expenditures of the former sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibik-Ete Ibas (Rtd).
The legislature reconvened after the expiration of the six-month emergency rule that President Bola Tinubu had imposed on the legislative and the executive branches of government following political conflict between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his estranged political mentor, Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The legislators said the resolution is important because the 10th Assembly did not contribute to the budget prepared by the National Assembly.
They also resolved to outline the legislative agenda for the remaining two years, promising to work with Governor Fubara and abide by the outcome of the peace parley brokered by President Tinubu.
The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, said this in the resolution taken after a voice vote by about 26 members, excluding Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol, who was absent.
They also resolved to call on the governor to develop an Appropriation Law for the remainder of the year to address current realities.
Other resolutions include commending Tinubu for restoring democratic institutions in Rivers State and demanding that Fubara forward the names of commissioner-nominees for the State Executive Council.
“We never saw the budget by the National Assembly, but we only read it in the newspapers. We don’t know what is contained. No member of the House is against the motions, but there is a need to ascertain what came into Rivers State and the expenditure by the administrator”, the Speaker said.
The motion to set the legislative agenda for the remaining part of the third session of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly was sponsored by nine House members but read by the House leader, Hon Major Jack.
Part of the motion reads, “Pursuant to the foregoing, we wish to pray this august House to: commend the president and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for restoring democratic institutions in the state; declare that the House would continue to abide by all the terms of the peace parley and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the interest of peace and good governance of Rivers State.
“Ascertain what transpired in the last six months regarding awards, contracts, and expenditures from the state’s consolidated revenue fund.”
The Speaker commended the motion’s sponsors, saying the emergency rule thwarted the House’s legislative business.
He said, “But we thank God that we’re back.
“There’s a need to abide by the terms of the peace parley. I listened to you all, and no member is against the prayers, especially on commendation for the president, forwarding commissioner-nominees by the governor, reviewing what transpired in the last six months, and reviewing what happened to the budget.
“If the State needs to move forward, the issue of the budget and others should be taken into consideration,” Amaewhule said.
We Delivered Milestones of Progress in Rivers – Ibas
Outgoing Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has stated that his six-month administration delivered “milestones of progress,” including the conduct of local government elections, the reconstitution of statutory boards, and the passage of the state budget by the National Assembly.
Ibas disclosed this in a state-wide broadcast marking the end of emergency rule in the state and declared that law and order had been restored.
He noted that governance was “a living process” that required vigilance, sacrifice, and dialogue, warning that “the exercise of power without restraint can cripple institutions, and rivalry without dialogue clearly endangers democracy.”
“One of the enduring lessons of this season is that the exercise of power without restraint can cripple institutions, and rivalry without dialogue clearly endangers democracy.
“Let this chapter, therefore, stand as a permanent reminder that the health of our polity depends not on who wins or loses, but on how political actors manage their differences, on the strength of the institutions we preserve, and the unity we nurture,” he said.
Ibas expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for entrusting him with the assignment, praised security operatives for maintaining peace, and commended the resilience of the people of Rivers State.
He said: “Now, as I hand back the reins of leadership to His Excellency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, I do so with confidence and respect. I call on all Rivers people to support him wholeheartedly, because leadership and followership are shared responsibilities.
“No matter how competent and clear your vision may be, it can only come to fruition and thrive with the active support of citizens. For me, this marks the closing of another chapter in a life devoted to service – at sea, in diplomacy, and now in governance.
“My dear people, may this state never be brought to the brink of collapse again. May we always choose unity over division, dialogue over discord, and progress over paralysis. The Garden City must never lose its fragrance.”
I Won’t Call For Probe Of Sole Administrator -Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has said he will not call for a probe into the tenure of the state’s sole administrator, despite mounting pressure from some quarters.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today yesterday, Wike said his decision is guided by the need for peace and stability in Rivers. He noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention prevented the state from collapsing.
“I don’t want to take the role of people. If indeed there is something that the governor wants to look into, that is fine. But I won’t sit here and say I want him probed. For me, what matters now is peace in Rivers State.”
Wike acknowledged Tinubu’s decisive action in lifting the controversial emergency rule in the state.
“I must commend Mr President for lifting the emergency rule in Rivers. But for his intervention, it would have been a different outcome entirely. So many people became constitutional experts because of this so-called emergency rule, but today peace has returned. The President deserves credit for that.”
He also disclosed that the peace accord involved meetings between the presidency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, members of the State Assembly, and other stakeholders.
“We spoke, the governor and I. What matters is that we talked, and by the grace of God, peace has come,” Wike said.
When pressed on whether he had forgiven his successor, Wike responded
“Have I forgiven Fubara? Yes. I don’t play games. If I say everything is over, it is over. We have moved past the quarrels; it is time to focus on governance,” he declared.
When asked if he would support Fubara for a second term, Wike refused to commit. “We don’t talk like that now. That’s what fuels the crisis. We still have two years before 2027. Let us work first. When the time comes, we will decide,” he stated. Leadership