The absence of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Amaewhule, at the commissioning of projects by Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, has raised fresh questions about the reported reconciliation between the governor and the state legislature.
Governor Fubara on Wednesday commissioned the Entrepreneurship Centre and Faculty of Engineering buildings at the institution, but Amaewhule was not present at the event.
Although there is no law requiring the Speaker to attend the commissioning of government projects, the presence of elected public officials at such events has often been regarded as a show of support, particularly when projects are located within their constituencies or areas of political influence.
The development comes amid lingering attention on the relationship between Governor Fubara and the Assembly led by Amaewhule, following months of political disagreements that contributed to the crisis in the state.
The governor recently presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the state Assembly, but the budget is yet to be passed, fuelling speculation over whether differences between the executive and legislative arms are responsible for the delay.
Fubara, however, has maintained that there is no disagreement between his administration and the lawmakers, urging the public not to read political meanings into the situation.
The governor and the Amaewhule-led Assembly had been at the centre of a prolonged political dispute linked to the wider Rivers State crisis, and eventually contributed to the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
The situation has since eased, with both sides publicly indicating that they have resolved their differences.
Against this backdrop, Amaewhule’s absence at Wednesday’s commissioning has attracted attention, with political observers likely to watch for further signs of whether the reported reconciliation between the governor and the Assembly has translated into sustained cooperation.
