Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, has described Governor Siminalayi Fubara as a liar and someone “looking for trouble,” accusing him of repeatedly misleading the public and refusing to follow due process in the management of state funds.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, in reaction to comments by Gov. Sim Fubara that he was ready to work with the lawmakers, Amaewhule said the governor had failed to present the 2025 budget to the Assembly despite several meetings held to resolve the issue. He stated that the governor was still spending public funds without legislative approval.
According to him, lawmakers met with the governor in September and urged him to submit a breakdown of the budget for the remaining part of 2025. “The governor told us blatantly that he will not do it,” the Speaker said, adding that the Assembly had kept quiet for months in hopes that he would “do the right thing.”
Amaewhule alleged that Governor Fubara has been awarding contracts without approval, claiming that some of the beneficiaries were individuals allegedly involved in the burning of the Assembly complex. “They are even celebrating it on social media, mocking us,” he said.
He also faulted the governor’s claim that no reconciliation meetings had been held, insisting that the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, convened multiple sessions attended by all 27 lawmakers and the governor himself. He listed meetings in Abuja and Port Harcourt, including one at the residence of Chief Alamieyeseigha.
“How many meetings have I mentioned? How many meetings does he want the FCT Minister to call?” Amaewhule asked.
The Speaker said the Assembly initially chose to remain silent following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention, hoping to maintain peace. However, he said the governor’s “outburst” forced them to address the matter publicly.
Amaewhule further revealed that preliminary findings from the Assembly’s review of the emergency rule showed that the outgoing administrator left over ₦600 billion in government accounts, adding that lawmakers would continue probing expenditures during the period.
The Rivers State Government has not yet responded to the Speaker’s allegations.
