Pro-Wike former Rivers Assembly lawmakers lack powers to stop govt expenditures–Group
Joseph Irikefe
A civic group, the National Vanguard for Rule of Law, has described an attempt by former Rivers State House of Assembly lawmakers to shut down the state government expenditure as “illegal, null and void”.
It had earlier been reported that Martin Amaewhule, the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to former governor, Nyesom Wike, declared a complete shutdown of the Rivers State government expenditures.
Following a seven-day ultimatum issued to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Speaker had mandated a complete cessation of all state expenditures until the 2024 budget was presented before the House led by him.
The Assembly led by Amaewhule had decided that Governor Fubara could not approve or authorise expenditures from the state’s consolidated revenue fund, nor could ministries spend public funds until the presentation of the 2024 budget.
However, the National Vanguard for Rule of Law in a statement signed by Comrade Johnson Babatunde, on Monday said Amaewhule and 24 others had their seats declared vacant on December 13, 2023, after they dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We read a report in the media, credited to former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by the former Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, wherein the former lawmakers passed a resolution shutting down all expenditures of the state government, pending when His Excellency Governor Siminalayi Fubara re-presents the 2024 budget estimates of the State before them,” the statement said.
“We view the action of the former lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike as illegal, null and void.
“For the records, Governor Fubara had in December, 2023, signed the budget of N800billion into law after presenting it before lawmakers led by the former speaker, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, who passed it into law.
“We use this opportunity to remind Amaewhule and 24 others those there seats were declared vacant on December 13, 2023, after they dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“They remain former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and not current members. How then do they expect Governor Fubara to present the 2024 budget of Rivers State before them?
“We use this opportunity to remind the courts that Amaewhule and his group are no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, therefore, any attempt to secure an injunction to deny Governor Fubara access to the consolidated revenue fund of the state, or deny ministries, departments and agencies in Rivers State access to their accounts to implement the 2024 budget be denied or thrown out of the by courts.
“The banks too must be aware of the current status of the former lawmakers and not deal with them as current members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“We have observed that the enemies of Rivers State have decided to target the Rivers State Government budget and accounts in their bid to scuttle the strides recorded by Governor Fubara in the course of implementing the 2024 budget.
“Recall that, immediately after signing the 2024 budget into law, Governor Fubara flagged off the Trans-Kalabari road project phase 2 as well as the Elele-Omoku Road project that cuts through Ikwerre, Emohua and Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Areas of the state and many other laudable projects.
“These achievements have unsettled the pro-Wike camp and they have decided to attacks the finances of the state to slow down the provision of dividends of democracy to Rivers people.
“We call on the good people of Rivers State and Nigerians to ensure the former Rivers lawmakers don’t succeed in their evil against Rivers State.”