Fubara to Submit 2025 Budget to Oko-Jumbo Led House of Assembly Amidst Ongoing Crisis
Port Harcourt, Rivers State – Governor Sim Fubara has announced plans to submit the 2025 budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, despite the ongoing leadership crisis rocking the legislature.
The crisis began when the Court of Appeal nullified the N800 billion 2024 Appropriation Bill presented by Fubara to a parallel House led by Edison Ehie. The pro-Wike faction, led by Martin Amaewhule, subsequently declared the seats of four pro-Fubara lawmakers, including Oko-Jumbo, vacant due to absenteeism.
Background
The leadership crisis has been ongoing since December 2023, with two factions vying for control of the Assembly. The factions are:
1. Pro-Fubara faction led by Victor Oko-Jumbo
2. Pro-Wike faction led by Martin Amaewhule
Reasons for Budget Submission
Fubara’s decision to submit the budget to the Oko-Jumbo-led House is based on:
1. Constitutional Mandate: The governor is constitutionally required to present the budget to the Assembly.
2. Economic Imperative: The 2025 budget is crucial for the state’s economic development and infrastructure projects.
Reactions from Stakeholders
“We’re ready to receive the budget,” said Victor Oko-Jumbo, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. “We’ll ensure its swift passage.”
“The governor’s decision is unconstitutional,” countered Martin Amaewhule, leader of the pro-Wike faction. “We won’t recognize Oko-Jumbo’s leadership.”
Implications
The budget submission has significant implications for Rivers State:
1. Economic Development: The 2025 budget will shape the state’s economic trajectory.
2. Governance: The crisis may impact governance and policy implementation.
3. Constitutional Implications: The ongoing crisis raises questions about defection and its effects on lawmakers’ seats.
Expert Analysis
“The governor’s decision is a strategic move to assert his authority,” said Dr. Sofiri Joab-Peters, a political analyst. “However, the crisis requires a political solution, not just a legal one.”
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has declared his intention to submit the 2025 budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo. This statement comes in the context of ongoing political dynamics within the state, particularly following a ruling by the Court of Appeal in Abuja which affected the composition of the state assembly.
Here’s a brief overview:
- Political Context: There’s been a significant shuffle in the Rivers State House of Assembly, where a group of 27 lawmakers previously loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had their seats declared vacant. This led to legal battles which eventually saw the Court of Appeal reinstate these lawmakers, though this decision has been contested further.
- Current Assembly Leadership: Despite these political upheavals, the current speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly remains Rt. Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, indicating that Governor Fubara’s decision to present the budget to this assembly implies recognition of this leadership.
- Governor Fubara’s Position: His commitment to presenting the 2025 budget to the Oko Jumbo-led assembly signifies his stance on the ongoing political disputes, choosing to work with the assembly faction that has not faced legal challenges to their legitimacy in the immediate context.
This move by Governor Fubara could be seen as an attempt to stabilize governance processes amidst political turbulence, focusing on administrative continuity and legislative functions like budget approval, which are crucial for the state’s operation and development planning for the upcoming year.
