Wike Knocks Rivers Gov. Fubara Over Budget Delays as Political Feud Simmers

Wike accused the governor of focusing on his second-term ambition while failing to submit the state’s budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, monitored by Persecondnews on the national television network, the minister said the delay in presenting the appropriation bill could affect governance and service delivery in the state.

“The governor is yet to submit his budget to the House of Assembly, but he is busy pursuing his second-term ambition,” Wike said sneeringly.

Persecondnews recalls that the ongoing friction between the two political figures stems from a protracted rift that has effectively split the Rivers State House of Assembly into two competing camps.

This administrative divide was starkly highlighted in December 2024, when Governor Fubara presented a N1.1 trillion 2025 budget to the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led faction, a group that remains aligned with the Governor’s administration.

However, on February 28, the Supreme Court affirmed a Federal High Court judgment restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Accountant-General of the Federation from releasing statutory allocations to Rivers State until the budget is properly presented to the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Assembly, aligned with Wike.

Following the ruling and reconciliation efforts led by President Bola Tinubu, Fubara wrote to the Amaewhule-led Assembly requesting a new date for the budget presentation.

In a letter dated March 13, the governor proposed a date in March for the presentation of the 2025 budget.

However, when he arrived at the Assembly quarters in Port Harcourt with some commissioners on the scheduled day, he was reportedly denied access despite prior notice.

Fubara maintained that his actions were in compliance with the Supreme Court directive to present the budget to the recognised Assembly leadership.

But the Rivers State House of Assembly later accused him of insincerity in implementing the court’s judgment, insisting he should re-present the 2025 budget.

The lawmakers, loyal to Wike, also claimed they had not received any official correspondence from the governor regarding the budget presentation.

Wike, however, warned that the ongoing delay poses risks to governance, noting that essential government functions and public services could be affected if the matter is not resolved quickly.