The All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has blasted the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara over his decision to present the 2025 proposed budget before three lawmakers in the state.
The APC chairman shared his position while speaking to newsmen at his residence in Port-Harcourt on Thursday.
It would be recalled that the governor had on Monday presented a budget estimate of N1.18 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year to the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led Assembly.
Reacting to this development, Okocha said; “It is unimaginable and unthinkable that a governor with such a rich background in finance and governance would choose to sidestep legal processes.”
“The Assembly has 30 functional members, yet the budget was presented in a setting that courts have described as illegitimate.”
“At least, he has seen the presentation of the budget, and I want to avail you people of the opportunity of the fact that I was Chief of Staff and that spanned through 2012-2015.“
“In this sense, an Assembly of 32, we lost one to death, one claimed to have resigned, and then we have 30 functional Assembly seats. 27 of the Assembly members are on this side, and three members of the Assembly are on this side.”
He described the presentation of the budget as illegal.
“Is it not anathema that a budget of a state as prominent and as important as Rivers State will be presented to an illegal setting?”
“The Court of Appeal, in their various judgments on issues like these, have touched on these issues, and I refer to them as a forum, maybe a forum of friends but certainly not legislators.”
Okocha accused Fubara of flaming division in the state.
“I expected the Governor to use the new year to extend an olive branch and promote peace, but instead, he continues to fuel the flames of division.”
He also denied that the 27 lawmakers in dispute with Fubara had defected to the APC.
“As far as their membership is concerned, they remain PDP members. I lost that bid, but my focus remains on progress, not on joining the governor’s journey to self-destruction,” the APC chairman added.
There has been political tension in Rivers State especially between former governor Nyesom Wike and the incumbent Fubara.
