As the 48-hour ultimatum issued to Governor Similarly Fubara of Rivers State to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to it expires today, the State Government has written to explain why the Governor cannot comply with the ultimatum.
Recall that the Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly had issued the ultimatum to Fubara last Monday to represent the State’s 2025 appropriation bill to it in compliance with last Friday’s Supreme Court judgement.
However, the State Government has said it would not comply with the request of the Rivers Assembly.
The State Government in a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Tammy Danagogo, and addressed to Amaewhule dated March 5, said this was because it has not received the resolutions of the Assembly on the re-presentation of the Appropriation Bill, noting that its response was based on a letter it came across on the social media.
It also added that it is waiting for true copies of the Supreme Court judgment to take final decision.
According to the statement, Governor Fubara had in his state broadcast on March 2, said notwithstanding his personal opinion on the Supreme Court judgement he would as a law-abiding citizen obey and implement the decisions in accordance with the rule of law and in the best interest of the people of Rivers State.
It reads in part: “I hereby refer to you to a letter dated March 3, 2025, on the above subject matter, which we came across on social media and notify you that:
“As of the close of work on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, we are yet to receive the said letter. Neither the office of the Governor, the Deputy Governor’s office, nor the office of the Accountant-General of the state, has received the letter.
“Please, recall that His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, had in a broadcast on Sunday, March 2, 2025, stated clearly that notwithstanding his personal opinion on the Supreme Court judgements, he will, as a law-abiding Nigerian, obey and implement their decisions in accordance with the rule of law and the best interest of the people of the State.”
