By Daniel Abia and Davies Iheamnachor

As tension continues to build in Rivers State, leaders in the state yesterday warned that obeying the Martins Awaewhule-led faction of the state House of Assembly’s ultimatum to present the state’s 2025 budget to them was out of the question, as it was a plot to entrap Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The Ijaw National Congress (INC), on its part, said any attempt to undermine Fubara would have dire consequences for national peace and economic stability, as it condemned the Supreme Court ruling on Rivers State, warning that it could lead to widespread instability in the oil-bearing Niger Delta region.

This came as the Rivers State government, following the voiding of the 2024 council elections in the state, concluded plans to conduct fresh council elections. The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has scheduled a meeting for today to unveil the timetable and guidelines for the elections.

Meanwhile, Vanguard gathered that the state government is awaiting a certified true copy of Friday’s Supreme Court judgment to enable it to react to all the issues raised in the decision.

Also, the elected Local Government Chairmen in Rivers State, who were sacked from office in 2015, have vowed to take over the council administration in the 23 local government areas of the state soon.

Reacting to the Awaewhule-led state House of Assembly ultimatum, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, said if Governor Fubara abides by the directive to present the 2025 Rivers State budget, he would fall into a trap set for his impeachment.

“To me, he should ignore this group of funny people whose aim and mission in this political game is very obvious and not worthy of any serious attention. They lack the power to order an elected governor around as if the governor is their mate.”

“Even if, after the Appeal Court determines whether these urchins should be accepted as lawmakers, having all the facts of their defections and the dire consequences, Fubara should avoid them like the leprous 27 funny group they are.

“Assuming that the governor decides to present the budget before them, he will do that at his own time and terms, and not by the directive of a group of people that lack such power.”

He said the Supreme Court’s “unholy judgment only succeeded in exposing the true enemies of Rivers State and her people, and this was the time the state could prove to the world that Rivers is not a conquered state that can easily be pocketed by an individual whose aim is solely to corner the Treasury.”




https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/rivers-crisis-leaders-inc-talk-tough/