Governor Siminalaye Fubara of Rivers State has said his government will not comply with the ultimatum issued by the State House of Assembly to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill.
Rivers State House of Assembly led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule had on Monday issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the government to re-present the bill.
The ultimatum followed a ruling of the Supreme Court that reinstated the lawmakers.
However, in a statement on Wednesday, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, maintained that the governor has yet to receive the letter, saying the state government heard of the purported on social media.
The statement reads, “I hereby refer to a letter dated 3rd March 2025 on the above subject, which we came across on social media and notify you that, as at the close of work on Tuesday 4th March, 2025, we are yet to receive the said letter. Neither the office of the Governor, nor the Deputy Governor’s office, nor the office of the Accountant-General of the state has received the said letter”
Dr Danagogo also stated that the state government had yet to receive a copy of the Supreme Court judgement to enable it to respond appropriately.
He said, “We have since been in contact with our lawyers who are still awaiting the certified true copy of the judgments of the Supreme Court, and hereby reassure you and all the good people of Rivers State that as soon as His Excellency receives the judgments, he will strive to implement same timeously in the best interest of our people.”
However, the SSG assured the people of the state of the governor’s commitment to abiding by the rule of law, as he had noted earlier in his statewide broadcast.
He added, “Please, recall that His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara, had in a State Broadcast on Sunday 2nd March, 2025, stated clearly that notwithstanding his personal opinion on the Supreme Court Judgments, he will, as a law-abiding Nigerians, obey and implement their decisions in accordance with the rule of law and the best interest of the people of Rivers State.”
