By Deborah Nnamdi
A new wave of political tension is rising in Rivers State as the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara exchange sharp accusations over governance, communication breakdown, and alleged constitutional infractions.
Amaewhule on Thursday accused Governor Fubara of reigniting the state’s crisis by making “false and insincere claims,” particularly the governor’s assertion that he had been unable to meet with lawmakers.
The Speaker insisted that multiple meetings had been held — including sessions convened by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike in Abuja and by elder statesman Ferdinand Alabraba in Port Harcourt — and described the governor’s contrary claims as “deliberate misinformation” aimed at creating a fresh crisis.
Amaewhule urged Rivers residents to ignore what he called the governor’s “attempt to manufacture a communication breakdown,” while reiterating that lawmakers had consistently shown willingness to engage. He accused Fubara of poor leadership and dishonesty, warning that his comments were “dangerous signals” for the stability of the state.
The Speaker later escalated his criticisms in an extended press briefing, accusing the governor of serial constitutional violations, illegal spending, and refusal to present the 2024 and 2025 budget proposals. According to him, the governor has been spending state funds “from his trunk pockets” for over a year without legislative approval, awarding contracts to individuals he claimed were behind the burning of the Assembly complex. He also alleged that over ₦600 billion was left in the state’s account by the outgone administrator, which, according to him, the governor has been spending while bragging about using the funds to divide the Assembly.
Amaewhule further accused the governor of ignoring peace efforts, sponsoring online attacks against lawmakers, reacting only when politically threatened, and attempting to stop the planned defection of all 27 lawmakers to the APC in 2023 by instituting over 50 court cases — only to later defect to the APC himself.
He reaffirmed that the 27 lawmakers are united behind President Bola Tinubu and have passed a resolution supporting his second-term bid, insisting that the governor must “respect the Constitution and stop acting outside the law.”
Governor Fubara, however, dismissed suggestions of a rift, insisting on Wednesday at the commissioning of the 28.4-kilometre Ahoada–Omoku Road that the alleged breakdown in communication is untrue. He maintained that arrangements had already been made for a meeting with lawmakers, facilitated by Wike and other Rivers leaders, and argued that anyone claiming he refused to meet them “is not telling the truth.”
Fubara, who defected from the PDP to the APC on Tuesday, said his decision was driven by a desire for peace and stability rather than personal ambition. He urged Rivers people to support President Tinubu, reject divisive politics, and remain committed to the state’s progress.
With both the executive and legislative arms doubling down on their positions, analysts warn that Rivers State may be moving toward another major showdown. Lawmakers say they are prepared to “do the needful,” while the governor continues to assert control of the executive arm. As Amaewhule put it, “Rivers people and Nigerians deserve to know the truth,” signalling that the political storm in the state is far from over.
