Rivers State Speaker Martin Amaewhule has placed the responsibility for Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s alleged misconduct squarely on those in power, saying the environment created by politicians, elders, and traditional rulers paved the way for his actions.
Amaewhule criticized the state’s elders, whom he described as people the state respects, for applauding Fubara’s alleged misconduct instead of calling him to order and for portraying the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, as a “bad man.”
According to the Speaker, the governor’s supporters have been going to the media, accusing Wike, who passed the mantle of leadership to Fubara, of causing the political crisis currently unfolding in the South-South state.
“And people are going to the media, elders we respect are supposed to call him to order. Instead, they tell him what he is doing is good, rather than caution the Governor for his ongoing infractions of the constitution,” Amaewhule said.
“They are clapping for him, rather than calling on the Governor. They are calling on our FCT Minister, who is helping Mr. President in Abuja, making it look like there is a problem between the FCT Minister and the Governor. It is not the FCT Minister against the Governor,” he added.
Amaewhule made his stance on Thursday during the presentation of a notice of gross misconduct by 26 lawmakers against the governor and his deputy, Ngozi Odu. The lawmakers accused the duo of budget failures, misuse of funds, and other infractions.
The motion, presented by Majority Leader Major Jack and other lawmakers, seeks to suspend actions on the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the Appropriation Bill 2026 until investigations into the allegations against the Governor and Deputy Governor are concluded.
Speaking after the presentation, Amaewhule assured lawmakers that letters would be delivered to Fubara and the session would be adjourned for a second reading.
He emphasized that the accusations against the governor largely relate to the refusal to present the state budget and the spending of funds outside the appropriation law, issues that had prompted the first and second impeachment efforts.
“Our leader, His Excellency, has called several meetings. I have attended meetings with the Governor, and we have urged him to present the budgets, as required by the constitution. He refuses, claiming he is against the constitution,” the Speaker said.
“Nothing will happen to him if he does not present it. He will meet the President, he will meet the National Assembly, and they will tell us to leave him alone. He has even been posting about this. I ask members: is this the right way to go? To allow a Governor to defy the constitution? To continue to spend without approval? Even when we granted him spending approval in 2023, he ignored the constitution and the appropriation law and started awarding contracts outside the budgets.”
Amaewhule added that discussions on how to impeach Fubara and Ngozi are ongoing, stressing that the state can no longer condone their actions. He further described the governor as “a mistake the people of Rivers made during the 2023 election.”
“Let the process for investigating the allegations against him and the Deputy Governor be concluded. Distinguished colleagues, is that not what you are saying? In any case, the Governor does not want to present any budget. If he wanted to, he would have done so by now. Siminalayi Fubara is a mistake. River State has never had it this bad,” he said.
“Across Nigeria, Fubara and Professor Ngozi Odu are the only two sub-national leaders yet to present the 2026 appropriation bill. I am sure if you look across West Africa, even Africa, no sub-national government has failed to present a budget for 2026. Who would believe that in the 21st century, a state like Rivers would not have an appropriation bill either presented or passed? Nothing is preventing the Governor from presenting it — he simply chose not to. He has been boasting that he will always have the President on his side, and he tells his followers that this Assembly is nothing but a toothless bulldog incapable of enforcing the constitution.”
The Speaker also accused Fubara and his deputy of failing to account for state expenditures since their election on May 29, 2023, lamenting that critical infrastructure, healthcare, and youth employment initiatives have been neglected.
“Many issues are festering. Rather than follow due process, the Governor has chosen to hoard money, convert it to dollars, and disregard the will of Rivers people and the constitution,” Amaewhule said.
“Imagine the Governor addressing the press, saying he will only account for state funds in six months. Other governors routinely provide detailed accounts of revenue and expenditures. Since May 29, 2023, Fubara and Odu have never once issued a statement of account. Not once.”
“We cannot allow this to continue. Elected officials cannot sit idly while the constitution is defied. Why were we elected if we cannot do our job? Distinguished colleagues, enough is enough.”
“The Supreme Court has confirmed that the Governor has committed offences against the constitution. Let the law take its course. We thank Mr. President; he has done his best. He gave the Governor multiple chances, but he refused. The process will continue until justice is served.”
