The governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara yesterday presented the N800 billion 2024 budget estimates to the Edison Ehie-led faction of the state legislators at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
Ehie is loyal to the governor while Martins Amaewhule and 26 others who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) pitch their tent with the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former governor of the state, Mr Nyesom Wike.
Both Ehie and Amaewhule have been enmeshed in speakership tussle which is already in court.
The N800 billion budget proposal was tagged ‘Budget of Renewed Hope, Consolidation and Continuity’.
The governor said during the presentation that he was ready to weather the storm of the political crisis currently raging in the state.
“We recognise the challenges we face as a State and the pointless efforts to frustrate and sabotage our government even before we get started. As you know desperate situations call for desperate measures. I assure you of our determination to weather the raging storm strategically and responsibly,” he said.
It was gathered that the Mr Tonye Adoki, representing Port Harcourt constituency II and Ms Linda Somiari Stewart, representing Okrika constituency had returned to the PDP and apologised to Fubara.
Meanwhile, the state government defended its decision to demolish and rebuild the house of assembly complex saying it was due to the structural defects which arose mainly from the recent explosion.
A statement issued by the commissioner for information, Mr Joseph Johnson on Wednesday, said after the visit of the governor to inspect the level of damage done to the building on the day of the fire incident, it became necessary to invite professionals to advise the government on the integrity of the building.
“After the assessment of the integrity of the complex, the experts warned the government that continuing to use the building in its present state would be disastrous.
“The government had tried all cost saving measures towards repair of the complex untill it bowed to superior view of rebuilding the complex to a more befitting edifice,” he said.
He said that the state government had provided an alternative venue for the house of assembly to conduct their affairs pending the rebuilding of the complex.
