The governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara has warned that his administration will not tolerate a situation where people unleash violence in the state.
He stated this at the inauguration of the Rivers State Government House Staff Quarters in Port Harcourt yesterday.
The governor was speaking in the wake of the ultimatum 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers, asking him to present the 2025 budget.
The lawmakers announced that they would proceed on a 12-week break from Friday, March 7, but standing committees would be expected to continue statutory functions.
Amaewhule also moved against the governor’s directive for the local government chairmen to hand over to the heads of council administration, saying it was against the ruling of the Supreme Court.
“It is actually in flagrant disobedience to the judgment of the Supreme Court last year, particularly that judgment in SC/CV/343/2024 where the Supreme Court specifically said that heads of local government cannot administer local government.
“Only elected officials are permitted by the constitution, by the judgment of the Supreme Court and of course the Rivers State Local Government Amended Law 2023, to administer our local government,” Amaewhule said.
The lawmakers’ demand directly challenged the N1.1 trillion budget Fubara had signed into law on January 2, 2025, following its passage by the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led Assembly.
However, Fubara dismissed the lawmakers’ threat and declared his readiness to sacrifice anything, including his position to fight in defence of the state and its people.
He said his administration would not be coerced into actions that contradict legal interpretations.
He, however, told his supporters, especially the youths, to remain unperturbed, adding that the time had come for Rivers people to take their destiny into their hands.
The governor said he had never subscribed to violence or asked the people to indulge in lawless acts, but warned that his administration would not look away when haters of the state struggled to unleash violence in the state.
“No matter how we’ve been fooled in this state, it has gotten to a point when the people have to decide to take their destinies into their hands. Since I don’t subscribe to violence when the time comes for us to make a decision, I will lead the course for that decision.
“Let me say it again: I am not scared of anything. The worst that will happen is for me to leave the office. Am I leaving the earth? Is it going to stop me from existing? So, I am not even bothered about that. But the right thing must be done and must be said when the opportunity is given to us.
“Let me thank everyone, especially our youths. Be strong, don’t be perturbed. I assure you, at the right time, you will hear from us.
“I assure you that I will lead you with honour; I will lead you with respect, and I will lead you with integrity, knowing that when I leave here, I will have questions to answer if I am called upon 20 to 30 years from today,” he added.
