Rivers: How ‘Wike Lawmakers’ Are Planning To Starve Civil Servants, Retirees, Others

• Rivers Information Commissioner narrates efforts made to ensure a peaceful resolution of the Rivers crisis, fires salvos at Enemi George for glaringly misrepresenting facts

By PHC Telegraph

The Rivers State Government says the decision of the State House of Assembly to frustrate the resolve of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to re-present the budget is intended to starve workers and retirees and cripple the service delivery efforts of the administration.

The State Commissioner of Information, Joseph Johnson who addressed the press in his office in Port Harcourt said it was obvious that the lawmakers are out to punish the people.

The Commissioner remarked, “It is glaringly clear that with the current actions of the House, the dire consequences and harsh realities that the civil servants, retirees and people of the state will face unimaginable economic hardships, as the government will be unable to pay salaries, pensions and other emoluments as well as perform other obligations at the end of the month, as both the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation have been ordered to seize revenue allocations to the state until its judgment is fully implemented.

“The collateral damages of the actions of legislative arm of government in Rivers will be so severe as non release of warehoused revenues due the state from the Federation Account will ultimately ground the operation of all sectors of the government.”

He recalled how the Governor in a state broadcast declared his acceptance of the judgement and made an unambiguous commitment to implementation the judgement of the Supreme Court.

“In that broadcast”, the Commissioner  explained, “he ordered the duly elected LGA Chairmen ousted by the Apex Court, to immediately hand over to the Heads of Local Government Administration.”

He also appealed to his supporters who were sad over the judgment to accept it with equanimity.

“The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC)”, he also explained, “under the leadership of its indefatigable Chairman and Chief Electoral Officer, Hon. Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd.), in compliance with the Supreme Court verdict, convened a stakeholders meeting wherein all registered political parties in the state, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), Civil Society organisations (CSOs), the Press and general public were invited to attend at their headquarters in Port Harcourt.”

But he noted that because of the actions of  Speaker Martins Amaewhule and his colleagues who ought to represent Rivers people, the Rivers State is about to face a gloomy future.

How The Amaewhule Led Assembly Has Been Stoking Fire Of Disunity

The Commiss-ioner blamed Amaewh-ule and others for disobeying the Supreme Court and deliberate-ly raising tension in the State and across the South South inspite of the resolve of the Fubara administration to ensure an atmosphere of peace.

“Right from when this unjustified onslaught against Governor Fubara started, the gentleman has never left anyone in doubt about his unwavering commitment to peace and resolute determination to put Rivers people FIRST over and above personal and/or sectional interests.

“A few days after the Friday, February 28, 2025 shocking judgment of the Supreme Court on the consolidated cases touching on the seizure of federation revenue allocation due the state, annulment of the credible, free, fair and peaceful Local Government elections of Saturday, October 5, 2024, re-presentation of the 2025 budget to the Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly and the most contentious defection issue (which was never before the Apex Court, but surprisingly vaguely touched by the learned jurists of the 5-man panel), Governor Siminalayi Fubara has never left anyone in doubt about his preparedness not only to obey, but fully implement the Supreme Court judgment” the Commissioner told the press.

Unfounded Tales That Enemi George Told:

Johnson dismissed claims made by Enemi George, one of the lawmakers, saying the Assembly cannot claim Governor Fubara did not write to the Speaker intimating him of his intention to re-present the budget.

He explained, “Following the refusal by the Assembly to receive and acknowledge the Governor’s letter, delivered by government officials and a courier company, the Rivers State Government took the initiative of publishing the letter in two national dailies – The Nation and The Guardian – on Friday the 14th of March, 2025. It would be uncharitable to claim that the Governor’s letter was published on social media and not formally delivered to the Assembly.

“Dr. Enemi George also challenged the Governor to produce an acknowledgment copy of the letter under reference. We cannot produce an acknowledgment copy because the Assembly rejected the letter from the Governor. We can however refer all parties to the substituted means of service in The Nation and The Guardian.

“The Rivers State Governor is acting in good faith notwithstanding that false narratives are being peddled by the same people frustrating compliance with the judgment of court.”