In the current political turmoil in Rivers State, Governor Fubara’s governance is in the spotlight. A recent court ruling by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik in Abuja highlighted alleged constitutional violations related to the presentation of the 2024 budget and restrictions on the use of state funds without a duly constituted House of Assembly.
During a Thanksgiving service on Wednesday, October 30, Governor Fubara spoke to express the resilience of his administration in the face of recent political turbulence. While expressing no regrets about his quest for peace, he acknowledged that his choice to follow President Bola Tinubu’s intervention may have unintentionally strengthened his opponents.
“I have no regrets about pursuing peace,” Fubara said, “but I realize that this approach has allowed my opponents to seize opportunities that I could have anticipated.”
Justice Abdulmalik’s ruling highlighted a violation of the 1999 Constitution due to Fubara’s continued allocations since January, despite the political turmoil in the state. The ruling highlights the complexity of governance under tense legislative conditions, with the Rivers State House of Assembly comprising only four members currently at odds over leadership and budget approval.
Addressing the crowd, Fubara assured Rivers residents that payments to contractors and salaries of workers would continue uninterrupted from Thursday, October 31. He confirmed that allocations for the 23 council chairmen in the state would also be paid following the recent approval of the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) procedures.
Taking stock of his tenure, Fubara noted that despite political challenges, his administration has maintained local government functions, preserved a full cabinet and continued statewide projects. “They doubted that we would last, but we remained strong, held elections and completed projects for our people,” he insisted.
Governor Fubara also cited recent awards recognizing Rivers State’s leadership in financial transparency, dismissing criticism of the effectiveness of his administration. However, in a volatile political environment, balancing adherence to the Constitution with continued government action remains a major challenge for Fubara and his government team.