A Former Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government, Samuel Nwanosike has recounted that during one of the closed door meetings with the President, he advised Governor Sim Fubara to present the budget to the 27 members of the Assembly and engage as a politician......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
He highlighted how the President emphasized that even he must navigate the complexities of ensuring the National Assembly passes a legitimate budget. He however stated the concerning attitude from the governor, who claimed he was focused only on the 2025 budget and that his financial support to the Assembly members for their children school fees and sustenance meant they should not challenge him. H called for a deeper respect for democracy in Nigeria, insisting that the governor’s actions should be scrutinized by the NJC.
He said in an interview with TVC, ”When Mr President met with us, Mr President advised him (Fubara) to take the budget to the 27 members and play the game as a politician. He said even him as President takes his budget to the National Assembly and he goes through the rigour of making sure a legitimate budget is being passed. But the governor is saying that he’s only working on 2025 budget and that he was the one paying the school fees and feeding the Assembly members so they cannot question him.
He’s saying all this in a democratic system of government. We are asking that people should respect this democracy that we are practicing in Nigeria. It should not be a matter of Rivers State, it’s a matter of what is the right thing to do. The NJC should ride and say that we want the law of this country to be respected whether by the governor or whoever is at the helms of affair.