By Adewale Adewale
Martin Amaewhule, speaker of the assembly, spoke on Thursday during a press conference attended by the state lawmakers.
“From September, when we met the governor, till this day, the governor has been spending without our approval, awarding contracts to his cronies, particularly those who masterminded the burning of the Rivers house of assembly,” Amaewhule said.
“The governor does not seek the approval of the assembly to spend.”
On Wednesday, Fubara said there is no lingering dispute between him and members of the state house of assembly, noting that claims he has refused to engage with lawmakers are “pure lies”.
The governor added that he has made several attempts to meet with the assembly leadership since his reinstatement in September, but no meeting has been scheduled.
However, while reacting to Fubara’s comments, Amaewhule said the assembly members met with him in September at the instance of Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He accused Fubara of reneging on the agreements reached at the meeting.
“It’s important I make this clarification; first and foremost, the governor lied when he said he hasn’t been able to meet with members of the Rivers state house of assembly,” the speaker said.
“Shortly after the state of emergency was called off, the FCT minister called a meeting with the governor and principal officials of the assembly. I can confirm I was in that meeting.”
Amaewhule said Fubara is deliberately painting a false picture of a communication breakdown between him and the assembly to stir tension and pave the way for another round of political turmoil in the state.
In March, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers and suspended Fubara, his deputy, and the lawmakers following a protracted political crisis in the state.
The president lifted the emergency rule in September and reinstated the governor and the state house of assembly.
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