On Wednesday, October 30, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara shared his thoughts about a recent decision made by the Federal High Court. The court decided that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should not release money that the state needs.
Governor Fubara mentioned that the way he has been handling this situation, following advice from President Bola Tinubu, might have actually helped his opponents. “I have no regrets for wanting peace,” he said, but he also recognized that this approach might have given his challengers more strength.
The ruling came from Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who stated that Governor Fubara had broken a rule in the 1999 Constitution. This rule requires the state budget for 2024 to be presented to a special group in the Rivers State House of Assembly. Justice Abdulmalik said that the governor’s distribution of state funds since January was against this rule.
During a special Thanksgiving service on Sunday, October 29, to celebrate his administration’s strength during tough times, including an arson attack on the State House of Assembly, Governor Fubara reassured everyone that he would keep making payments to contractors and ensure that workers get their salaries on time starting Thursday, October 31.
He also mentioned that the funds for the 23 Council Chairmen would be processed soon, as the Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC) had completed their work. The governor encouraged his supporters to stay strong and optimistic, saying that they can overcome challenges together.
Reflecting on his time in office, Governor Fubara pointed out that despite doubts about his leadership, he has been able to lead for over a year, hold local elections, and keep a full cabinet despite attempts to disrupt his work. He celebrated ongoing projects in the state and highlighted recent praise for Rivers State’s efforts in being financially responsible and transparent.
The governor also recalled a scary event from October 30 of last year, which he called an assassination attempt. He believed it was carried out by political rivals who attacked him after he made a legal choice related to a group led by Martin Amaewhule, a decision that was influenced by President Tinubu’s help.
In closing, Governor Fubara reiterated, “I have no regrets for wanting peace,” acknowledging that this could have unintentionally made his opponents stronger.
