Anabs Sara-Igbe, who previously served as the national publicity secretary of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has criticised the actions taken by lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Gatekeepers News reports that this incident occurred earlier today when Fubara was barred from entering the Rivers House of Assembly quarters in Port Harcourt, the state’s capital, to present the 2025 budget.
Upon his arrival, Fubara and his entourage found the gates to the assembly locked.
The assembly quarters were being used by the faction of the Rivers assembly led by Martin Amaewhule, which is aligned with former governor Nyesom Wike.
Governor Fubara stated that his visit to the quarters was in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling concerning the political crisis in Rivers State.
In response to the situation, Sara-Igbe expressed that denying the governor access to the assembly was an embarrassment for the residents of Rivers State. He also called for the full implementation of all judgments issued by the Supreme Court.
“The governor was elected by millions of Rivers people. As the chief executive officer of the state, he has unhindered access to all the facilities within the state,” PUNCH quoted Sara-Igbe as saying.
“Blocking him from entering the complex is a direct insult and embarrassment to the people of Rivers state.
“It is now very clear that the governor is ready for peace. But these people are not ready for peace. You can see that by their action.
“How can you bar a sitting governor from gaining access to a facility that belongs to the state?
“I appeal that he implements all the decisions stipulated by the Supreme Court judgment, even though I did not agree with some of those decisions.
“Let him implement them. Rivers people are watching. The world is watching.”
This comes after Fubara said his administration will comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling. On February 28, the Supreme Court upheld a federal high court decision that prevents the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the accountant-general of the federation from disbursing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers State.
The Supreme Court’s ruling also directed the faction led by Martin Amaewhule, along with other elected members of the Rivers House of Assembly, to reconvene and resume their sessions.
The court invalidated the local government election that took place in Rivers State on October 5, 2024.
