The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, requested that Governor Siminalayi Fubara use proper channels to invite members to a meeting with the governor at Government House on Monday.
The reply came after the Assembly was invited to meet with the governor at Government House on Monday (today).
Fubara, through the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, stated that the meeting, set for 10 a.m., was expected to discuss major problems such as providing seating space for the Assembly, paying outstanding allowances, and presenting the 2025 budget.
The 27 Rivers State House of Assembly lawmakers loyal to the former governor, Nyesom Wike, plan to refuse the invitation unless the governor meets their condition.
One of the lawmakers, Isaiah Opuende, who represents Akuku-Toru Constituency 2, chastised the governor for inviting Assembly members through social media.
Opuende encouraged the governor to speak with them properly, saying it was strange that Fubara would phone them after telling them multiple times to “stay their stay.”
He stated, “It is time for us to determine our day. When the ‘day of your day’ started, our principal said the time for our own ‘day of your day’ will come. Now, our ‘day is your day’ has come.
“Dey your dey make we dey our dey. How can you write a letter and post it on social media and expect us to honor it? You know we are not kids. The governor should properly write to the Assembly. That’s all. Thank you.”
Former local government chairmen, including Dr. Samuel Nwanosike of Ikwerre LG, were seen in a viral video mocking Fubara’s invitation to Assembly members.
They asked the governor not to disturb Speaker Amaewhule and sang, “Dey your dey, make I dey my dey, dey your dey, nobody worry Amaewhule.”
Following the Supreme Court’s confirmation of their validity, the parliamentarians demanded that Governor Siminalayi Fubara provide the 2025 budget during their first meeting. They also asked that he submit nominations for commissioner and other positions, claiming that those currently in the cabinet lacked legal standing.
They also called the chairman and commissioners of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to appear before them on Monday.
However, the requests were ignored because Commissioner for Information Joseph Johnson indicated that the government was waiting for the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court decision before taking action.
The CTC was released on Thursday evening and widely published in national dailies on Friday.
In a bid to establish a relationship and woo the lawmakers, the SSG, Danagogo, wrote a letter addressed to the Speaker, Amaewhule, on Sunday, titled “Meeting between the Governor of the Rivers State and the Honourable Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”
The statement read, “I hereby write in furtherance of His Excellency’s promise stated in my letter dated 5 March 2025 to notify you that His Excellency has received the Supreme Court judgment and has, therefore, directed me to invite you and your colleagues—the honorable members of the Rivers State House of Assembly—to a meeting to discuss:
“Provision of a befitting space for the Assembly’s sittings, payment of all outstanding remuneration or allowances of the Honourable members;
“Presentation of budget and sundry matters. Any other matter(s), as may be necessary, to chart the way forward in the best interest of the state.
“Sequel to the above, I hereby humbly invite the Rt. Hon. Speaker and all the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to a meeting with the Governor as follows.”
The governor’s invitation to lawmakers came after the RSIEC chairman’s 72-hour ultimatum to appear before the House expired today.
Amaewhule stated during plenary on Friday that the Assembly had taken legislative notice of Fubara’s inability to submit the names of his commissioner nominations to the House for vetting.
Attempts to contact the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Johnson, were unsuccessful because his cell line was not connected at the time of making this report.
