By Jonah Israel
Comrade Enekorogha Godbless, Governor Fubara and Minister Nyesom Wike In an interview with Nigeria Daily Chronicles, a renowned political and policy analyst Comrade Enekorogha Godbless has strongly condemned the recent move by the Rivers State House of Assembly to issue a 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Siminalayi Fubara to present the 2025 budget. This demand, made during the assembly's sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday, has been described as "impolitic and Maladroit "
According to Godbless, "No one has the right to issue a legitimate sitting governor an ultimatum. Government continues, thus the lawmakers should continue from where the former lawmakers stopped." He emphasized that the 2025 budget, titled "Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development," has already been approved and signed into law on January 2, 2025.
The Political Analyst questioned the rationale behind the lawmakers' demand, stating, "Reversing the budget is uncalled for. The lawmakers should focus on how the already signed budget is spent judiciously for the inclusive growth, welfare and development of the Rivers people, rather than focusing on issues of less value that will bring disunity and acrimony to the two arms of government in Rivers State."
The political analyst also expressed concerns about the Supreme Court's ruling, which ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withhold allocations to Rivers State for disobeying court orders and nullified the local government elections conducted in the state last year. Godbless noted, "It seems what was stipulated by Thrasymachus is prevailing in the Nigerian state, where justice is in the advantage of the stronger in the society."
He further stated, "Ordering the Central Bank of Nigeria to withhold the allocations of Rivers State for disobeying court orders and nullifying local government elections is an aberration and affront to a federal practicing state. The Supreme Court fails to note that Nigeria is a federal practicing state; how on earth will a state depend on the central government for allocation?"
In response to the Supreme Court's ruling, Governor Fubara had already directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct fresh local government elections. However, The Political Analyst expressed frustration, wondering how long the people of Rivers State will suffer from this "abnormal Federal obnoxious policy" that contradicts the principles of federalism.
He thus urged the lawmakers to prioritize the welfare of Rivers people, saying, "We should not do things that will jeopardize the unification of our country. I thus beseech the Supreme Court to temper justice with mercy and for the lawmakers in Rivers State to continue from the administration of the defunct lawmakers headed by Victor Oko-Jumbo."
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