Rivers budget passed at family meeting – Pro-Wike Speaker

Martins Amaewhule

Rivers budget passed at family meeting – Pro-Wike Speaker

Martins Amaehwule, the speaker of the 27-member Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike has described all actions taken by the four-lawmakers loyal to Governor Sim Fubara as nothing more than a family meeting discussion that does not carry the constitutional weight of state legislative action.

Recall that the four-member Rivers State House of Assembly led by Edison Ehie had passed the budget of the state in less than 24 hours after the governor submitted it to them in a hall within the Government House on Thursday after the government demolished the state assembly’s complex. The faction had also declared the seats of the 27 lawmakers vacant after they defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

But speaking on Sunday at a dedication service and stakeholders meeting of APC in Port Harcourt, Amaehwule said the constitution was clear on how the assembly can have legitimacy in its action, insisting that since the Ehie-led faction did not meet the constitutional quorum, they lacked the legitimacy.

“What the governor is doing is against the law. We hear that some four persons gathered and are meeting somewhere we don’t know what they are doing.