Ex- Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has queried his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, for attempting to visit the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters after he had demolished it in December 2023.
In a media chat held in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike, now the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stated that Fubara should have waited for approval from the Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly before showing up. Amaewhule, who is loyal to Wike, had been recognized by the Supreme Court’s verdict on February 28, 2025, as the legitimate Speaker of the House.
Fubara arrived at the Assembly Quarters on Wednesday to present the 2025 Budget, a move directed by the Assembly. However, he was locked out upon arrival, causing a stir.
Wike explained that he had communicated his visit plans to Amaewhule, and the Rivers State Government had shared a formal letter notifying the Assembly of the governor’s intended presence.
Despite this, Wike expressed his disapproval, saying, “If you write a letter to the Assembly, won’t you wait for a response? He is playing to the gallery.
He has brought television crews to showcase his actions. It’s wrong.” Wike compared the situation to a hypothetical scenario where the president could simply show up at the National Assembly without proper procedure.
The former governor added that the demolition of the Assembly Complex had left the Assembly meeting at their residence, and proper arrangements were necessary for such a visit. “You cannot just open the gate and say, ‘I’m coming to present the budget’. Nonsense. Rubbish. Who does that?” Wike criticized Fubara for disrespecting the process and “playing to the gallery.”
Wike emphasized that such actions only served to distract and draw attention away from the real issues at hand.