By Milcah Tanimu

The Caretaker Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, has called on Governor Siminalaye Fubara to cease running the state without a budget and to adhere to the peace agreement initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by resubmitting the state budget to the House of Assembly.

Okocha condemned the governor’s actions as a significant financial misconduct, accusing Fubara of disregarding an agreement made with the President to re-present the budget to the entire assembly for the sake of peace in the state.

Speaking at an event in Abuja focused on revisiting the President’s intervention for progress in Rivers State, Okocha expressed regret that the governor was flouting the laws of the land by ignoring the House of Assembly. He highlighted the concerning trend where the assembly overrides the governor’s decisions, citing the rejection of four important bills passed to him by the lawmakers.

According to Okocha, the governor had previously committed to implementing all agreements reached during a peace meeting convened by President Buhari. However, Okocha criticized Fubara’s rushed presentation of the budget before only four assembly members, emphasizing the necessity for its submission to the complete house.

The APC chairman warned that the current situation in Rivers State, with its absence of a budget, could lead to dire consequences and labeled it as a blatant abuse of law and a gross disrespect for the President, considering it was part of the eighth agreement signed by the governor.

He urged Governor Fubara to ignore mediocre advice and influence from fifth columnists whose motives are purely financial, emphasizing the need for adherence to due process and respect for the rule of law.