A mild drama ensued at the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters on Monday as the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was denied entry into the Assembly quarters.

The governor arrived at the complex on Wednesday to present the 2025 budget in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment but met a locked gate with no security in sight nor any of the lawmakers.

Accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, and some members of the state executive council, the governor arrived at the Assembly quarters with his security team and the media at about 11 a.m.

However, it was gathered that while the governor and his entourage were locked outside the gate, some House officers and lawmakers were already inside the Assembly quarters waiting for the Speaker. The governor alighted from his car, stood briefly in front of the blocked gate, addressed the press, and left with his men.

However, a few minutes after the governor left the Assembly premises, the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, arrived at about 12:29 p.m. and commenced sitting with his colleagues.

During the sitting, the lawmakers feigned ignorance of the Governor’s visit as no comment was made regarding it. Instead, the issues that topped their agenda included the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli, over his role in the annulled October 5, 2024, Local Government elections. Other issues included the second reading of the local government election law, among others.

Speaking earlier with newsmen at the entrance of the Assembly quarters as proof of his presence, Fubara explained that he had made several attempts to contact Speaker Amaewhule and other lawmakers, even writing a formal letter to inform them about his visit.

He regretted that despite his efforts, he was still barred from entering the premises.

He said, “I am here myself with members of the State Executive to comply with the Supreme Court judgment.

“Before my arrival, I had already made several attempts, made phone calls to reach the Speaker and other members, and I also did a letter personally transmitted to the Speaker for this particular visit, but it is unfortunate that at the gate, I can see that the place is completely sealed and there is no sign that anything is going to happen today.

“The reason why we are doing this, which I have always said, is for the interest of our people, which is the most important thing.

“Well, I do not think there is anything to worry about. Maybe they are working on the letter. I expect to hear from them maybe after this hour.”

This development marks a new dimension in the ongoing crisis in Rivers State politics.

The governor’s visit was intended to facilitate the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment, but the denial of entry has raised tensions and created uncertainty about the future of the state’s governance.

Also, a copy of the governor’s letter to the Speaker, dated March 11, 2025, which surfaced online, reads in part:

“Please recall my statewide broadcast of 2nd March 2025, in which I expressed our unreserved commitment to implementing the recent Supreme Court judgment on the political disputes in Rivers State as soon as the enrolled judgment orders were served on us.

“It was in furtherance of this commitment that we initiated the consultative meeting with the Rivers State House of Assembly for the 10th of March 2025 to consider all the issues raised by the judgment and agree on the way forward in the best interest of our dear state.

“However, this crucial meeting was never held, which was unfortunate. Nevertheless, we have decided to move on to swiftly implement the terms of the judgment as promised, having now been served with the certified true copy.

“Consequently, we wish to notify Mr. Speaker of our desire and intention to present the 2025 Rivers State Appropriation Bill to the Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday, 12th March 2025, by 10:00 a.m.

“Thank you for the kind consideration of my request by the House, and please accept, Mr. Speaker, the assurance of my highest regards,” Fubara stated in the letter.

However, some residents and political analysts have criticised the governor for swiftly moving to present the budget without receiving a response from the Speaker.

A lawyer and political analyst, Bar. Wori Wori, said the governor was playing to the gallery when he first addressed the letter to the Moscow Road complex, which was demolished.

Wori added that the governor should have waited to receive a response from the Speaker before driving to the Assembly quarters to present the budget. He advised the governor to follow due process, do the right thing, and stop playing to the gallery.

Reacting, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) lamented that the impacts of the whole political melodrama are on ordinary citizens.

The National Publicity Secretary of INC, Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha, urged the State Assembly to cooperate with the governor and move the state forward, considering that he has demonstrated commitment to implementing the Supreme Court judgment.

“In the whole of this political tussle, salaries of the state workers may not be paid if the Federal Government does not release the state allocations.

“Though it is not fair to lock the number one man in the state out, the Executive and Legislature should come together and work in unity for the peace and development of the state and the region at large.”

Meantime, the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) has described as “provocative” the actions of the Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly, which allegedly did not receive Governor Fubara at the Assembly quarters to present the 2025 budget.

A chieftain of PANDEF, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, said denying the Governor access to the Assembly Complex was not an insult to Fubara as a person but to the people of Rivers State in general.

He said, “The Governor was elected by millions of Rivers people. As the chief executive officer of the state, he has unhindered access to all the facilities within the state. Blocking him from entering the complex is a direct insult and embarrassment to the people of Rivers State.

“It is now very clear that the Governor is ready for peace. But these people are not ready for peace. You can see that by their actions. How can you bar a sitting Governor from gaining access to a facility that belongs to the state as its chief executive officer?

“The governor continues to tow the path of peace despite the insult and provocation. I appeal that he implements all the decisions stipulated by the Supreme Court judgment, even though I did not agree with some of those decisions. Let him implement them. The Rivers people are watching. The world is watching,” he said.

Sara-Igbe noted that Governor Fubara has always wanted peace. That was why, on the advice of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he withdrew the case he had against these lawmakers last year, even when they refused to withdraw theirs.

On the comment by Wike that Fubara can be “impeached and heaven will not fall,” the PANDEF chieftain reminded him that pouring insults on the Ijaw people will not help the former governor and the current political situation in the state.

“He should remember that during the time of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the production rate of crude dropped drastically from 2.4 million barrels per day to a paltry 700,000 bpd until the elders of the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta pleaded with the various militant groups, including the Avengers, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), among others, to stay action.

“The nation’s economy today is at a sad point. We don’t want anything to happen to crude oil production. The minister should be mindful of his utterances. While we plead for all parties in the crisis to follow the path of peace, we all should also mind what we say per time,” he said.