HURIWA lauds Fubara’s budget presentation despite protests
02 January 2025 |
5:19 am
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has lent its support to the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara’s presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill, amid protests from the 27 alleged defected lawmakers loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
• Ex-P’Harcourt mayor defends Wike over alleged misappropriation of LG funds
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has lent its support to the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara’s presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill, amid protests from the 27 alleged defected lawmakers loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
In a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the association commended Fubara’s resilience and commitment to upholding constitutional provisions, prioritising the welfare of Rivers residents.
Recall that towards the twilight of 2024, Fubara unveiled an N1.188 trillion budget, tagged, “Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development,” to the three-man Rivers State House of Assembly led by Victor Oko-Jumbo.
At the presentation ceremony, the governor disclosed that the budget allocates over N195 billion for road infrastructure, nearly N31 billion for agricultural transformation and youth farming programmes, N63 billion for education, and N97.75 billion for healthcare projects.
The association praised the governor for refusing to engage with what it described as “rebellious lawmakers” who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) but sought to undermine his administration.
“HURIWA views the decision of the defected lawmakers to protest the budget presentation as a clear case of political opportunism,” the statement read.
The association also criticised the hypocrisy of Wike’s faction, highlighting the FCT minister’s membership in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while supporting APC-affiliated initiatives.
Onwubiko also expressed concern over allegations of judicial bias in some rulings made by judges of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which favoured the defected lawmakers.
However, the Court of Appeal subsequently overturned these rulings, reaffirming the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law.
MEANWHILE, a former Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Council, Victor Ihunwo, has risen to the defence of Wike over allegations of misappropriating local council funds.
The allegations, made by the former council chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Victor Odili, claimed that Wike deducted N20 million monthly from local council allocations during his tenure as governor of Rivers State.
However, Ihunwo, in a statement signed on behalf of 2018-2021 executive chairmen, described the allegations as false, stating that Wike never tampered with council funds.
As Mayor of Port Harcourt City between 2018 and 2021, Ihunwo said Wike led with fairness and integrity, ensuring that local council funds were managed transparently.
He attributed the allegations to personal interests and a means of currying favour or angling for appointments. He said: “Following recent remarks made by the former Chairman of ONELGA, Victor Ifeanyi Odili, we find it necessary to address the people of Rivers State and Nigeria to set the record straight.
“Odili alleged on social media that former Governor Nyesom Wike deducted N20 million monthly from the allocations of local councils during his tenure. As individuals who served as local council chairmen under Wike, we must categorically refute these claims.”
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