The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has accused Governor Sim Fubara of deepening political division in the state through his recent actions.
Okocha specifically criticized Fubara’s decision to present the 2025 budget to a faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, claiming it violates judicial pronouncements and undermines the rule of law. He raised these concerns during a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
“I expected the governor to use the new year to promote peace and reconciliation,” Okocha said. “Instead, he continues to fuel the flames of division. Presenting a state budget to a forum that the courts have deemed illegitimate is both unimaginable and unthinkable for someone with his background in finance and governance.”
Okocha highlighted that the state assembly comprises 30 functional members following the loss of one member to death and the resignation of another. He noted that 27 of the members belong to one faction, while only three align with the faction Fubara addressed.
“Is it not absurd that a budget for a state as significant as Rivers is presented in what courts have described as an illegal setting? This is not a legislative forum but, at best, a gathering of friends,” Okocha asserted, referencing several judgments by the Court of Appeal on similar matters.
The APC chairman further emphasized his experience as Chief of Staff from 2012 to 2015, during which he witnessed multiple budget presentations, stressing the importance of adherence to legal processes.
The controversy around Fubara’s budget presentation has heightened concerns about the political stability of Rivers State, with observers warning of a potential deepening of the crisis.
