Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has stated that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara froze the allowances and allocations of members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule for a period of several months during which he refused to recognise them. Morka made this statement.
Morka stated in an interview with Arise TV that Fubara not only not only withheld their allowances, allocations, and all other financial entitlements, but he also demolished the Assembly complex and locked out its members. Morka’s statement was made in reference to Fubara’s actions.
He accused the governor of disregarding the constitutional provision for a legislative body in Rivers State and demeaning them as if they did not exist. He also accused the governor of ignoring the provision.
He criticised the governor for undermining democracy by appointing a select group of individuals to serve as his preferred legislature rather than recognising the House of Assembly, which was elected democratically. His assessment of Fubara’s administration in Rivers State was that it violated the constitution, was illegal, and was unlawful.
According to what he said, “He not only destroyed the Assembly, but he also locked them out. He froze them in a package and discarded them as if they did not exist, as if our Constitution had never intended to provide for a legislative body in Rivers State. He did this as if they did not exist.”
From 7:02 until 7:58, you can watch the portion of the interview that is pertinent to your interest.
“Fubara completely froze their allowances, he froze their allocation, and he froze every penny that was flowing to the Assembly. Furthermore, Governor Fubara slapped democracy in the face by appointing two or three individuals to serve as his legislature in Rivers State, rather than a House of Assembly that was elected democratically. In Rivers State, he went on to govern in a manner that was not in accordance with the constitution, as well as illegally and unlawfully. This transpired for close to fourteen months at that point,” he said.