In a video shared on Symfoni TV from 9:40, Tony Okocha, a former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, criticized the presentation of the 2024 Appropriation Bill to only three members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Okocha questioned the legality of the action, describing it as a clear violation of established legal and constitutional norms. The assembly, currently divided into two factions, has been at the center of a political crisis, with one group loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the other aligned with former Governor Nyesom Wike.
The budget presentation has raised significant legal and procedural concerns, with analysts warning that such actions could lead to governance paralysis. Critics argue that the decision to bypass the majority of assembly members undermines the legislative process and could render the budget invalid. The ongoing crisis has also exposed the deepening rift between the executive and legislative arms in Rivers State, with stakeholders urging for judicial intervention to restore order and ensure adherence to the rule of law.
In his words;
“No court has declared the seats of the 27 Assembly members vacant, and if the declaration of seats is in your own mind, let it be in your own mind until the court says yes or no”
“As we speak, no court has said yes, and you don’t have the right; you are just a member of the executive arm. So, until the court and the law speak on the matter, you can’t on your own take a decision on a matter that you do not have the power to do so.”
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