2025: Fubara Fueling Division, Rivers May Face Worst Political Crisis – Okocha

Rivers State risks its worst political crisis in years, as Okocha accuses Governor Fubara of fueling division ahead of the 2025 elections.

Tony Okocha, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, has accused Governor Sim Fubara of creating divisions within the state.

Okocha criticized Fubara’s choice to present the 2025 budget to a specific faction of the state House of Assembly, emphasizing that this move could lead Rivers into its most severe political crisis.

reported that in December, Fubara submitted a budget of N1.1 trillion to the House of Assembly, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo.

The group of four members, headed by Speaker Oko-Jumbo, had previously read Governor Fubara’s letter seeking authorization to present the appropriation bill during their plenary session.

Okocha, however, claimed that Fubara ignored both the rule of law and a judicial decision during his budget presentation.

Okocha revealed this during a conversation with journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

He mentioned that he anticipated the governor would seize the new year as an opportunity to extend an olive branch and foster peace. However, instead of doing so, the governor persists in stoking divisiveness.

It is inconceivable that a governor with such an extensive background in finance and governance would opt to bypass legal procedures.

The Assembly comprises 30 active members; however, the budget was presented in a setting that courts have deemed illegitimate.

At the very least, he has observed the budget presentation. I’d like to inform you all that I served as Chief of Staff from 2012 to 2015. This means I’ve experienced three budget presentations during my tenure.

In this scenario, from an Assembly originally composed of 32 members, one member passed away and another claimed to have resigned, leaving us with 30 active seats. Out of these remaining members, 27 are aligned with our side while the other three belong to their own side.

Isn’t it shocking that the budget for a state as prominent and vital as Rivers State is presented in an illegal setting?

The Court of Appeal, through its various judgments on such matters, has addressed these issues. I view them as a forum—perhaps akin to a gathering of friends—but certainly not legislators.