The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has accused Governor Sim Fubara of exacerbating political divisions within the state, warning that the situation could lead to one of the most severe political crises in Rivers’ history.
Okocha’s remarks follow Fubara’s controversial decision to present the 2025 state budget to a faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly. In December, Governor Fubara presented a N1.1 trillion budget to the House of Assembly led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, who heads a faction of just four members. Okocha criticized this move, claiming it undermines the rule of law and ignores judicial pronouncements that have questioned the legitimacy of the faction in question.
While speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt, Okocha expressed his disappointment with the governor’s approach, especially at a time when the new year could have been an opportunity to mend political rifts. I expected the governor to use the new year to extend an olive branch and promote peace, but instead, he continues to fuel the flames of division, he said.
Okocha, who served as Chief of Staff in Rivers State between 2012 and 2015, also questioned the governor’s choice of forum for the budget presentation. He stated that the Assembly, which has 30 functional members, should have been the proper setting for such an important event. Instead, the budget was presented to a group that, according to legal rulings, is not recognized as a legitimate body. It is unimaginable and unthinkable that a governor with such a rich background in finance and governance would choose to sidestep legal processes, Okocha remarked.
In his criticism, Okocha stressed that the presentation of a state budget to what he termed an illegal setting was unprecedented and detrimental to the state’s political and legal integrity. Citing judicial rulings on similar matters, he referred to the faction as a forum of friends and not legitimate legislators. This, he claimed, would have serious implications for the future of governance in Rivers State.
Okocha’s warning highlights the ongoing political unrest in the state and raises concerns about the stability of governance under the current administration. As tensions between the state government and legislative factions intensify, observers are left wondering if Rivers State is heading toward a major political crisis.