PeakNews Online
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has invited members of the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly for a crucial meeting, signaling a potential breakthrough in the prolonged political crisis in the state.
The meeting, scheduled for Monday, March 11, 2025, at the Government House in Port Harcourt, comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s judgment reinstating the Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers Assembly.
Fubara’s Invitation and the Supreme Court Ruling
In a letter dated March 7, 2025, issued by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Fubara acknowledged the Supreme Court’s ruling and extended an invitation to the lawmakers.
“And he has, therefore, directed to invite you and your colleagues, the Honourable members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, to a meeting,” the letter stated.
The Supreme Court’s February 28 judgment affirmed an earlier Federal High Court ruling barring the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation from disbursing Rivers State’s statutory monthly allocations. Additionally, the court restored the Amaewhule-led Assembly, which had been at the center of a political standoff between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Key Issues on the Agenda
The meeting is expected to address critical issues, including:
Securing a suitable venue for legislative sittings
Resolving outstanding remuneration and allowances for lawmakers
Discussion on the 2025 budget presentation
Since the court ruling, the reinstated lawmakers have resumed sittings, summoning Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) officials over alleged mismanagement of funds. They have also asked Governor Fubara to present the 2025 Appropriations Bill for legislative consideration.
A Path to Reconciliation?
The invitation is being interpreted as a sign of willingness by Fubara to mend fences with the Assembly, which remains loyal to Wike. The political crisis in Rivers State dates back to 2023, when a rift between Fubara and Wike led to a sharp division within the House of Assembly, culminating in legislative paralysis.
Observers see the planned meeting as a crucial step toward restoring governance stability in Rivers State, though the outcome remains uncertain amid ongoing tensions between the two political camps.
