The political standoff between the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the State House of Assembly escalated on Friday as a top government official accused lawmakers of collecting N350 million each for constituency projects while raising objections over allegedly unapproved payments.
The allegation was made by Darlington Orji, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, during an interview on Arise Television, where he addressed concerns surrounding the budget process and the growing rift between the executive and the legislature.
Orji dismissed claims by lawmakers that certain payments were not appropriated, insisting that their position was inconsistent with their past conduct.
According to him, civil servants in the state received N100,000 each in December as a year-end appreciation, a gesture he said was also extended to members of the House of Assembly.
“The same N100,000 that was given to civil servants as a way of appreciating them was also given to members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Some of them rejected it, saying it was not appropriated,” Orji said.
He questioned the lawmakers’ decision to reject the gesture, arguing that they had previously accepted significantly larger sums without raising similar concerns.
“You cannot build something out of nothing. They rejected N100,000 because it was not appropriated, but can you ask them where the N350 million that was given to each of them for constituency projects came from? Why did they not reject it if it was not appropriated?” he asked.
Orji maintained that his claims were made in good faith, stressing that he would not make unfounded allegations on a national platform.
“You know your platform is a very respected one, and I will not come here to tell lies. I will not say what I am not sure of,” he said.
He further explained that disagreements over certain interests and proposals stalled the budget presentation process, noting that Governor Fubara declined to approve submissions he considered inappropriate.
“In preparing a budget, there are many things that come together to make up the appropriation bill. When they said certain interests were not captured, the governor told them not to worry, that it would be addressed by December. But the presentation was not made because His Excellency refused to accept it,” Orji added.
The comments come amid an ongoing political impasse between the Rivers State executive arm and the House of Assembly, raising fresh questions about fiscal transparency and governance in the state.
