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Tension Rises: Rivers Commissioner Blasts Lawmakers Over Budget Ultimatum
The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, has dismissed the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the State House of Assembly, asserting that the government will only act upon receiving the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgment.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In an interview with Punch on Monday, Johnson criticized the lawmakers’ directive as undemocratic and disrespectful to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, emphasizing that governance should not be dictated through ultimatums.
He explained that the state government has yet to receive the official Supreme Court ruling, which annulled the October 5, 2024, local government elections and reinstated the Amaewhule-led Assembly. Johnson reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to due process and stated that appropriate actions would be taken once the judgment’s full details are obtained.
“We can only act on the judgment when we receive the CTC. However, to demonstrate good faith, the governor has already directed the local government chairmen to hand over to the Heads of Local Government Administration, and the process is already underway,” Johnson stated.
He also criticized the lawmakers’ demand for the governor to submit the budget within 48 hours, describing it as authoritarian and inconsistent with democratic principles.
“The idea of ‘ordering’ the governor sounds too militaristic—it’s not the language of democracy. Nobody issues orders in a democratic setting. By Friday, we will receive the judgment, review it, and inform the media on the next steps. That should be enough to put the matter to rest,” he added.
Regarding local government administration, Johnson questioned the need for immediate intervention, stating, “If an elected official is removed, shouldn’t the councils manage themselves? For instance, if I, as Commissioner for Information, were removed, wouldn’t the Permanent Secretary step in? I leave that for the court of public opinion to decide.”
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