Former Governor Nyesom Wike has criticized Governor Siminalayi Fubara over his reaction to the Rivers State House of Assembly’s request for him to submit the state budget within 48 hours.
Speaking in a video shared by TVC, Wike explained that there was nothing wrong with the Assembly asking Fubara to submit the budget quickly, especially since they were about to go on recess. He said that if the timeline was too short, the governor could have simply asked for an extension instead of making a big issue out of it.
According to Wike, the lawmakers acted in the interest of the state by trying to get the budget approved before their recess. He said that a sincere leader would have responded by requesting a one-week extension instead of questioning why they gave a deadline in the first place. Wike insisted that Fubara’s reaction showed that he was not being sincere in his dealings with the lawmakers
In Wike’s words: “They (Amaewhule-led assembly) said within 48 hours submit your budget, what is wrong in him (Fubara) saying ‘I can’t be ready by 48 hours, give me 1 week’ What is wrong in that? If the lawmakers said ‘we are going on recess, for the interest of the state present your budget within 48 hours’ have they not done well? All you would have done as a sincere person is to say look ‘it is too urgent for me, can you people shift your recess give me 1 week.’ You just don’t come out and say why should they give ultimatum, who are you. The governor is not sincere”
You can watch the video from 19:21
