By Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja
Your Excellency, Rt. Hon. Professor Julius Ihonbvere, Majority Leader, House of Representatives, National Assembly, Sir,
Let me begin by saying a big thank you for your email response to my previous write-up.
Apart from the Members of Parliament (MPs) of the United Kingdom who used to send email responses to me, as a general rule, majority of Nigerian legislators are not in the habit of responding to emails from constituents or members of the general public.
On behalf of the right-thinking indigenes of Rivers State, I write to congratulate you for the decision of 30th June 2025.
Your decision to demand explanations from the Sole Administrator of Rivers State for the various sums that are evidence of his “budget padding” such as ₦24bn for CCTV, ₦30bn for gunboats, and ₦23bn for contingencies!!!
You and your Committee on the Oversight of the State of Emergency (SoE) in Rivers State have proved to be like “a Daniel that has come to judgment”, not the usual “take-a-bow-and-go, RUBBER-STAMP-style legislature that is now the trademark of the counterpart Committee of the Senate led by His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB).
Unlike your own Committee, the Senate Committee on the SoE in Rivers State approved the same budget as submitted by the same Sole Administrator of Rivers State, HOOK-LINE-AND-SINKER (no questions asked)!!!
The same Senate Committee on the SoE in Rivers State went further to confirm the nomination of an indigene of Cross River State as Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) despite the VEHEMENT protests of two high-ranking Senators and the Minority Leader of the Senate!!!
As you are a bona fide professor at the University of Port Harcourt before you were elected to the House of Representatives, National Assembly, I take it foregranted that you understand what the expression “a Daniel has come to judgment” means.
However, for the benefit of other readers, here is an explanation: “A Daniel has come to judgment” is a quote from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice (written in 1596), spoken by the character Shylock. It is a reference to the biblical Daniel, known for his wisdom and ability to interpret dreams and deliver just verdicts. In the play, Shylock uses this phrase when he believes Portia, disguised as a lawyer, is delivering a judgment in his favor in a legal dispute. The phrase is an expression of admiration for wise and fair judgment.”
Regardless of whatever explanation and justification that the Sole Administrator of Rivers State might submit to your Committee within the 48 hour ultimatum, in the interest of Justice, it is only fair that the Sole Administrator be placed on a three month suspension.
There are two reasons:
- The Sole Administrator and his team ought to be placed on suspension or study leave so that they can attend a specialised training course at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) Abuja. The specialised training course would teach and train them on how to prepare the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and other documentation associated with the Appropriation Bill;
- More importantly, as a demonstration of commitment to upholding equity and justice, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State should be placed on suspension in the same similar manner that Governor Fubara was placed on suspension for his ALLEGED withholding the salaries of the 27 law-makers of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The total amount is approximately ₦405,000,000 which is by far lesser amount than what the Sole Administrator has PENCILLED down for looting under the guise of CCTV (₦24bn), purchase of gunboats (₦30bn) and contingency (₦23bn).
We thank you in advance for your usual anticipated prompt and positive response.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja,
1st July 2025.
The views expressed by contributors are strictly personal and not of Law & Society Magazine.
“Interesting comparison! The letter raises valid concerns about accountability and fairness in governance. Misappropriation of ₦24BN warrants scrutiny. Consistency in applying rules is key.”