JUST IN: Wike’s Lawmakers Finally Admit Receiving ₦350m Each From Rivers State Government

For the first time since allegations of secret payments rocked the Rivers State House of Assembly, one of the lawmakers aligned with former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has publicly admitted that members of the Assembly indeed received ₦350 million each from the Rivers State Government for constituency projects.

 

The admission came from Hon. Ignatius Obenachi Onwuka, who represents Etche Constituency I in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

 

Onwuka made the disclosure during a ward meeting with his constituents, ending weeks of speculation and public outrage over reports that lawmakers collected huge sums of money for projects that were either unexecuted or abandoned.

 

However, while confirming the receipt of the controversial funds, the lawmaker insisted that the ₦350 million was only a fraction of what was originally approved for each legislator. According to him, each member of the Assembly was budgeted to receive ₦1 billion for constituency projects in the year, with the ₦350 million serving merely as the first tranche.

 

“Yes, we received ₦350 million, but that was not the full amount,” Onwuka told his constituents. “Each lawmaker was supposed to get ₦1 billion to execute constituency projects. What we got was just part payment, and it is grossly inadequate to carry out the projects we had already mapped out.”

 

Claims of Unreleased Balance

 

Onwuka alleged that the balance of ₦650 million per lawmaker was expected to be released by the Rivers State Government after Governor Siminalayi Fubara resumed office following the end of the state of emergency declared in the state. According to him, that expectation has not materialised, leaving several constituency projects across Rivers State in limbo.

 

He further claimed that despite what he described as the state having “over ₦600 billion at its disposal,” the governor has refused to release the remaining funds, a situation he said has stalled development projects not only in Etche Constituency I but in other parts of the state as well.

 

“As it stands now, my constituency project is stalled because the ₦350 million cannot successfully cover the scope of work,” Onwuka said. “We had planned roads, drainage systems, schools and other critical interventions. With what we received, it is impossible to complete them.”

 

Admission Sparks Fresh Controversy

 

The lawmaker’s comments have reignited public anger and debate over the handling of constituency project funds in Rivers State. For weeks, civil society groups and residents had accused lawmakers of collecting ₦350 million each for projects that were never executed, while the legislators largely maintained silence or denied the claims.

 

Onwuka’s admission appears to confirm the core of those allegations, even as he attempts to justify the situation by arguing that the funds were insufficient rather than misused.

 

Critics, however, say the explanation raises more questions than answers. Many have asked why ₦350 million could not at least be used to execute visible projects in constituencies, instead of leaving communities with little or nothing to show for such a large allocation.

 

“This is not small money by any standard,” said a Port Harcourt-based civil rights activist who spoke on condition of anonymity. “If you give a lawmaker ₦350 million and nothing tangible happens in the constituency, people have a right to ask serious questions.”

 

Link to Impeachment Plot

 

Perhaps most controversially, Onwuka linked the funding shortfall directly to the impeachment move against Governor Fubara. According to him, the decision by lawmakers to initiate impeachment proceedings was a collective one, driven largely by frustration over the non-release of the remaining ₦650 million for constituency projects.

 

“The issue of funding is one of the major reasons behind the impeachment move,” he claimed. “This was not a decision taken by one person. It was a collective decision by the Assembly leadership.”

 

This revelation has added a new dimension to the political crisis in Rivers State, suggesting that financial disagreements, rather than purely constitutional or governance concerns, may be at the heart of the ongoing power struggle between the executive and the legislature.

 

Governor Fubara has not directly responded to Onwuka’s claims. However, sources close to the state government have previously argued that due process, transparency concerns and the prevailing political tension in the state necessitated caution in releasing large sums of public money.

 

Public Reaction and Trust Deficit

 

The admission has deepened public distrust of the Rivers State House of Assembly, particularly among residents who say they have seen little or no impact of constituency projects over the years.

 

In Etche and other constituencies, residents interviewed expressed anger that such huge sums could be discussed openly while basic infrastructure remains in poor condition.

 

“Whether it is ₦350 million or ₦1 billion, what we care about is development,” said a community leader in Etche. “Our roads are bad, schools are collapsing, and there is no water. So where is the money going?”

 

Analysts say the controversy underscores longstanding concerns about the transparency and accountability of constituency projects across Nigeria, where lawmakers often control large budgets with limited public oversight.

 

A Political Storm Far From Over

 

With Onwuka’s admission now on record, pressure is mounting on other lawmakers to speak up and explain how the ₦350 million they allegedly received was utilised. Civil society organisations are also renewing calls for an independent probe into the handling of constituency project funds by the Rivers State House of Assembly.

 

As the political standoff in Rivers State continues, the revelation threatens to further complicate the already tense relationship between the legislature and the executive, while placing lawmakers under intense public scrutiny.

 

For many residents, however, the issue goes beyond politics. It is about accountability, trust, and the basic question of why communities remain underdeveloped despite billions of naira budgeted in their name. Whether the latest admission will lead to reforms or simply fade into another unresolved controversy remains to be seen.