Dabutorudima announced this during Friday’s sitting in the House of Assembly after the swearing-in of 12 lawmakers, who won the December 10 legislative rerun elections in the state.
However, a new Speaker, Ibani Ikuinyi-Owaji, was immediately elected in an exercise that was conducted by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Marshal Uwom.
This happened on the same day that Senator Magnus Abe (APC-Rivers South-East) flayed the preparation and passage of the Rivers’ 2017 budget.
He described the budget presented by the Rivers governor, Nyesom Wike and passed by the state legislature “as too hasty”.
Abe spoke when a chieftaincy title: “Esaan Kono” (First Son of Kono) was conferred on him by the Kono Community in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers.
He said that the budget was not supposed to be treated as a secret document but a collective interest of all groups in the state.
The lawmaker maintained that the absence of some lawmakers during the budget presentation to the House of Assembly attested to the manner the budget was prepared.
According to him, “A budget is expected to be discussed by representatives of the various local government areas to ensure equal opportunities for the economic interest of all.
“The governor would have waited for the swearing-in of all the elected lawmakers to enable every part of the state have a voice in the economic plan of the state.
“If the budget is hastily presented and subsequently passed into law without involvement of all the lawmakers, then its aim is defeated,” he said.
Abe urged the governor to make public copies of the budget to enable the people have better knowledge of his administration.
He also charged the people of Kono to embrace the spirit of brotherhood to enhance the economic growth and political stability of the constituency.
