George-Kelly: I resigned from Fubara’s cabinet because we were spending without appropriation

Alabo George-Kelly, former commissioner of works in Rivers, says he resigned from the cabinet of Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, because the state was spending money without appropriation.

Five lawmakers loyal to Fubara had approved N800 billion as the state’s budget for the 2024 fiscal year, but a federal high court in Abuja nullified it.

The court asked the governor to re-present the budget to the constituted house of assembly under Martin Amaewhule, speaker of the assembly.

Amaewhule is an ally of Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

As part of a peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu in an attempt to reconcile Wike and Fubara, it was agreed that the budget would be re-presented. That has however not been done.

In an interview with Channels Television, Alabo said it was a breach of the procurement law for him to be awarding contracts when there was no budget.

“Part of the resolution was that the budget should be re-presented to the correct house of assembly. Was that done up till now? No,” he said.

“So if there is no appropriation, if there is no budget, how are you spending? That is my worry.

“How can I serve in that kind of government? I will be picked up one day, because you have immunity. I am approving projects and signing award letters without appropriation which is a breach of a procurement law.

“I don’t have immunity so I can be picked. Probably that could have been one of the reasons for my resignation.”

George-Kelly added that his loyalty lies with Wike.

“Today, tomorrow, next tomorrow, my loyalty lies irreversibly with Chief Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike,” George-Kelly said.

“Let me tell you something. We must not forget about those that helped us to climb. We must not.

“The governor for instance would have been a level 14 civil servant in the ministry of finance if not for Wike that made him a DFA, a permanent secretary and an accountant-general. And then a governor today.

“Some of us should be bold enough to speak the truth to power.”

Joe Johnson, commissioner for information in Rivers, did not immediately respond to requests for a reaction to George-Kelly’s claims, as phone calls and text messages were neither answered not returned.