An aide to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Darlington Orji, has revealed that members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were reportedly paid N350 million each as constituency allowance during the six-month emergency rule under former Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.)
Orji made the claim on Friday while speaking on ARISE News Television, where he dismissed recent assertions by the lawmakers that they acted patriotically by rejecting the N100,000 Christmas allowance paid to public servants in the state.
Describing the lawmakers’ posture as “self-serving and deceptive,” Orji questioned why the same legislators who declined the yuletide stipend allegedly had no moral objections to accepting far larger benefits during the emergency administration.
“If they were truly being patriotic, why didn’t they reject the N350 million each they collected from Admiral Ibas as constituency allowance?” Orji asked. “Why didn’t they return the luxury vehicles given to them?”
He further alleged that, in addition to the huge cash payouts, each lawmaker was also presented with a 2025 Range Rover SUV, a claim that has already sparked renewed controversy in the state’s tense political atmosphere.
