Members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly received funds for constituency projects during the six-month state of emergency declared in the state by President Bola Tinubu.

Deputy Chief Whip of the Assembly, Justina Emeji, disclosed this on Thursday during the commissioning of one of her constituency projects, the Echonwere Royal Hall, in Okporowo Ogbakiri, Emohua Local Government Area of the state.

Emeji, who represents Emohua Constituency in the state legislature, said she and her colleagues received constituency project funds from Ibas during the emergency rule.

She said the project was motivated by her desire to fulfil her campaign promises of quality representation.

“The fund was given to us for constituency projects during the Emergency Rule. The Speaker encouraged me and other colleagues to go and make our constituents proud so that your people will remember you.

“This is one of the many projects I have brought to my people, and I am happy,” she stated.

Emeji said she carried out a needs assessment and consulted widely with constituents across the 14 wards of Emohua LGA before initiating the projects.

She disclosed that, aside from the commissioned town hall, she had seven other people-oriented constituency projects ongoing across the local government area.

The projects, which she said would positively impact the people, include a lodge for corps members at Oduoha Ogbakiri, a market at Isiodu Emohua, six classroom blocks at Ibaa Community, teachers’ quarters at Akpabu, six classroom blocks at Egbeda and another six classroom blocks at Ovogo Community.

At the event, Emeji also donated N30m as an empowerment fund to 150 beneficiaries drawn from the 14 wards of Emohua LGA.

She thanked members of the Assembly for their support, describing them as men and women of integrity.

“These people you are seeing here are integrity group. You know, we have 27 lawmakers. Only 12 disciples of Christ, and you have a Judas, but among 27 Assembly members in Rivers State, there is no Judas,” she said.

She praised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for his leadership and guidance.

“I want to thank our leader, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for bringing all of us together. We are following in his footsteps in terms of delivering our mandate and guidance. God will bless him and his family,” she said.

Emeji dedicated the project to her late parents, saying, “I don’t know where my father is, but I know he’s dancing here. Every day he wanted to do this, and I’ve done it. I know he’s very happy, same as my mother too. May their souls rest in peace.”

In his remarks, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, congratulated Emeji for being a dependable member of the 10th Assembly and a good representative of her people.

“We are here to commission one of the projects nominated by Hon. Justina Emeji for her constituency, which is this town hall right behind me. She nominated these projects after consulting with her people, and they said they want these projects.

“She ensured that the project is supervised and completed, and today this town hall is ready for use,” Amaewhule said.

The Rivers Assembly Speaker emphasised that representation is a core mandate of a legislator, involving identifying the needs and aspirations of constituents and working with government to actualise them. “Let me also re-emphasise that she has seven other projects that are ongoing. That shows that she is representing her people well. The 10th Rivers State House of Assembly has members that are representing our people effectively and delivering on their mandates,” he said.

The Speaker promised a harvest of constituency projects across all constituencies before the end of the 10th Assembly and the 2027 general elections.

Amaewhule also urged Rivers people to vote for President Bola Tinubu, the Rivers All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, and all candidates under the Rainbow Coalition in the state led by Nyesom Wike.

“Rivers people have already decided the way forward. We have a leader, His Excellency Ezenwo Nyesom Wike. He is leading us very well. Going forward next year when we are going to cast our votes in January, Rivers people know where to vote.

“We will cast our votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Also, we are going to vote for all candidates under the Rainbow Coalition,” he said.

Amaewhule continued, “The governorship election is also very important to us, and I have been duly informed that the Emohua people have resolved that next year when it’s time to vote for who will take over in the Brick House (the seat of power in the state), we will vote no other person than Representative Kingsley Ogundu Chinda and his deputy, Hon. Major Jack.”

Recall that the President declared a state of emergency in Rivers State in March 2025 amid the political crisis that had rocked the state.

Following the declaration, Tinubu suspended the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the State House of Assembly.

The President also appointed a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), as administrator to preside over the affairs of the state during the period.