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..….Says ordering allocation seizure is inflicting pain on the majority to please the few
Nigeria’s Coalition of Opposition lawmakers has said that despite Supreme Court judgement on Friday, Governor Siminalayi Fubara will continue to drive the wheel of governance in Rivers State until the case on legality of decampment of the sacked lawmakers which is presently at Appeal Court is finally decided. The Opposition lawmakers went further to say that the voiding of the local govt election will not affect the continuance of governance at the rural area saying that governance and welfare of the people are the primary responsibility of govt and that sacred responsibility is not going to stop.
Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo) Spokesperson of the coalition said this in reaction to the Apex Court ruling which amongst others ordered the Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly and other elected members of the House to forthwith resume sitting.
The Supreme Court on Friday, also reinstated the judgement which earlier barred the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Accountant General of the Federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers State.
But, the Opposition lawmakers disagreed with Supreme Court Judgement, saying ruling capable of inflicting injury on the people of Rivers.
Ugochinyere insisted that the Supreme Court did not deliver judgement on the legality of the decampment of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers to All Progressives Congress (APC) as the case was pending at Appeal Court between the pro wike sacked lawmakers and the Action Peoples Party APP.
The lawmaker wondered why the Apex court delivered such a judgement which tantamount to depriving the people of Rivers their political and economic rights – to elect their leaders at the third tier of government and get what is accrued to them from the federation account which they made significant contribution.
The lawmaker described as unfortunate, the decision of the Supreme Court on these two appeals which does not augur well for democracy and federalism, saying the appeal court acted in good faith for the interest of Rivers people who an individual was trying to hold captive.
“It is indeed, surprising that the Supreme Court faulted the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal for vacating the initial order that stopped the release of funds to Rivers State from the consolidated revenue on the pretext that Governor Fubara did not to re-present the 2024 Appropriation Bill of the state before the Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led sacked faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“Notwithstanding, Governor Fubara will continue to drive the wheel of governance in Rivers until the case on legality of decampment is decided and the Supreme Court
“For emphasis, the case challenging the illegality of the pro wike decampment is been heard at Appeal Court and we are surprised Supreme Court would confered legitimacy on lawmakers whose decampment is still a subject of litigation. To power drunk pro Wike group, the sacked 27 lawmakers stand removed having desecrated the Constitution and decamped from peaceful PDP to rancorous APC. They should not celebrate, it’s not yet uhuru!”
He ended by saying that the LGA as a democratic institution will continue to serve the people and the judgement have not affected delivery governance to the People and that the former chairmen whose tenure expired last year still remains former chairmen and can’t come back to office again.
