March 03, (THEWILL) – All is not well in Rivers State at the moment, following last Friday’s Supreme Court judgement which reinstated a previous judgement by a Federal High Court in Abuja that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Accountant-General of the Federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to the state.
The apex court, in another decision, invalidated the results of the Local Government Election held in the state on October 5, 2024. The court ruled that the election breached the Electoral Act of 2022 and declared it null and void.
The apex court also ordered the Hon Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the immediate past governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, to resume sitting, in the absence of evidence that the 27 lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All progressives Congress, APC.
There were mixed reactions to the Supreme Court judgements across the country. Although Governor Siminalayi Fubara expressed his government’s dissatisfaction with the judgements, which many citizens felt seemed like punitive measures, he urged the people of the state to remain calm and in a statement, said, “We are awaiting a detailed briefing on the implications of the judgement. We will carefully evaluate the situation and determine the next steps to take in the best interest of Rivers State and it’s people.”
Reacting to the Supreme Court order to suspend the disbursement of funds to Rivers, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Obiuwevbe Ominimini, urged the apex court to reconsider its decision in the “supreme interest of economic stability, social justice and national unity.”
The Forum said that Rivers, which contributes significantly to Nigeria’s revenue as an oil producing state should not be strangulated.
It lamented that ultimately the people of the state would suffer the consequences of the Supreme Court judgement.
“The primary casualties of this judicial restraint will be the innocent citizens of Rivers State, for whom the funds serve as a lifeline for economic, social and infrastructural development.
“Indeed, to deprive the state of its rightful allocations is to impose unwarranted hardship on a people who have consistently contributed to national sustenance,” PANDEF said.
As they say, when two elephants fight, the grass beneath them suffer. Could this be the fate awaiting the innocent and law-abiding people of Rivers, particularly those who have no part in the ongoing political crisis in the state?
Punishing the innocent heavily for the mistakes of a few others, we believe, is not the right way to tackle a problem that is otherwise solvable.
The Supreme Court judges may wield big sticks in this matter, but not to the extent of hurting the innocent in the process. It will be unfair to impose undeserved hardship on the ordinary citizens as implied in the judgement. It will be unfair.
Fortunately there seems to be an indication that the matter between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, which has significantly deprived the state and it’s people real progress, will end soon. On Sunday, the governor bowed to the apex court ruling on local government and directed that the elected chairmen and councillors should vacate office in obedience.
Also, the awaited judgement on the pending suit on the defection of the 27 lawmakers holds another chance to put the lingering crisis to rest and let peace reign in Rivers State.
