Opposition Lawmakers Raise Alarm Over ‘Fresh Plot’ by Pro-Wike Group to Use Court to Seize Rivers LG Funds
Nigeria’s Opposition lawmakers Coalition has raised alarm over alleged fresh move by the All Progressive Congress, APC and group supporting the Minister of FCT Nyesom Wike to secure a court injunction/Judgement to stop the constitutional/statutory monthly allocations of Rivers State Local Government allocation that belongs to the people which any attempt to starve the people can lead to unimaginable crisis that can destabilise constitutional governance.
The spokesperson of the coalition, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere said that they got credible evidence from a source that the above mentioned group working with some anti Democratic forces have filled a legal process at the Federal High Court, seeking for their usual kind of court injunction/Judgement to withhold monthly funds allocation to the LGAs in Rivers State.
Ugochinyere said, “The APC and Pro Wike group as i am talking is filling a suit at federal high court to help them seize the statutory sovereign allocation of entire Rivers state LGA knowing fully well that no court in Nigeria have declared the election of the LGA Chairmen invalid but still they want to stop the constitutional allocation of a revenue to an arm of government that is constitutional. This is the second of such cases by the Wike group to bring constitutional disorder .They have pending case seeking to seize the entire Rivers allocation/LGA funds they filled, and now they are using the wike APC faction to file another suit seeking order to stop the Federal account allocation committee , Accountant General of the Federation, Minister of Finance , Attorney-General of the Federation, Attorney-General of Rivers State of Nigeria, and Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
Ugochinyere stated that the Wike group are still in pains following the outcome of the just concluded Rivers State LGA election which held in compliance with the Supreme Court judgement that ordered mandatory LGA election which the pro wike group who claimed to be working for President Tinubu wanted to stop at all cost so that Rivers State can be thrown into anarchy in pursuit of their greedy political interest.
Ugochinyere added that their intelligence includes boosting by some of the pro wike supporters that the case before close of Business today or tomorrow will be assigned to the usual Judges that always deliver swift Exparte Orders/judgements in favour of the wike camp while warning that the opposition is closely monitoring the development and will not hesitate to alert the Nigerian people .
He stated that LGA allocation is statutory constitutional sovereign fund of an arm of government that can’t be hijacked, especially with the existence of a valid LGA leadership.
He therefore urged the FCT minister camp to accept defeat, and leave their alleged plan to undermine Rivers People and as well urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and not allow some scrupulous elements to lead the nation into anarchy and tarnish democracy under his watch including creating more hatred for him as Rivers Workers and Indigenes will not forgive anyone or political party that is attempting to seize their statutory allocation.
Ugochinyere said, “The APC and Pro Wike group as i am talking is filling a suit at federal high court to help them seize the allocation of entire rivers state knowing fully well that no court in Nigeria have declared the election of the LGA Chairmen invalid but still they want to stop the constitutional allocation of a revenue to an arm of government that is constitutional.
“The people of Rivers State have elected their council chairman and councillors in line with the recent ruling of the Supreme Court to democratize all LGAs in Nigeria and any attempt to truncate democracy in Rivers would be resisted by the people. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can not afford to fold his arms and watch as Wike group plots to reverse democracy in Rivers State and undermine the peace and stability of the country . I hope the case doesn’t go to those who like to issue orders for the pro wike group in seconds. We are watching closely. The judiciary should quit granting any frivolous requests from the wike group related to the LG polls and Rivers to help save the image of the judiciary, which their desperation is undermining