Pro-Wike Group’s Plot to Seize LG Allocations in Rivers Depite Appeal, Supreme Courts Rulings Will Engender Constitutional Anarchy – Opposition Lawmakers Coalition
Nigeria’s Opposition Lawmakers Coalition have spoken out over the impending Constitutional anarchy that is looming with the plot by Federal High Court, Abuja and the Pro Nyesom Wike group to seize Rivers State Allocation despite pending cases at Appeal and Supreme Court.
According to the Coalition, the Pro Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT’s group intends to use the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik to destabilise Rivers State by seizing local government
allocations to make governance at the third tier of the oil rich state comatose.
The opposition lawmakers in a statement asked the Chief Judge of
Federal High Court, John Tsoho and other Judges, especially Justice Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik to halt the clandestine move to use the court to seize Rivers Allocation in favour of Pro Wike group, saying such alleged action will destabilise constitutional governance and illegally hijact the statutory revenue of a people that is secured by the constitution.
In a statement by its Spokesperson, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the coalition said they had received credible intelligence over plots by Wike and his cohorts to connive with the High Court to perpetrate the evil against democracy and people of the oil rich state.
He said; “We are receiving intelligence that The ProWike group has perfected their move to use the Federal High Court to seize the statutory sovereign constitutional revenue of Rivers State and they are going to ensure that the matter is heard and concluded today and judgement delivered in days .
“Nigerians are watching, this is the people’s federal high court, it’s not the private property of anyone. Judges will come and go but it’s an institution that people must have confidence in.
“It’s about the confidence and belief that justice has been done. Is this what justice Tsoho wants to be remembered for? A Federal High Court of Wike Interest? Are we now going to elevate building of Houses for Judges above manifest issues of Justice and Public Good? If the sacked lawmakers have not lost their seat by decampment they should have used their powers if they feel the Governor is not doing the right thing not to run to court room and use the court to legislate or perform legislative functions . There is no provision for seizing statutory public funds because the funds are for constitutional purposes. I want lawyers to speak up, your institution is under attack!! We can’t because of one man’s selfishness interest and reduce our institution!
“You want to seize the statutory revenue of an arm of government? So what will happen to teachers , students , salaries, hospital, drugs , security, welfare of the people? The Court have no such powers , they want to throw that state into anarchy and burn it to the ground, and you want Nigerians to clap for you.
NJC must review all these rulings on Rivers, it’s becoming embarrassing!”
“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.”