Rivers: Obi tackles Tinubu govt for releasing allocation to Sole Administrator

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The government of President Bola Tinubu has come under fire from former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi for releasing Rivers State’s delayed allocation to the appointed Sole Administrator in contravention of the Supreme Court’s decision.

According to ZINGTIE, on February 28, the Supreme Court prohibited the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation, and other organizations from releasing funds to the Rivers State Government until they had rid themselves of what the court characterized as egregious disregard for court orders.

But because of the ongoing situation, President Tinubu imposed a State of Emergency on Tuesday of last week, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and every member of the State House of Assembly for six months.

Tinubu in a countrywide broadcast, announced the appointment of Ibok-Ete Ibas as the Sole Administrator to steer the business of the state.

Ibas verified the disbursement of the withheld allocations in Port Harcourt on Friday.

Reacting, Obi in a statement on Monday said, “the decision to release statutory allocations to an appointed Sole Administrator, despite a standing order of the Supreme Court, is not just unlawful — it is a direct challenge to the authority of the highest court of our country.

“The Supreme Court had explicitly barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) from releasing these funds until a properly constituted House of Assembly passed a valid Appropriation Act.

“Yet, we see a situation where this order is being ignored. This raises serious moral intentions, and questions of what is happening in Rivers State.

“By disregarding the judgment of the Supreme Court, those involved are setting a dangerous precedent. The CBN and AGF, institutions meant to uphold the law, should not be complicit in this disregard for our judiciary. We cannot build a nation where those who swore oaths to uphold our constitution and obey the laws are doing the opposite.

“This is about more than just Rivers State; it is about protecting the very fabric of our democracy, and our existence as a nation.

“A country cannot function where the rule of law is trampled upon, where the separation of powers is disregarded, and where judicial decisions are treated as mere suggestions.

“If we continue this way, we are undermining the future of our democracy. We must choose to do the right thing — to respect the law and uphold the principles that bind us as a nation”.

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