Politics

Opposition Lawmakers Reject Judgment On Rivers Allocations Seizure

Published

1 year ago

October 30, 2024

A coalition of opposition lawmakers have rejected the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja which ordered the seizure of statutory allocations to the Rivers State Government on Wednesday.

Describing the ruling by Justice Abdulmalik Joyce as the ‘Height of judicial rascality,’ the lawmakers said the judgment was ill-conceived given that the issues surrounding 27 lawmakers loyal to the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike who decamped to the All Progressives Congress were still pending at the Appeal and Supreme Courts.

The lawmakers described the judgment as a legal coup against the likely outcome of pending appeals at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court on the same subject matter.

They added that it was an attempt to unleash constitutional anarchy against a federating state and independent arm of government with a responsibility to the people.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the group’s spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, described the judgment as clear evidence that the Federal High Court has gone out of control and is willing to do the bidding of the pro-Wike group at the expense of the Rivers people.

Ugochinyere said, “How can a judge who knows very well that the decamped lawmakers have lost their seats, still go ahead to order for the allocation to be seized in favour of those who have lost their seats while the issues are pending at different courts on whether they should be parading as lawmakers.

“You want to use the Federal High Court to undermine democracy and constitutional governance. The issue of legality of their decampment is still in court and you are rushing to order that budget be presented to them as who?”

They added that the decision of Justice Abdulmalik Joyce and Chief Justice of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho to proceed with the case “despite a pending petition against the clear evidence of bias against them shows that there is more to the case than meets the ordinary eye”.

Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency in Imo State also said, “How can you be aware that all the subject matters are before the Appeal Court and Supreme Court and you still went ahead to attempt to do harm and damage to innocent tax paying people of Rivers who did nothing?

“The Supreme Court has ruled on the sanctity of the Local Government Areas and state allocation as a sovereign wealth of the people that can’t be seized as such funds are constitutional and can only be spent on the authority of that State or local government. If the head of the state or LGA is not spending it well or spending it without necessary compliance with laid down regulations, the constitution gives you the power to impeach such officer, if you have the numbers and legitimacy.

“So because the pro-Wike group know they have lost the legitimacy to be called lawmakers or perform legislative functions, they now rushed to court to use the court to attempt to carry out a financial coup against the Rivers people. After generating oil revenue from the backyard of Rivers people, other states will take their own share home and the people that produced the revenue will starve to death because the Federal High Court wants to please the pro-Wike group.

“Do you think this will bring peace to Niger Delta? The allocation is not a political fund or money meant for Gov Siminalayi Fubara but official revenue of the entire people that cover their economic, health, security and welfare needs.”

He added, “That said, the lawmakers called on Rivers people to come out in their numbers to protest against the judgment.

“The opposition lawmakers call on Rivers people, workers and citizens to mobilise for a day of protest against the ongoing agenda to use the Federal High Court Abuja and selected judges to create a constitutional crisis in Rivers State.”

Politics

Obasanjo, Atiku, Obi Meet In Abuja

Published

6 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi met in Abuja on Saturday.

The trio were among prominent political figures who attended the Tambuwal Colloquium, titled “Leadership, Service and Statesmanship at 60,” held at the New Event Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, in honour of the 60th birthday of former Sokoto State Governor and Senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

Atiku confirmed his presence at the event in a post on his X handle, stating that he had arrived at the venue for the colloquium organised to mark Tambuwal’s milestone birthday.

The former vice president also shared images of himself, Obasanjo and Obi at the event.

The event attracted political leaders, statesmen and stakeholders from across the country.

Politics

PANDEF Wades Into Rivers Crisis, Sets Up Seven-member Mediation Team

Published

11 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has intervened in the political crisis in Rivers State, calling on all actors to sheathe their swords and embrace peace in the interest of the development of the state and the region in general.

Expressing concern that the political disagreement involving the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly might degenerate to total lawlessness, the Board and National Executive Committee of PANDEF set up a seven-member reconciliation team to resolve the issues.

The team, which is headed by a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, has six other members.

They are Senator Obende Domingo (Vice Chairman); Chief Essien Nduese; Dr Timiebi Koripamo-Agari; Chief Mike Ejiofor; Mrs Nella Rabana-Andem, SAN; and Prince Godwin Okotie, the Deputy National Secretary of PANDEF, who will serve as the secretary of the team.

Politics

Wike: Why Removing Fubara Will Be Difficult – Ex-Commissioner

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

A former Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Austin Tam-George, has said that attempts to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara would be difficult to sustain, citing what he described as the governor’s performance record and the lack of concrete allegations against him.

Tam-George made the remarks on Thursday while speaking on Prime Time on Arise Television, arguing that the impeachment process being initiated against Fubara was to scuttle his chance for a second term.

According to him, Governor Fubara has continued to place the needs of the people at the centre of his administration, with visible interventions in rural development, housing, education and healthcare.

He said this, in his view, has made it difficult for opponents to justify moves to remove the governor from office.

Tam-George also called on the All Progressives Congress, APC, to intervene, arguing that the party should not allow what he described as the humiliation of a sitting governor.

He said: “Well, all I think he needs to do is to do exactly what he’s been doing from the beginning, which is to place the people at the center of gravity of his administration, prioritize the needs of the people, so that the people can see the direct impact of government action in their lives.

“And that’s exactly what he’s doing in terms of rural development, in terms of housing sector transformation, which I mentioned that he is doing the same in education sector and in health.

“So if he continues, if he persists in placing the people’s need at the center of focus of his administration, there is no way they are going to be able to justify this kind of shenanigans.

“Because, if you look very carefully at the so called articles of impeachment, you will see that there is no specificity in terms of any infraction by the governor or his deputy.

“What they are trying to do is to make sure they scuttle the administration so that the governor doesn’t then get to the point where he will be seeking a second term.

“Let me be clear, just two days ago, Nyesom Wike was at one of the local governments, and he made it clear in a moment of epiphany, he made it clear that, look, if Governor Fubara were to get a second term in office, it will amount to his own political burial.

“So all of these things that we are seeing the so called impeachment proceedings they’ve initiated, it’s actually an effort to try to scuttle the prospects of the governor coming for a second term, and I don’t see how they will succeed.

“If you look at the so called articles of impeachment, as I said, they lack specificity in terms of the kind of infraction that they allege that the governor has committed. He has done nothing wrong, and they will see how the process will play out.

“My sense, and in fact, if I were to advise the governor, my sense is that he should just maintain the people, retain the people at the center of gravity of his administration, meet their needs, run a transparent administration as he always done, and then the truth will come out, and he will be able to defend the administration.

“I think the the governing APC should also step in because they can’t possibly allow the governor of the office with probably one of the best performance records in the country to be humiliated by some of these members of the assembly.”