Rivers Crisis: APC, pro-Wike group move to stop state’s LG allocation

A coalition of opposition lawmakers has raised the alarm over an alleged move by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a group supporting the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, to secure a court injunction or judgment to stop the constitutional monthly Rivers State Local Government allocation.

The spokesman of the coalition, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, stated this on Tuesday in a statement he made available to DAILY POST.

Ugochinyere represents the Ideato South/North Federal Constituency of Imo State.

According to him, the opposition obtained credible evidence from a source that the above-mentioned group, working with some anti-democratic forces, has filed a legal process at the Federal High Court seeking an injunction or judgment to withhold monthly funds allocated to the local governments in Rivers State.

The statement read: “The APC and Pro-Wike group, as I am speaking, is filing a suit at the Federal High Court to help them seize the statutory sovereign allocation of the entire Rivers State LGAs, knowing fully well that no court in Nigeria has declared the election of the LGA chairmen invalid. But still, they want to stop the constitutional allocation of revenue to an arm of government that is constitutionally mandated.

“This is the second of such cases by the Wike group to bring about constitutional disorder. They have a pending case seeking to seize the entire Rivers allocation/LGA funds they filed, and now they are using the Wike-APC faction to file another suit seeking an order to stop the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, the Accountant General of the Federation, the Minister of Finance, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Attorney-General of Rivers State, and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.

The lawmaker stated that the Wike group is still reeling from the outcome of the just-concluded Rivers State LGA election, which was held in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment that mandated the election. The pro-Wike group, who claimed to be working for President Tinubu, wanted to stop it at all costs.

Ugochinyere added that their intelligence includes reports of boasting by some pro-Wike supporters that the case, before the close of business today or tomorrow, will be assigned to the usual judges who always deliver swift ex-parte orders or judgments in favor of the Wike camp.

He warned that the opposition is closely monitoring the development and will not hesitate to alert the Nigerian people.

He stated that the LGA allocation is a statutory, constitutional, and sovereign fund for an arm of government that cannot be hijacked, especially with the existence of valid LGA leadership.

He urged the FCT Minister’s camp to accept defeat and abandon their alleged plan to undermine the people of Rivers State. He also urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and not allow unscrupulous elements to lead the nation into anarchy and tarnish democracy under his watch.

“The APC and Pro-Wike group, as I am speaking, is filing a suit at the Federal High Court to help them seize the allocation of the entire Rivers State, knowing fully well that no court in Nigeria has declared the election of the LGA chairmen invalid, but still they want to stop the constitutional allocation of revenue to an arm of government that is constitutionally mandated.

“The people of Rivers State have elected their council chairmen 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 cannot afford to fold his arms and watch as the 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 in Rivers to help save the image of the judiciary, which their desperation is undermining.”