The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has expressed serious concern over the recent Federal High Court ruling that suspended federal allocations to Rivers State, calling for its immediate reversal.
In a Friday statement on X, Obi highlighted that the decision endangers the well-being of vulnerable citizens in Rivers and called on well-meaning Nigerians to raise their voices against the ruling.
The court’s decision, issued by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on Wednesday, bars the Central Bank of Nigeria from disbursing funds to Rivers State, citing constitutional breaches by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Justice Abdulmalik found that Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget to a limited House of Assembly was unconstitutional, leading the court to label the state’s budgetary actions since January as a “constitutional aberration.” Additionally, the order restricts financial transactions from key state accounts.
Reacting to the development, Obi emphasized his usual stance of avoiding local political disputes. However, he explained that the severe implications of the judgment prompted him to speak out. “This curious decision now calls upon every well-meaning Nigerian to appeal for its immediate reversal,” he stated, stressing that the suspension’s impact on pensions, healthcare, education, and civil service could compound the struggles of everyday citizens in the state.
Obi painted a picture of the hardships that such a ruling could impose on vulnerable groups, noting, “Consider the pensioner struggling to survive on a meagre income alongside the health workers, school teachers, civil servants, and everyday citizens whose lives are already marked by severe hardship.” He warned that the judgment could lead to heightened distress and even life-threatening situations for those who rely on these allocations.
Emphasizing the broader implications, Obi urged leaders in all branches of government to prioritize the welfare of Nigeria’s citizens. He stated, “Our decisions and actions should be guided by a commitment to the well-being of the less privileged and vulnerable among us,” calling for policies that reflect compassion and help build a foundation for a brighter future for all Nigerians.
