Former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, expressed grave concerns over the Federal High Court’s decision to halt monthly federal allocations to Rivers State.
Obi highlighted the serious consequences this ruling could have on the lives of vulnerable Nigerians and called for its immediate reversal, citing the negative impact on citizens who rely heavily on government support.
The court’s decision came on Wednesday when Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued a ruling that bars the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing federal allocations to Rivers State, citing constitutional violations by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
According to the court, Governor Fubara’s presentation of the state’s 2024 budget to a significantly reduced House of Assembly—a group of only four members—did not comply with the constitutional requirement, raising concerns about the legality of the budget itself.
Since the beginning of 2024, Rivers State has reportedly received and utilized allocations based on what the court described as an “illegitimate” budget. Justice Abdulmalik labeled the budget approval process as a “constitutional aberration,” implying that it severely deviated from established legal procedures.
As a result, the court order not only blocks the CBN and the Accountant General of the Federation from distributing funds to Rivers State but also freezes the state’s accounts at two major banks, Zenith Bank and Access Bank.
Responding to this ruling, Peter Obi took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his disagreement, noting the serious repercussions that such a suspension could have on ordinary citizens.
Obi stated, “In my political trajectory, I have consistently refrained from name-calling or engaging in personal disputes, choosing instead to focus on issues that directly impact the masses, particularly the suffering poor of Nigeria.
“Despite the national attention the Rivers State crisis has gained, I have largely stayed away from matters specific to a state, but a recent court judgment halting allocations to the state — and the resulting consequences — demands attention.
“This curious decision now calls upon every well-meaning Nigerian to appeal for its immediate reversal.”
“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.
“How much more can they endure?” he wrote.
Obi further stressed that this decision could push already struggling Nigerians into further distress and hardship.
“This latest development risks pushing them even further into distress —even into untimely deaths — by compounding the challenges they face each day.
“As leaders — whether in the executive, legislative, or judicial — our decisions and actions should be guided by a commitment to the well-being of the less privileged and vulnerable among us.
“As we work towards a better future for all, we must genuinely care about the poor and prioritise the well-being of every Nigerian.
“What we do today should lay the foundation for a new Nigeria that is possible,” he added.
