Peter Obi, former Anambra State Governor, has expressed deep concerns over the recent court ruling suspending federal allocations to Rivers State.
In a statement released on Friday via X, Obi described the development as troubling, highlighting its potential to threaten the livelihoods of vulnerable citizens.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had ruled on Wednesday that the Central Bank of Nigeria should halt further monthly allocations to the Rivers State Government, citing constitutional violations by Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Specifically, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik found that Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget to a four-member House of Assembly breached constitutional protocol.
Obi emphasized that the suspension of allocations would have dire consequences for pensioners, health workers, school teachers, civil servants, and everyday citizens. “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.
The former governor urged leaders to prioritize the well-being of the less privileged and vulnerable. “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.”
– _Call to Action_: Obi urged leaders to prioritize the well-being of the less privileged and vulnerable, and to appeal for the immediate reversal of the court decision.
