”It is a direct challenge to the authority of the highest court of our country – Peter Obi tackles Tinubu govt for releasing Rivers allocation to Sole Administrator
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s decision to release Rivers State’s withheld allocation to the newly appointed Sole Administrator. He believes this action directly challenges the authority of Nigeria’s Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had ruled on February 28 that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other federal agencies should not release funds to Rivers State until the ongoing political crisis is resolved. The court emphasized that all parties must respect its orders.
However, last week, President Tinubu declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State. He suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the State House of Assembly for six months. In their place, he appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas as the Sole Administrator to oversee the state’s affairs.
On Friday, Ibas confirmed in Port Harcourt that the withheld allocations had been released. Peter Obi strongly criticized this decision, stating that it undermines the authority of the Supreme Court and sets a dangerous precedent for the rule of law in Nigeria.
Reacting, Obi in a statement on X on Monday said;
“the decision to release statutory allocations to an appointed Sole Administrator, despite a standing order of the Supreme Court, is not just unlawful — it is a direct challenge to the authority of the highest court of our country.
“The Supreme Court had explicitly barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) from releasing these funds until a properly constituted House of Assembly passed a valid Appropriation Act.
“Yet, we see a situation where this order is being ignored. This raises serious moral intentions, and questions of what is happening in Rivers State.
“By disregarding the judgment of the Supreme Court, those involved are setting a dangerous precedent. The CBN and AGF, institutions meant to uphold the law, should not be complicit in this disregard for our judiciary. We cannot build a nation where those who swore oaths to uphold our constitution and obey the laws are doing the opposite.
“This is about more than just Rivers State; it is about protecting the very fabric of our democracy, and our existence as a nation.
“A country cannot function where the rule of law is trampled upon, where the separation of powers is disregarded, and where judicial decisions are treated as mere suggestions.
“If we continue this way, we are undermining the future of our democracy. We must choose to do the right thing — to respect the law and uphold the principles that bind us as a nation”.
