Peter Obi Calls for Immediate Reversal of Court Order Blocking Financial Allocation to Rivers State

Peter Obi, Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has publicly condemned a recent court order barring the disbursement of federal funds to Rivers State, calling for its immediate reversal.

On Wednesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a directive preventing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from allocating funds to the Rivers State government. The ruling, handed down by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, specified that financial allocations from the national federation account would be halted until a legitimate budget is passed by a duly formed Rivers State House of Assembly.

The legal action was initiated by the Rivers State House of Assembly, under the leadership of Martins Amaewhule, in response to Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s recent presentation of the 2024 Appropriation Bill to a five-member assembly. The court ruled that this legislative body was “not properly constituted,” thereby deeming the bill’s passage invalid.

Reacting to the ruling on social media platform X, Obi criticized the decision and stressed that political leaders should prioritize the welfare of their citizens over bureaucratic disputes. In a heartfelt statement, he expressed grave concern over the hardship the ruling could impose on ordinary citizens of Rivers State.

“Throughout my political career, I’ve focused on issues affecting the broader population, especially Nigeria’s struggling poor,” Obi stated. “While I’ve generally refrained from state-specific controversies, this recent judgment—suspending funds to an entire state—demands the urgent attention of every well-meaning Nigerian.”

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, highlighted the severe impact this decision could have on vulnerable communities, pointing to groups such as pensioners, healthcare workers, teachers, and civil servants who depend on these allocations for their livelihoods.

“How much more hardship can we expect them to bear? This ruling risks driving them further into poverty and distress, even threatening untimely deaths due to the daily hardships they already face,” he cautioned.

Obi closed by calling for an approach that builds a foundation for a more equitable Nigeria, emphasizing that policies should alleviate, not exacerbate, the hardships of its citizens. His call aligns with a growing chorus of voices urging the court to reconsider its stance and restore the allocation of funds to Rivers State