Rivers Financial Blockade:  Wike’s Alleged “War” On His Home State Sparks Outrage,Observes APC Chieftain

Port Harcourt, Rivers State –  A recent court ruling that has frozen federal allocations to Rivers State has ignited a firestorm of controversy and accusations of political maneuvering.

The order, issued by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court Abuja, effectively prevents the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing funds to the state government.

This drastic move has been condemned by many as a deliberate attack on Rivers State, orchestrated by former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by the Rivers State House of Assembly and its Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, challenging the legitimacy of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s budget and the composition of the state’s legislative branch.

The court declared the 2024 budget, passed by a four-member assembly, as unconstitutional and invalid, citing a previous ruling by the Court of Appeal.

However, critics accuse Justice Abdulmalik of bias, arguing that the timing of the ruling and its severity are indicative of a larger political agenda.

Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a prominent APC chieftain and former National Publicity Secretary of the nPDP, described the ruling as a “Black Wednesday” and a declaration of war against Rivers State by the APC-led Federal Government.

“This judgment has further proven that the President Bola Tinubu administration is not really helping matters,” Eze stated in a press release.

“Rather than assume a fatherly role, the body language of Mr. President and his suspicious silence go to show that he is somewhat supporting Wike to unleash terror and instability on Rivers State.”

Eze went on to accuse Wike of harboring a deep-seated hatred for Rivers State, citing his alleged attempts to undermine the state’s development since 2015.

“For Wike to have sold himself to be used to undermine the development of Rivers State simply demonstrates his hatred for the State,” he stated.

The decision has sparked a wave of outrage across social media platforms, with many Nigerians condemning the court ruling and voicing their concerns about the alleged political machinations behind it.

“The Judiciary has been captured to serve the purposes and interests of Abuja politicians. Rivers people deserve their money,” tweeted @Ihima_Principal.

Others, like @Divilo2, defended Wike’s actions, arguing that he is simply fighting for the rights of the people.

“Wike will always fight you with the law; it’s not like Edo, where Obaseki did that and was left unchallenged,” they commented.

Meanwhile, Governor Fubara’s administration has vowed to appeal the ruling, maintaining the legitimacy of the state’s budget and legislative assembly.

The ongoing political crisis in Rivers State has cast a dark shadow over the state’s future, with the state’s economy and development hanging in the balance.

The outcome of the appeal and the fate of the state’s financial lifeline remain to be seen, but one thing is clear: the battle for control of Rivers State is far from over.