Rivers Set To Drive Social Development, Controversial Court Order Banning Flow Of Federal Funds Notwithstanding
● We will not let workers and their families go hungry, Governor Fubara declares;
● Nigerians condemn moves to ambush the Rivers State Government
By PHC Telegraph
Governor Siminalayi FubaraDespite a highly controversial court order issued by a Federal Court presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, restricting the flow of funds from the centre to the Rivers State, the State Government which is asking workers not to panic has revved into action.
While the battle to obtain justice intensifies, the State government has launched out to block efforts by anti-democratic forces led by ex-governor Nyesom Wike to stiffle economic growth and development in the State.
Wike and his allies along the corridors of power have persistently placed all kinds of challenges on the pathway of the Rivers Governor.
The latest in a series of assaults targeted at the Rivers State in the last one year is a court judgment which is seen by most Nigerians as an order authorising the use of hunger as a weapon of war against Rivers people.
Addressing Rivers people on Wednesday, Governor Siminalayi Fubara had assured workers while observing a day of thanksgiving at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt that his administration, described as the most prudent in the federation by BudgIT, would weather the storm no matter what.
The Governor declared, “So, you don’t need to bother about the stories on social media. That one is the least of your trouble. By tomorrow, I am still going to pay my contractors.
“By tomorrow, those of you who have not gotten your salaries, your alert will also come to you. Local Government Chairmen, they have had their JAAC, your money is coming to your accounts.
It was a declaration of the resolve of the Fubara administration to promote its social development agenda and protect the welfare of the working class.
For reasons that are difficult to understand, Wike and his acolytes who are purportedly aligned to the Federal Government have targeted the Central Bank as well as Zenith Bank and Access Bank in the matter brought against Fubara and the State Government.
Abdulmalik said in the ruling which did not for a while consider the basic notion of the general good that the Rivers Government would not be allowed access to its share of funds from the centre.
Okere: Rivers people must take destiny into their hands
Aba Ejembi, a legal practitioner and former FCT Liaison Officer of the Civil Liberties Organisation who appeared on Arise News on Thursday called on stakeholders and Nigerian Statesmen to intervene on the side of the Rivers people immediately.
He condemned the current judicial onslaught against the government and people of Rivers State, and flayed the decision by Justice Abdulmalik.
Ejembi acknowledged that a court order upholding the vacation of the seats of the 25 lawmakers by a court in Rivers State has not been set aside.
Okere, another panelist on the Morning Show broadcast by Arise News Thursday lamented that Tinubu is painfully allowing what took place while he was Governor of Lagos State years ago to happen in Rivers.
Expressing serious reservations over the attitude of judges who were delivering all kinds of judgment, Okere urged Rivers people to take destiny in their hands.
Speaking on Channels TV, Sogbeye Eli, a lawyer argued that the the trial judge may not have had all the facts before coming to a conclusion on the matter.
He said fair hearing is a strong pillar of the law, noting that despite the ruling of Justice Omotosho which was cited, the entire facts, including the defection of the lawmakers may not have been properly examined.
Looking at the flow of events, the last has not been heard about the Fubara-Wike war which is having a toll on the Rivers people.