The Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the Rivers State House of Assembly crisis has ignited strong reactions, with APC chieftain Eze Chukwuemeka Eze describing the judgment as a “Black Friday” for Nigeria’s democracy and a “declaration of war” against the state.
The apex court, in its ruling on five appeals concerning the dispute, ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to halt the release of funds to the Rivers State government until a properly constituted House of Assembly is in place. It also directed Martin Amaewhule and all elected lawmakers to resume sitting immediately.
Reacting to the verdict, Eze criticized the court for allegedly overlooking the fact that Amaewhule and his faction had defected to the APC, which he argued should have invalidated their positions. He described the decision as “unfortunate, wicked, evil, sad, and undemocratic,” urging Nigerians to stand up in defense of democracy.
“For the Supreme Court to order the CBN to stop releasing funds meant for Rivers State exposes a plot to undermine Governor Siminalayi Fubara and serve the interests of a select few,” Eze stated. He further commended Fubara for withstanding political pressures and exposing what he described as attempts to stifle the state’s development.
Meanwhile, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, defended the ruling, asserting that Fubara had committed an impeachable offense. Wike argued that governance cannot be dictated by a minority, emphasizing that the Supreme Court had put an end to impunity in the state.
Despite the judgment, the Coalition of Opposition Lawmakers has reaffirmed that Governor Fubara remains at the helm of governance, signaling that the political tension in Rivers State is far from over.
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