The Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) has condemned in strong terms a Federal High Court ruling stopping monthly federal allocations to Rivers State, describing it as the greatest height of wickedness and vindictiveness directed at the entire people of the State.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who made the remarks in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the Judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who gave the ruling did not take into cognizance the interest of Rivers people, as she gave preference and preeminence to the selfish interest of one man and his band of supporters, instead of that of the tax payers of the State.
While fuming at the judgement, the labour leader said it is judicial rascality taken too far, particularly as it came at a time when suits bordering on the defection of 25 lawmakers in the State House of Assembly, who secured the judgement were pending at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
According to him, those behind such judgement, which is clearly against the interest of Rivers people are enemies of the State, as they do not mean well for the State and the people.
He said Rivers people, particularly workers and all lovers of the State would not forgive the Judge who issued such a judgement against the State and her people, describing it as a recipe for chaos and pandemonium.
According to him, the Judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik should never be allowed to step her feet in Rivers State henceforth.
Osumah said the judgement by implication is saying that workers across all strata of government in the State should be allowed to starve and suffer as the government would be unable to pay their salaries by virtue of the judgement, while ongoing development projects, to better the lives of the people are stalled and grounded for lack of funds, and described the judgement as not only wicked, vindictive and anti-people but also a joke taken too far.
While appealing to civil servants in the State to remain calm and law-abiding, the NCSU chairman said the judgement can never stand the test of time, as it has been appealed upon, and wondered why one man and his supporters would hold the entire State to ransom.
He said Supreme Court rulings are clear and compelling, as back in 2004, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammadu Uwais, in a case brought before the apex court, ruled in favour of Lagos State, declaring the Federal Government's attempt to withhold local government allocations unconstitutional, saying, President Bola Tinubu, who was then the Governor of Lagos State, celebrated the victory, describing it as a win for fairness and constitutional integrity.
According to him, today, a High Court ruling has asked the Federal Government, via the Central Bank of Nigeria, to withhold and seize Rivers State allocations.
He noted that the question on everyone's mind is: how does this new judgement align with the Supreme Court's earlier decision?
"It is an interesting moment, as people weigh the power of precedent, and wonder how the judiciary will navigate this delicate territory. As citizens, it is crucial to stay informed and ensure that justice remains consistent," he said.
Osumah, therefore, urged President Tinubu to wake up from his slumber, face the reality, listen to the voices of reason, and prevail on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to stop fighting Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and allow him to continue to provide the dividends of democracy to Rivers people.
He equally enjoined the President to also take seriously the threat issued by the Governors' Forum over the feud between Governor Fubara and Wike, and call Wike to order.
The chairman said Wike's actions against Governor Fubara are discomfiting, as they are portraying the Tinubu administration in bad light, and wondered why President Tinubu should allow one man to throw his administration into chaos and better still, run down his government because of his selfishness and sheer greed.
Osumah also used the opportunity to congratulate Governor Fubara on the special thanksgiving ceremony organised in Port Harcourt, to mark one year of his survival of the political crisis rocking the State, saying, the mammoth crowd that graced the event is a demonstration that the Governor is loved by the people.
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