Peter Obi the Labour party presidential candidate of the 2023 general election has strongly criticized the release of statutory allocations to an appointed Sole Administrator in Rivers State, despite a Supreme Court order barring such action.
In a statement on social media, Obi described the development as an “aberration” that is “unknown to our Constitution” and must be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians. He decried what he called a “brazen disobedience and disregard for the rule of law and our democratic principles,” stressing that such actions set a dangerous precedent for governance in the country.
The Supreme Court had previously ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) not to release funds to the Rivers State government until a duly constituted House of Assembly passed an Appropriation Act. Obi, however, noted that the order was being ignored, raising concerns about the implications for the rule of law.
He warned that allowing government institutions to flout judicial directives could erode Nigeria’s democratic foundation. “A country cannot function where the rule of law is trampled upon, where the separation of powers is disregarded, and where judicial decisions are treated as mere suggestions,” he said.
Obi called for respect for the judiciary, urging authorities to uphold constitutional principles to safeguard the nation’s democracy.
