Don’t set Rivers on fire, Atiku urges judiciary
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged the judiciary to avoid igniting tensions in Rivers State following a recent Federal High Court ruling in Abuja that ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to halt all payments to the state.
In a statement released Wednesday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku expressed dismay over alleged interference from Federal Government loyalists. He questioned why Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order, despite Rivers State already challenging a Court of Appeal judgment on the legality of its 2024 budget.
He said, “Last week, the Court of Appeal ruled that the Rivers State budget was illegal, as it was passed by an incomplete assembly. The court directed Governor Siminalayi Fubara to resubmit the budget. The Rivers State Government has since filed an appeal, intending to bring the case before the Supreme Court. However, certain elements in the Tinubu administration have procured a judgment aimed at undermining the Supreme Court.”
Atiku further noted that legal expert Femi Falana (SAN) had previously warned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, about potential compromise following reports of gifts to judges in Abuja, yet Falana’s caution went unheeded.
Atiku commended the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, for summoning judges involved in the Rivers State cases, calling for disciplinary action against those found culpable to help restore confidence in the judiciary.
He added, “Since the Tinubu administration took office, Nigeria has descended into a theater of the absurd. Courts are now playing destabilizing roles in fostering crises, both within political parties and in states. From the emirship dispute in Kano to the Rivers debacle—where courts are even blocking elections—Nigeria seems to be regressing to the dark days reminiscent of the June 12, 1993 annulled elections.”
Atiku expressed concern over the judiciary’s image, noting that conflicting orders and allegations of judicial inducements are eroding public confidence. “If Nigerians lose faith in the judiciary, foreign investors will also steer clear of a place where justice can be bought.”
He warned, “Nigeria must not fall into a Hobbesian state of nature—where life becomes short, nasty, and brutish, pushing citizens toward self-help. Rivers State holds nearly 25% of Nigeria’s oil resources. At this critical time of economic crisis, worsened by vandalism and insecurity, Tinubu should prioritize Nigeria’s welfare over political ambitions for 2027.”
“We call on the Nigerian judiciary to restore its credibility before it’s too late.”
