A group of agitators in the Niger Delta region are threatening to resume the hostilities in the area by targeting oil and gas infrastructure if the “deliberate plot by some politicians to use the court to stop local government allocation in Rivers State” is effective.
The agitators under the aegis of the Niger Delta Development Force (NDDF) portray a deviation, the endeavour to stop the distribution of local governments with equitably elected officials in accordance with the new judgement of the Supreme Court on Local government autonomy.
The Spokesman for the group, Justin Alabraba threatened to bomb and close down oil facilities and establishments in the region that ought to pass any judgement anywhere in the country, particularly Abuja to pursue such a decision.
He cautioned, “The President Tinubu-led Federal Government not to respect the shenanigans of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, to utilize Abuja courts to hold onto distributions for the 23 Local Government Councils in Rivers State, to fulfill his own aspirations.”
He said, “Let them try it on Monday or any other day, and see what will happen. We will shut down major oil pipelines and production installations, and it will be the beginning of the worst to come. Nyesom Wike can’t be utilizing Tinubu’s powers to cause issues in Rivers State without any negative consequences“.
Alabraba reminded President Tinubu that any endeavor to weaken Rivers State will be twisting into serious destabilization of the entire Niger Delta, saying that Rivers State is the headquarters of the region.
The group mentioned that they can never again watch the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, purportedly utilize Federal might and his relationship with Abuja-based judges to secure judgements intended to sabotage Governor Siminalayi Fubara-led Government.
The group claimed that dependable sources say that Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, is set to convey judgement on Monday to supposedly stop legal allotments to Local Governments in Rivers State.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, in the previous week, dismissed the solicitation by the Rivers State Government to stay proceedings in a suit trying to stop the distribution of funds to all the local government areas of Rivers State.
The Judge held that the solicitation by the Rivers State Government was negligible.
The Rivers State House of Assembly and Hon Martin Amaewhule had brought the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN under the watchful eye of the court, asking the court to withhold fund allocation to the Rivers State local governments.
The Rivers state government objected to becoming aware of the suit in Abuja yet was turned somewhere around the court.
The court has insisted on proceeding with the hearing of the suit and has reserved judgement on it.
