Hold Tinubu, CJN responsible for any crisis in Rivers

Timi Frank condemns the Supreme Court’s ruling on Rivers State allocations, warning it could lead to unrest. He accuses Tinubu’s government of political interference. — President Bola Tinubu and Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has strongly condemned the Supreme Court ruling ordering the suspension of monthly allocations to local governments in Rivers State.

Frank, in a statement made available to The Guardian on Sunday, described the judgment as a “criminal usurpation” of resources meant for the people of Rivers State. He called on Nigerians and the international community to hold President Bola Tinubu and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, responsible for any unrest that may arise from public outrage over what he termed a “gross miscarriage of justice.”

The political activist criticised the Supreme Court’s decision, labelling it “the most fraudulent judgment ever delivered in Nigeria’s history.”

“How can the Supreme Court give this kind of anti-truth, anti-God, inhuman, anti-justice and compromised judgement that is obviously meant to give the opposition APC the leeway to take over Rivers State?” he queried.

Frank accused the judiciary under Justice Kekere-Ekun of serving political interests rather than upholding justice.

“This is a clear indication that the Supreme Court under Justice Kekere-Ekun has no capacity to reform the judiciary but is rather arresting justice and selling it to the highest bidder,” he alleged.

Frank further suggested that the ruling was influenced by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, whom he accused of wielding undue influence over the judiciary.

“We are not surprised by the ruling, especially when we know that the judiciary has been the biggest beneficiary of Wike’s patronage, right from his days as governor to his current position as Minister of the FCT,” he claimed.

According to him, any case involving Wike’s interests is bound to be decided in his favour. He warned that such “judicial rascality” could lead Nigeria into turmoil.

“The CJN must realise that this kind of judicial overreach, which has now become the order of the day, will set Nigeria on fire and plunge the country into avoidable anarchy,” he warned.

Frank also criticised the role of the 27 suspended Rivers lawmakers, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. He maintained that despite the Supreme Court ruling, they remain illegitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“By ordering the withholding of local government allocations to Rivers State, the Supreme Court is actively working to undermine Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration and using judicial power to starve the people of Rivers State,” he said.

He accused President Tinubu’s administration of attempting to seize control of Rivers State by using judicial rulings to empower the suspended lawmakers in their bid to impeach Governor Fubara.

Despite the ruling, Frank urged the people of Rivers State not to lose hope but to rally behind Governor Fubara.

“Rivers people must stand firm and mobilise support for Governor Fubara, who is fighting to protect the state’s common wealth and defend the constitution,” he said.

The controversy surrounding the Supreme Court ruling has further intensified political tensions in Rivers State, raising concerns about the stability of the state’s governance.