The Rivers State government has addressed the recent Federal High Court ruling in Abuja that ordered a halt to local government allocations.
The Commissioner for Information, Joe Johnson, explained that the decision was anticipated due to several developments during the court proceedings.
He noted that the trial judge's refusal to include the 23 Council Chairmen as parties, the denial of the state's request to change its lawyer, and the overruling of their jurisdiction objection were clear indicators of the impending ruling. Johnson assured the public that the state had appealed the decision and expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn it.
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) also condemned the judgment, with President Fegalo Nsuke describing it as "unjust and genocidal."
He emphasized the severe social impact on Rivers State citizens, warning that cutting off a community’s economic lifeline could lead to volatility and push people to a breaking point.
Nsuke further highlighted Rivers State's economic and political significance to Nigeria's stability, urging respect for ongoing appellate procedures and cautioning against enforcing the ruling while appeals are pending.
Chief Joseph Ambakaderimom, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Niger Delta oil and gas-producing communities, supported a lawful approach, advising patience and trust in the Rivers State Government to follow proper legal channels. He remarked that only a superior court could alter the judgment.
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