Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has welcomed the supreme court’s ruling affirming the legitimacy of the 27-member Rivers state house of assembly led by Martin Amaewhule.
The apex court also upheld an earlier ruling by the federal high court barring the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the accountant-general of the federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers state.
Speaking in Abuja after the verdict, Wike said the ruling had effectively put an end to the political crisis in the state.
He refuted claims of a division within the assembly, insisting that Amaewhule’s leadership was legitimate.
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“The Supreme Court has made it very clear that you cannot have democracy without a legislature,” he said.
“There’s nothing like the Amaewhule faction. What the ruling is saying is that the budget is presented to the properly constituted assembly which is led by Martin Amaewhule.
“I always say the wheel of justice is sluggish but it will come when it comes. More than 15 to 16 months, this matter has been laid to rest by the highest court of the land.
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“The court has made it very clear that you cannot have a democracy without a legislature. It is unheard of; where someone would say three people constitute an assembly to make laws for the entire state.
“A governor would bring down the house of assembly and we act like nothing has happened. It’s not about me, what we are saying is how you can demolish an arm of the government and there is no consequence.
“For me, it is happiness for Rivers people. It is happiness for Nigerians that this impunity must stop.”
The ruling marks a major development in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers, reinforcing the authority of the Amaewhule-led assembly.
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