Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has raised alarm over an alleged plan by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to block the release of funds from the Federation Account to 22 local government areas in Rivers State.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Frank claimed that Wike and his allies, who are reportedly opposed to the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, have devised this plan after failing to halt the successful local government elections held in the state on October 5, 2024.
According to Frank, Wike’s proxies are expected to approach a Federal High Court in Abuja soon to request an injunction that would freeze monthly funds allocation to the LGAs.
He said the petition would claim that the elections were conducted in defiance of a prior court ruling.
Frank urged Wike to abandon the course of action for the benefit of the people of Rivers State, stressing that the minister should resolve his differences with Governor Fubara through other means.
He also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevent Wike from damaging his democratic legacy by orchestrating a court ruling similar to the one that affected local councils in Lagos during Tinubu’s tenure as governor under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Frank warned the judiciary against entertaining any baseless petitions aimed at advancing Wike’s agenda.
He also condemned the police for their partisan involvement in the state’s political turmoil, calling on the security forces to protect all Rivers residents impartially.
Frank stressed the potential economic repercussions of withholding local government funds and the threat such actions pose to the democratic gains Nigeria has made since 1999.
He warned that any move to stifle democracy in Rivers State could spark wider unrest and reverse progress.
“The people of Rivers State have elected their council representatives in line with a recent Supreme Court ruling that mandated the democratization of all LGAs in Nigeria. Any attempt to undermine this will be resisted,” Frank stated.
He concluded by urging Governor Fubara to remain focused and congratulated the people of Rivers State for a peaceful and successful election.