The Rivers State Elders Council has urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Speaker of the State Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, to set aside their differences and prioritize the state’s progress.
In a statement from Port Harcourt, the council’s chairman, Ferdinand Alabraba, congratulated the people on the Supreme Court’s verdict on the state’s political crisis, commending their resilience and peaceful conduct.
The council emphasized that both leaders, having emerged from the same political background, should act in the state’s best interest and uphold their constitutional duties.
The statement read: “With the Supreme Court’s decisive ruling, nothing should hinder Fubara and Amaewhule from working together for the state’s advancement. We call on them to place Rivers State above personal interests and fulfill their responsibilities in line with the constitution.”
Meanwhile, Rivers State Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have voiced concerns over the well-being of civil servants following the Supreme Court’s decision directing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withhold the state’s allocations.
The CSOs warned that civil servants would bear the consequences of this ruling. Tuka Loanyie, the group’s Public Relations Officer, expressed distress over the economic and social impact of the apex court’s decision.
“The withholding of state and local government funds will severely affect economic growth, social services, and infrastructure. We urge state and local leaders to prioritize the welfare of civil servants over political disputes,” he said.
He further insisted that Rivers State should not face financial suffocation due to political conflicts, stressing that the most affected would be innocent citizens and their families who depend on government funds for survival.
Additionally, he called on security agencies to act swiftly against any politician making inflammatory statements that could incite unrest.