Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike returned to Port Harcourt in high spirits last night, just hours after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of his loyalists, restoring their control over the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Supporters and political allies gathered at the Port Harcourt Airport to welcome Wike, continuing the celebrations that had started in Abuja during a ‘Worship, Praises, and Prayers’ event following the court’s decision.
The ruling reaffirmed Martin Amaewhule as Speaker, along with 26 other lawmakers aligned with Wike.
Reacting to the judgment, Wike declared it a victory for the rule of law in Rivers State.
He criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who leads the PDP Governors’ Forum, for previously supporting Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s actions.
He questioned whether they would still stand by Fubara after the Supreme Court’s definitive verdict.
His words: “There is nothing like the Amaewhule faction. What the Supreme Court said is that the budget should be presented to the properly constituted Assembly, which is the authentic leadership of the Assembly led by Martin Chike Amaewhule.
“But first of all, let’s give God the glory, let’s give God the honour, that today, the 28th of February, 2025, God has done it all for the interest of everybody, for the interest of the people of the state.
“I have always said that the wheel of Justice is sluggish, but it will come when it will come. More than 15 months, 16 months, this matter has been laid to rest by the highest court of the land.
“The Supreme Court has made it very clear that you cannot have democracy without a legislature. The Supreme Court has made it very clear that you cannot have a government without a legislature.
“It is unheard of where anybody will say three people will constitute an assembly to make laws for the entire state. It is unheard of.
“It has nothing to do with any individual, whether you like this person’s face or not. But what is important is that three people cannot make laws for a state, not to even talk about appropriation.
“If the Federal High Court said you cannot do this, you cannot do it, and therefore set aside everything they’ve done.
“Three people will screen commissioners, three people will do all kinds of things, a governor will go and bring down the house of legislature and will do as if nothing happened.
“An arm of government, independent arm of government, and people pretend as if nothing has gone wrong.
“You are talking about Wike, it’s not about Wike. What we are saying is” can you, for whatever it is, go and demolish the building of another arm of government? No consequences?
“Then you carry the legislature to your own house, not even carrying the proper legislature, three people to sit inside the Government House? Begin to make laws? Begin to pass appropriation bills? And you are spending money, and you say nothing will happen?
“You went on appeal, the Court of Appeal said this is wrong, you can’t continue with this. Petitions were written against the justices of the Federal High Court.
“For me, it’s happiness for Rivers State and for Nigerians that yes, this impunity must stop.
“Enough is enough. We can’t continue with this. You are aware, when the issue of local governments came up, a governor elected, who had taken an oath to abide by the constitution, came up to say that is a corrupt judgment, castigating the judiciary.
“But thank God, today, the court has said it all: go back, you have no budget.
“Central Bank, accountant general, you cannot continue to lose money when there’s no government.
“Until you present your budget to the appropriate assembly which is the 27 members, no money should be released.
“You refused to follow the electoral act in terms of conducting local government elections.
“What was the issue? If you don’t comply, you will not obey. I’m not saying we are clapping.
“People like Atiku were hailing him. That yes, you’ve done well. I hope they will also hail him today.
“I hope the chairman of PDP Governors Forum will also hail him today.
“We must not truncate our democracy. If you had allowed this, one day, one member would constitute an assembly, and there is nothing you can do. One member.
“You can imagine three people, one sitting as speaker. So, two people are allowed to vote.
“We must commend the judiciary for being bold and firm to say no, this should not be allowed; this impunity must not be allowed.
“I’ve told people that Rivers State is not like any other state. We are not prisoners of war. We will challenge anything we know is illegal. We will not allow it.”
