The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has publicly criticized a lawsuit filed by party chieftain Tony Okocha, aiming to halt funds allocation to local government councils. In a statement by APC spokesperson Darlington Nwauju, the party condemned Okocha’s actions, describing them as detrimental to the state’s progress.
Nwauju highlighted that Okocha and his caretaker committee had been dismissed but continue to operate despite an existing court judgment. He accused Okocha of seeking to undermine the councils, particularly due to their restricted access to funds, thereby creating unnecessary obstacles for local governance.
This response follows a recent press briefing where Okocha admitted to pursuing legal action to block the funds allocation, citing issues with the distribution process as the basis for his legal intervention.
The statement partly read, “We have carefully studied events in our dear state, especially as it pertains to the functioning of the local government system, and have come to the realisation that throwing our arms up in the air like Pontius Pilate or sitting in the fence will only further thin out what is left of the democratic fibre of the state.
”“We are shocked at the continuous gleeful disdainful treatment for a valid judgment of the Court which had sacked Tony Okocha and his group.”
“It is shameful that Okocha and his friends who do not believe or respect the judgment of the High Court which invalidated their so-called appointment by NWC after more than nine months of litigation have been openly boasting of getting judgment from a court of coordinate jurisdiction in Abuja, to stop allocations to local governments in Rivers State thereby frustrating thousands of Rivers people whose livelihood and survival is dependent on the local government system, especially council workers.”
