Recall that the apex court on February 28, barred the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, and other agencies from releasing allocations to Rivers State Government pending when it purged itself of what the court described as flagrant disobedience to court orders.

Meanwhile, the appointed Sole Administrator of the State, Ibok-Ete Ibas confirmed on Friday in Port Harcourt that the withheld allocations have been released.

Reacting to this, Obi noted that the decision to release statutory allocations to an appointed Sole Administrator, despite a standing order of the Supreme Court, is not just unlawful but a direct challenge to the authority of the Supreme Court.

Read Also: Tinubu Declares State Of Emergency In Rivers State

He also urged institutions such as the CBN and AGF, which are mandated to uphold the law, not to be complicit in actions that defy judicial decisions.

He maintained that the release of allocation to Sole Administrator is setting a dangerous precedent and raises questions about what is happening in Rivers State.

Obi stressed that a country cannot function where the rule of law is trampled upon, adding that if this continues, we are undermining the future of our democracy.

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Abure made this statement at a media briefing by the factional National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

He also alleged that Obi and Otti had betrayed all that the Labour Party ever stood for, stressing that the duo now take sides with INEC which according to him disappointed Nigerians by bungling the will of the people during the 2023 elections.

According to Ifoh, the Labour Party needed to notify Nigerians about the recent developments in the party, especially, the efforts by some of the leaders of the party including the former presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi and the Abia state governor, Alex Otti amongst others to annex power of the leadership of the party through unfathomable means using INEC as their tool.

He said many Nigerians still remember how the party bent over backwards to accommodate some of the leaders when their former political parties denied them tickets.

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Obi made the demand in a post on X  while decrying significant increase in government borrowing at the end of first Quarter  which he said reached a staggering N121.86 trillion.

He warned that if the current trend persists, the total amount borrowed could exceed N150 trillion by the end of the year.

The former Anambra State governor urged policy makers and stakeholders to exercise caution and prudence in managing national debt, ensuring that borrowed funds are utilised for productive purposes.

He said that by doing so we can promote sustainable economic growth, development, and prosperity for all Nigerians for generations to come.

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Obi made the call in a series of tweets on X , as the world celebrates the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

He also advised the federal government to invest in rehabilitating those already caught in the web of drug abuse.

The Senate had on May 9, suggested death penalty as the new maximum punishment for drug trafficking, as against previous life imprisonment.  This is as Nigeria with over 200 million people, has shifted from a transit point to a major producer, consumer, and distributor of illegal drugs.

Opioid abuse, notably tramadol, and codeine-containing cough syrups is widespread. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control banned codeine syrup in 2018. While cannabis is locally grown, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other drugs are trafficked, exacerbating addiction.

The proposal, stemming from a Senate report, aims to deter traffickers with the threat of execution.  However, some lawmakers are concerned about the death penalty’s irreversible nature and potential for wrongful convictions.

The bill, previously passed by the House of Representatives without the death penalty provision, requires reconciliation between Senate and House versions before reaching President Bola Tinubu.

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Obi noted that the reasons being adduced by these departing firms after many years of operations in the country are similar and largely governance problems that require urgent attention to stem the tide 

Writing in his X handle, the former Anambra State Governor said he is compelled to address the alarming exodus of multinational companies from Nigeria, which has cost the nation a staggering N95 trillion in the past five years. According to The New Telegraph, in the last year alone, over ten multinational giants such as GlaxoSmithKline, Equinor, Sanofi-Aventis, Bolt Food, Procter & Gamble, Jumia Food, PZ Cussons, Kimberly-Clark, Diageo and others, have exited Nigeria, citing eerily consistent reasons. 

He said these companies have highlighted the same problems across the board emphasising that these issues are not coincidental but symptomatic of a larger governance problem. Obi questioned why  Nigerians  are not facing and solving these problems head-on.

According to him,  the responsibility lies with our leadership, those we put in charge to urgently address these challenges. 

He noted that tackling these issues requires creating a business-friendly environment that fosters investment, innovation, and growth which  includes prioritizing security, stabilizing our policies, and reducing energy costs. 

He said Nigerians  must also cultivate a culture of transparency, accountability, and good governance so we can build an economy that benefits all Nigerians, not just a privileged few.

Obi advised that  people should unite to transform Nigeria into a nation conducive to business, attractive to investment, safe and prosperous for all citizens for together, we can make Nigeria a beacon of hope and progress in Africa and the world. 

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Obi said that rather than face the reality that we are the poverty capital of the World and the most insecure people and take decisive steps to stem the situation, the government is trying to play the ostrich even when the people are overwhelmed by the situation.

Writing on his X handle the former Anambra State Governor said the problems facing Nigeria are well-known to all Nigerians. He stated that Nigerians are among the hungriest, have poor education quality and the highest number of out-of-school children, high infant mortality, corruption, unemployment, the highest income gap between the poor and the rich, high corruption perception index, infrastructure and healthcare challenges, and more.

Obi hinted that it is disheartening to hear those in charge, who were hired to address problems, make statements like they are not the only ones struggling with poverty and hunger. According to him, the nation require concrete solutions and a clear vision to address these issues, not comparisons that downplay our circumstances.

He urged those in leadership positions to offer tangible solutions, not mere reminders that others face similar challenges. He harped on the need for a comprehensive approach to tackle specific challenges, not generalizations that dismiss our experiences.

The former Labour party presidential candidate stressed that a true leader provides direction, guidance, solutions, and reassurance in times of crisis. This, he noted, is the hallmark of visionary leadership and a trait of nations that are making progress and advancing their development. They don’t simply state the obvious but offer a roadmap for overcoming obstacles.

He said only then can Nigerians begin to trust that our country is in capable hands, working towards a brighter future for all.

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