Timi Frank accuses Wike of plot to block allocation to LGs in Rivers

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has alleged that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is orchestrating a plan to block the release of funds to 22 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Rivers State.

According to Frank, Wike is seeking a court injunction to freeze allocations from the Federation Account to these LGAs, following their recent elections.

Frank disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja, where he claimed that Wike and his allies, who oppose the current Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, are resorting to legal tactics after failing to prevent the successful local government elections held on Saturday, October 5, 2024.

He alleged that Wike, through proxies, plans to approach a Federal High Court in Abuja with a petition to halt monthly allocations to the LGAs, arguing that the elections were conducted in violation of a previous court ruling.

Timi Frank called on Wike to abandon this course of action, urging him to resolve his differences with Governor Fubara without affecting the financial stability of Rivers State.

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He further appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and prevent Wike from undermining democratic processes in Rivers, warning that the situation could echo the controversial withholding of local council funds in Lagos State during Tinubu’s tenure as governor—a move orchestrated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Frank, who also serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, issued a stern warning to the judiciary.

He urged judges to refrain from granting any frivolous injunctions that could destabilize governance in Rivers State, accusing some of being susceptible to Wike’s influence.

Additionally, Frank condemned the partisan role of the police in the unfolding political crisis, calling for neutrality and the protection of all citizens rather than serving the interests of the ruling APC.

“President Tinubu cannot afford to stand idly by while Wike attempts to reverse democracy in Rivers State, and by extension, Nigeria,” Frank stated.

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He emphasized that the current scenario mirrors Obasanjo’s undemocratic actions, which crippled local councils in Lagos during Tinubu’s governorship, and cautioned that such a move would be a dangerous step backward for Nigeria’s democratic progress.

Frank warned that freezing LGA funds would not only lead to economic disruption in Rivers but could also ignite a broader political crisis that risks reversing democratic gains achieved since 1999.

He further cautioned against any actions that might destabilize Nigeria’s democracy, especially in the context of recent coups and political instability in West Africa.

“The people of Rivers State have democratically elected their local council officials in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling mandating the democratization of LGAs across Nigeria,” he said, adding that any attempt to undermine these elections would meet strong resistance from the citizens.

Frank congratulated the people of Rivers State for their successful local elections and urged them to continue supporting Governor Fubara, despite the political turmoil.