Nigerian actor, lawyer, and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has strongly criticized former Rivers State governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for celebrating the Supreme Court’s decision to block fund allocation to the people of Rivers State.
In a video obtained by NN News Media, Okonkwo expressed his disappointment, stating that he was ashamed to see grown men rejoicing over a ruling that negatively impacts the welfare of Rivers people. He accused Wike and his allies of prioritizing their personal interests over the well-being of the citizens.
“The principle of governance is to maintain social order, but what is happening in Rivers State is unfortunate,” Okonkwo said. “When I saw people celebrating the court’s decision to withhold statutory allocation from their own state, I was truly ashamed. Their concern is not about the welfare of the Rivers people but about satisfying their own quest for power and resources. They do not care if the people suffer, as long as their own interests are met.”
Okonkwo compared the situation to the biblical story of King Solomon, where a woman was willing to see a child divided because it was not hers. “If the people of Rivers State suffer or even perish, as long as these politicians get their share, they do not mind,” he remarked.
Speaking further, Okonkwo questioned the legitimacy of the Supreme Court’s ruling on statutory allocation. He argued that under Section 66B of the Nigerian Constitution, the court’s power extends to determining civil rights and obligations of individuals and government entities. However, he stressed that a court cannot punish a state or its people in a civil proceeding without first determining their legal rights.
“That is why the court’s role is to rule on the legality or otherwise of the appropriation bill, not to deny statutory allocations that should rightfully go to the people,” he concluded.
His remarks have sparked discussions on the implications of the court ruling and the political battle surrounding Rivers State’s resources.
