The Federal High Court, Abuja, last week stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from further releasing federal allocations to the Rivers State government.
The same week, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State suspended the state’s former governor, Rauf Aregbesola, for alleged anti-party activities.
These and three other stories we tracked dominated public discourse in the country last week.
1. Court stops revenue allocation to Rivers
On October 30, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, stopped the CBN from further releasing federal allocations to the Rivers State government.
The judge issued the order while delivering judgment in a suit filed by the Rivers Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule.
She asked the CBN to ensure that state budgets are approved by a constitutionally recognised House of Assembly before releasing funds.
The judge said: “Any appropriation bill must pass through the constitutionally recognised House of Assembly. Without this any budget implementation is unlawful.”
Why this matter
The ruling may have dashed any hope of final resolution of the political crisis in the oil-rich state.
It suggests that peace would continue to elude the state with all contending forces not willing to shift grounds on the crisis that has crippled the state in the last 13 months.
It however remains to be seen if President Bola Tinubu will demonstrate the political will to restore order in the state with his perceived soft spot for one of the parties in the crisis.
2. Osun APC suspends ex-Gov Aregbesola
The Osun State chapter of APC on October 29 suspended Aregbesola, a former minister of interior, for alleged anti-party activities.
In a statement issued at the end of a meeting in Osogbo, the party’s executive committee in the state accused the former governor of fostering factionalism and collaborating with opposition groups in the state.
It read: “Following complaints of anti-party activities leveled against Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola by the Ilesa East Local Government Executive Committee, the State Executive Committee (SEC), after reviewing the allegations and in accordance with the powers vested in it by Article 21(3)(vi)(c) of the party’s Constitution, hereby suspends Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from the party pending the outcome of an investigation.”
Why it matters
The suspension of the former governor points to the enormity of the crisis in the Osun State chapter of APC, a party that is yet to recover from its defeat in the 2022 governorship election in the state.
This lends credence to the fact that there would always be various tendencies in a political grouping, with each pulling at narrow interests.
How the party survives the in-fighting will largely determine how it fares in the 2026 election.
3. EFCC Yahaya Bello’s trial in absentia
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on November 2 asked Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to proceed with the trial of a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello in absentia.
The EFCC through its lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), said the ex-governor’s absence in court should not be allowed to frustrate his trial.
Bello is facing trial on a 19-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N80.2 billion.
Pinheiro said: “A court can never demonstrate helplessness. That would be an indication of anarchy and society is based on the rule of law.”
Why it matters
The drama over the former governor’s trial reinforces the call for strengthening the anti-graft agencies to carry out their functions effectively when the need arises and prevent public office holders from abusing their positions.
It also confirms the widely-held assertion that everyone irrespective of status is equal before the law.
Bello’s impending day in court shows that the law will ultimately have its way irrespective of the obstacles on its path.
4. Obasanjo’s verdict on ‘western democracy’
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on October 30 called for the adoption of local culture to strengthen the county’s democracy.
The ex-president spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the valedictory service organised in honour of the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Prof. Chinedum Babalola.
He noted that Western liberal democracy was not working for the country.
“I have always been talking about Western liberal democracy; it is not working for us; it is not even working for those who gave it to us. The British were complaining. We must rethink democracy.
“We must bring our own culture into democracy. African culture does not talk about opposition; it talks about communalism; you come together, reason together, iron it out and then work together,” the ex-president stated.
Why it matters
The ex-president has again touched on the twin problems of bad leadership and corruption regarded by many as the clog in the wheel of Nigeria’s progress.
Obasanjo’s remark may as well be an invitation for Nigerians to take another look at its system of electing leaders that often throw up self-centered individuals for public offices to chart a way forward for the country.
5. Niger speaker confirms abduction of 20 in military base
The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, on November 1 countered the Nigerian Army on the invasion of a training camp in the Kontagora local government area of the state by bandits.
Reports emerged during the week that bandits overran the military training camp which is the largest in the country and took over the facility.
But the Defence Headquarters in a statement dismissed the claim.
However, Sarkin-Daji in a chat with journalists insisted that the military base had been taken over by the bandits who are currently holding 20 persons hostage.
He said: “As members representing our people, we get feedback from our constituents of their plights. So, before we present anything on the floor of the House, we have done our investigation very well.
“It is not as if we are underrating the military capacity to fight bandits and terrorists but it is not right to just dismiss the complaints of our people.”
Why it matters
The invasion of the military base not only confirmed the fear about the collapse of Nigeria’s security architecture but also the overall safety of the citizens who are now at the mercy of the rampaging terrorists.
The incident shows that nowhere is safe in the country with the criminals now emboldened by the government’s increasing helplessness on the situation.
The ugly situation now requires all manners of solutions, including the adoption of state police or the use of foreign mercenaries to check the criminals in their guerilla war against Nigeria.