APC Requests Fubara to end 'Blackmail' Regarding Allocation seize

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has Requested Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to put an end to what it regarding as “ongoing blackmail” of President Bola Tinubu, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, and the judiciary regarding the recent ruling that seized state allocations. The APC stressed that “sentiments cannot override facts in the eyes of the law.”

In a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Rivers APC Chairman Tony Okocha criticized Governor Fubara’s tactics, arguing that they would not improve his political position.

Okocha accused Fubara of attempting to sway public opinion against the court's decision, which halted federal allocations to Rivers State due to unresolved issues.

He stated, “Wike brought Fubara to his current position, lifting him from obscurity to political prominence. No one is suffocating anyone. The conflict in Rivers State is solely between Sim Fubara and himself.”

He claimed that the political turmoil in Rivers could have been resolved if Governor Fubara had heeded President Tinubu’s intervention.

When asked for a solution, the APC caretaker chairman insisted that the governor must adhere to the laws of the land, particularly those concerning the state budget.

“Sections 120, 121, and 122 clearly address this matter regarding the budget,” he added.

“As a political party, the All Progressives Congress stands firmly by the court’s ruling, as it is what governs civil society; it is the court's authority, not individual morality.”

Okocha also took the opportunity to defend Nyesom Wike against attempts to tarnish his reputation, noting that in the numerous court cases—about 32—he is not a party. “Why involve the President?” he questioned.

Regarding recent efforts by some Niger Delta stakeholders and elders to mediate in the Rivers crisis, Okocha described such initiatives as too late.

“It is foolish to lament after the damage is done. There’s a saying that you shouldn’t cry over spilled milk,” he remarked.

He asked, “Where have these elders been? The situation is becoming critical, with the only remaining challenge being the Supreme Court.”

He expressed skepticism about the elders’ late involvement, stating, “What are they coming to do now? They previously told the governor he was all-knowing and could do anything, which led him to believe he had unlimited power.”

Okocha criticized the elders for encouraging Fubara’s overconfidence, which has now left him in a difficult position. He concluded by asserting that true peace can only be achieved by following the law.