GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, on Friday, said the Rivers State Government was preparing to sue the Federal Government for the “unilateral” withdrawal of N11billion from the Federation Accounts for the Nigerian Police.
The governor dislcosed this just as he noted that Rivers State would not have recorded much confirmed COVID-19 cases if the security agencies were not aiding people to bypass the regulations on closed borders.
He spoke during an update briefing on the state of Rivers battle with COVID-19 and other national issues.
He said, “Our lawyers will prepare our papers and we will go to court. Nobody says you cannot support the police, but you must get the consent of states before taking their money.
“I have told the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum that Rivers State will challenge this matter in court. It’s not about fighting FG. My state is part owner of that money, so you must make people know. Whatever is the outcome of the case, let it be on record. It’s the sacrifice you make for standing for the truth and the people.”
On President Muhammadu Buhari’s latest pronouncements on lockdown and business, Wike said his state’s compliance would be guided by its peculiarities.