The Federal Government has expressed concern over the silence of Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, regarding the Supreme Court’s judgment that grants financial autonomy to local governments.
Bayo Onanuga, Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, urged Obi to follow Atiku Abubakar’s example by acknowledging the landmark judgement and recognizing the president’s efforts in improving Nigeria.
In a post on his X page, Onanuga emphasized that a good opposition should be willing to commend its opponent.
He wrote: “Why is Peter Obi silent?
“More than 36 hours after the Supreme Court gave a landmark ruling, granting financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local councils, Mr. Peter Obi, the defeated Labour Party candidate, has yet to utter a word on the epochal judgment.
“His silence confirms the belief that he is always quick to tweet unverified news about the Tinubu administration or our country.
“A good opposition statesman must be candid enough to applaud his political opponent when he has done some great deed. The Tinubu administration has succeeded in giving life back to our emasculated councils, using the instrumentality of the law.
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“Even Atiku Abubakar has grudgingly admitted this. But Peter has been silent. He should break his silence and acknowledge that President Tinubu is making a great Nigeria possible.”
On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that all federal funds allocated to local government councils must be paid directly into their accounts.
Justice Emmanuel Agim, leading a seven-member panel of justices, delivered the judgment in a case brought by the federal government against the 36 state governors.
The court also prohibited the governors from receiving, tampering with, or withholding funds intended for local governments.
Moreover, the court barred the governors from dissolving democratically elected local government officials, deeming such actions a violation of the 1999 Constitution.
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