Rivers: If You Deny A State Its Allocation, They Can Opt Out Of The Federation – Festus Ogwuche
AfricalevelOct 31, 2024Read original
The recent Federal High Court ruling barring federal allocations to Rivers State raises
serious questions about the boundaries of federal power andstate rights in Nigeria, according to human rights lawyer Festus Ogwuche.
In an
interviewwith Arise News from 10:42, Ogwuche argued that the federal structure relies on states coming together to form a unified system, voluntarily donating powers to the central government. However, he warned that withholding a state’s allocation undermines this structure and could drive a state to consider withdrawing from the federation entirely.
“In federal systems, it’s the states that come together to form a unified fora …they donate their powers to the center, no matter how flawed our own system is,” Ogwuche explained, asserting that states retain their authority and should not face unilateral deprivation of resources they contribute to the national structure. He highlighted the serious repercussions of such actions, suggesting that, “they can opt out of the Federation, which is a possibility.”
WAHT HE SAID
“In Federal systems, it’s the State that come together to form a unified fora and they
donate their powers to the centre, no matter how flawed our ownsystem is. It’s the authority of the State that whatever authority or power it wields”
If you deny a State Structure of it’s entitlement by way of its allocation which should be a replication of why it also contributes, presupposedly contributes to the national Structure, they can opt out of the Federation which is a possibility.”