Seun Emmanuel
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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately enforce the Supreme Court ruling granting financial autonomy to local governments, warning that continued delay undermines the Constitution.The apex court, in a unanimous judgment delivered in July 2024, held that it is unconstitutional for state governments to retain or manage funds allocated to local government areas. The court also ruled that the use of caretaker committees places local councils under state control, in violation of the 1999 Constitution.Speaking at the weekend during the 15th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Tinubu had urged governors to comply with the ruling, warning that failure to do so could compel him to issue an Executive Order to ensure direct allocations from the Federation Account to local governments.Reacting via social media, Atiku accused the President of politicising the judgment and failing to take decisive action to enforce it.“At this point, there is no need for threats of Executive Orders,” Atiku said. “All the President needs to do is instruct the Attorney-General of the Federation to enforce the judgment immediately. Anything short of this is a failure of leadership.”The former vice president, an African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, alleged that Tinubu’s inaction was deliberate and politically motivated.“Your refusal to act is a calculated political move—using obedience to the law as a bargaining chip to force opposition governors into the APC and to keep governors within your party firmly under your control,” Atiku wrote.He further stated that, “In doing so, you have reduced the Constitution to a tool of convenience and governance to partisan bargaining. Supreme Court judgments are final, not optional.”Atiku warned that continued refusal to enforce the ruling amounts to a breach of constitutional duty.“Persistently refusing to enforce one is a direct breach of the Constitution and a violation of the oath you swore to Nigerians,” he said.Continuing, the former vice president cautioned that history would judge the present administration harshly over the matter.“Your continued inaction sends a clear message that political control matters more than constitutional duty. History will not forget this moment. Nigerians will not either,” he added.
