“Withholding Allocations from a State May Lead to Its Exit from the Federation — Festus Ogwuche”

The recent ruling by the Federal High Court that prohibits federal allocations to Rivers State raises significant concerns about the balance of power between the federal government and state rights in Nigeria. Human rights lawyer Festus Ogwuche highlighted this issue during an interview with Arise News.

Ogwuche emphasized that the foundation of a federal system is built on states voluntarily uniting to form a cohesive government, ceding some of their powers to the central authority. He cautioned that withholding a state’s financial allocations undermines this foundational principle and might lead to a situation where the state considers secession from the federation entirely.

He stated, “In federal systems, the states unite to create a collective government and delegate some of their powers to the center, regardless of the flaws within our system. It’s important to recognize that states maintain their authority.

“Ogwuche further noted that if a state is denied its rightful share of resources, which it contributes to the national framework, it sets a dangerous precedent. This could prompt the state to contemplate exiting the federation, which he described as a potential outcome.