Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has described the closure of courts in the State for nearly two years by the immediate past administration of Chibuike Amaechi as a coup against the judiciary.
He regretted that Nigeria happens to be the only country where those who violate the sanctity of the third arm of government go unpunished.
The governor made these assertion at the New Year State banquet held in Government House, Port Harcourt on Sunday night.
Wike said it was preposterous for his predecessor who closed courts for almost two years and denied people access to justice, to claim that Rivers State has been badly governed since 2015.
“There will be bad administration if there is no good governance. What is good governance? There cannot be good governance if it is not predicated on the rule of law and due process. Who can you actually accuse of bad administration? We came to this State in 2015. There was no court.
“There was a coup against the third arm of government. It is only in Nigeria where you can stage a coup against the judiciary and you will go free. Nobody can stage coup against the judiciary in any developed society and you go free. You can never. You deny people liberty, you deny them access to justice.”
He said it was ludicrous for Amaechi, whose eight years reign in office epitomised maladministration, to accuse his government that is hinged on rule of law of bad governance.
“I am happy that even if we did not achieve anything, we did not shut down the courts. I did not drag the legislature to Government House to pass budgets.”
He took a swipe at the National Assembly for confirmation of Amaechi as a minister, despite his atrocious attack against the judiciary while as governor of Rivers State.
“You suffered a whole State not to have access to justice and nobody is saying anything. It is only in this country where I see parliament can even screen somebody to be a minister that had shut the gate of justice.”
According to the governor, “We came, opened the court. Who was the first person that rushed to court when the court was opened? The same man who closed the court, the man who denied other people liberty.”
He observed that Amaechi often brag about building modern secondary schools while in office. According to him, a report of the Rivers State economic advisory council set up by Amaechi had denounced siting of these schools in locations far from the communities.
The governor noted that any government that provides the people infrastructure, but deny them liberty and access to justice could best be described as a failed government.
Wike reiterated that Amaechi is yet to account for the $308M proceeds from the sales of the State gas turbine power stations to Sahara Energy, which is co-founded by Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Tonye Cole.
“Who’s behind Sahara? The one he is presenting to be governorship candidate.” He said if Amaechi has scruples he would not meddle in the affairs of a State that he wasted N54billion of her resources on the now abandoned 1.1 kilometres monorail project.
Wike listed the dualised Saakpenwa-Bori Kono road, Ahoada-Omoku roads, Egbema-Omoku road, Nigerian Law School, Port Harcourt campus, Trans-Kalabari road and several other projects as some of his landmark achievements.
He said, “To the glory of God, we have done very well.”
He commended the legislative and judicial arms of government for working in synergy with the executive for the collective good of Rivers people.
Obi endorsement: Leave OBJ alone, go get your own endorsement, Shehu Sani tasks other candidates
Former Senator Shehu Sani has reviewed the endorsement of Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying the elder statesman had made his choice.
Sani, in a tweet on his Twitter handle, advised other presidential candidates attacking Obasanjo over the issue to go look for endorsement by other former presidents.
According to his tweet: “Obasanjo has made his choice. He is entitled to his opinion. He should not be attacked. Those who can’t get his endorsement should seek that of Gowon, IBB or Abdulsallami; they are equally credible former military and political leaders. Ordinary President of Berekete is also available.”
Recall that following Obasanjo’s significant endorsement of Peter Obi for 2023 presidency, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Waziri Atiku Abubakar presidential candidates of APC and PDP respectively had criticised Obasanjo for endorsing Obi.
While Tinubu described Obasanjo’s endorsement of Obi as worthless, Atiku said it could not stop his victory in the February 25 presidential poll.
Omobolanle Raheem: DPO, officers, men transferred out of Ajiwe Police station in Lagos
Following the December 25 killing of 41-year-old pregnant lawyer, Mrs Bolanle Raheem, by an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi, the Divisional Police Officer and all officers and men at the Ajiwe Police Division, Ajah, Lagos State have been transferred.
The State Police Commissioner Abiodun Alabi ordered the mass transfer with immediate effect.
A statement by the spokesman for the State Command, DSP Benjamin Hundeyin said :”Consequently, a new Divisional Police Officer, CSP Adolf Ogwu, has been deployed to the division with a charge to sanitize it and avoid a repeat of unprofessional conduct by policemen.”
It said Ogwu had commenced the demolition of shanties around the police station where policemen usually hung out to drink alcohol and others.
He stated that policemen from other divisions have been deployed to Ajiwe to replace those transferred.
He appealed to Lagos residents to always avail Police authorities with information or tips on the excesses of policemen.
“We encourage Lagos residents to, as usual, say something when they see something, as this would translate to a better policing experience for all. Remember, security is everyone’s business,” he said.
