I
believe that most persons who support the undemocratic assault of the
judiciary by Nigeria’s secret police, do so because they are not privy
to the dirty conspiracy underlying these actions. Most Nigerians are not
conversant with the sustained assault of the Department of State
Services, DSS, against Rivers State and the mandate freely extended by
Rivers people to Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
This latest assault is simply another lawless attempt to whittle down the popularity of the People’s Governor in the country.
It is a deep-seated illegal onslaught on
Rivers State premised on greed and lust for Rivers resources by leaders
of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who illegally benefitted from
corruptly acquired Rivers funds during the 2015 general election
campaigns. Having tasted free stolen funds from the immediate past
governor, these APC officials are determined to go to any shameful
length to destabilise Rivers State.
The DSS anti-democratic and anti-Rivers
invasions started in October 2015 at the height of the proceedings of
the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal which sat in Abuja.
The DSS, Police and Army High Commands
after receiving approvals from the leadership of the APC detailed
security clowns to testify against the election of Rivers State
Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. These operatives under cross examination
all faltered as they admitted that they did not directly participate in
the election. They admitted that their testimonies were based on
rumours.
However, when Governor Wike and PDP
subpoenaed the senior security personnel who directly provided security
for the April 11, 2015 Governorship election, armed DSS Operatives
stormed the venue of the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal in
Abuja . Their objective was to stop these security personnel from
mounting the witness box. They claimed they had orders from above to
arrest the security witnesses.
Heavily Armed Department of State
Services, DSS, operatives stormed the Rivers State Governorship Election
Petition Tribunal to arrest a retired subpoenaed commander , Emmanuel
Philips who testified that the election was peaceful, credible and
without cases of violence.
They could not arrest the retired commander as lawyers and journalists demanded for arrest warrant which they failed to produce.
A day before, the same DSS made an
attempt to arrest an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Akuki Kenneth
who testified that the Rivers State Governorship Election was peaceful ,
but was resisted by lawyers.
Having failed to stop these security
officers from testifying, the DSS used pro-APC online and mainstream
media outfits to circulate disparaging false allegations against
Governor Wike.
Following the failure that met the DSS
desperate attempt to abduct a Federal High Court judge in Port Harcourt
on 8th October, 2016p, the same organisation has approached her media
associates in the APC to hatch and circulate false reports.
I read on Premium Times and later shared
by Sahara Reporters the claim that the DSS wanted to arrest a judge of
the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt because he allegedly gave a
judgment that favoured the Ahmed Makarfi led PDP National Caretaker
Committee.
These pro-APC online and mainstream
media outfits are quoting “competent security sources” as premise for
whatever illogical falsehood they want to spin. However, each time you
read these outlets, know that it is part of the desperate thinking of
the APC.
One fact is now out in the open, sacked
former PDP National Chairman received backing from the APC, hence the
venomous reprisal by the DSS. This has been explained by the APC media
brought in to do damage control for the party.
However , the fundamental aim of
Governor Wike as regards his timely intervention was to sustain the rule
of law as far as Rivers State is concerned. As the duly elected chief
executive and Chief security officer of the state , he had a
responsibility to ensure that due process was followed.
The statement by the National Chairman
of APC when he received the defeated Rivers State APC Governorship
Candidate , Dakuku Peterside lays credence to the party’s ignoble
desperation .
Chief Odigie-Oyegun said: “We have lost
very important resource-rich states to the PDP. No matter how crude oil
prices have fallen, it is still the most important revenue earner for
the country.”
Since then, the APC leadership both at
the Federal and Rivers State level have sponsored attacks on the
judiciary , questioning the validation of the election of Governor Wike
by the Supreme Court .
Despite the sponsorship of destructive
propaganda against Governor Wike , he has continued to stand on the
truth, promoting the principles of the rule of law and due process.
Upon assumption of duty as Governor ,
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike revived the State Judiciary that was left comatose by
the immediate past governor of Rivers State Governor.
The governor has also stabilised the
judiciary by ensuring peaceful transition of the leadership of the State
Judiciary on the premise of the laid down succession rule. The Rivers
State Judiciary now enjoys financial autonomy , with massive
infrastructural development taking place in the courts.
Welfare of judicial officers has been
given top priority , while the State Government recently handed over the
uultra-modern NBA Law Centre to the Port Harcourt Branch of the NBA to
improve research and the rule of law in the state.
Governor Wike’s promotion of the rule of
law is known to all. His defence of due process is always in the
interest of the state and the society.
As Rivers State Chief Security officer , he has always worked hard to protect all residents of Rivers State .
Addressing the people of Rivers State
last Saturday night during a special dinner for the management and
players of Rivers United at the Government House, Port Harcourt,
Governor Wike said the weak blackmail of the DSS will not lessen the
crime they have committed against the Nigerian State by assaulting the
judiciary.
He noted that nobody is deceived by the concocted figures being circulated by the DSS.
He noted that nobody is deceived by the concocted figures being circulated by the DSS.
He said: “Their blackmail stories will
not move me. They will concoct all kinds of stories to justify this
undemocratic illegality perpetrated against the judiciary.
“It is really unfortunate that DSS would
concoct a false defence that $2million USD , (that is N900million) was
found in the house of the judge.It is unfortunate that the DSS is coming
up with flimsy excuses. “
It will be recalled that the governor
and the DSS Operatives had their encounter outside the gate of the
residence. It is therefore ridiculous that the DSS remained outside to
decare thar N900million was found in the residence.
The governor noted that while he does
not condone corruption , he will never support any process that is
targeted at ruining the nation’s judiciary.
He stated that the National Judicial
Council has the responsibility to discipline erring and corrupt judges,
after which indicted judicial officers are handed over to the relevant
law enforcement agency for prosecution.
The governor said that the Police, Army
and other para-military agencies have their respective processes for the
discipline of erring and corrupt officers.
“In the police, erring and corrupt
policemen are first given orderly room trial, sacked and then
appropriately prosecuted. For Judicial Officers, the DSS has no role,”
he said.
Governor Wike added: “This impunity must
stop.I am not in support of any judicial support being involved in
corruption. What we are saying is that the right things must be done. We
must not do things that will jeopardise our hard earned democracy”.
All other well meaning Nigerians and
groups have insisted on the rule of law . The general agreement is that
corruption must be fought within the ambit of the law.
According to the National Judicial
Council after its marathon meeting, NJC: “expresses its grave concern on
the recent invasion of the Residences and arrest of some serving and
suspended Judicial Officers by the Department of State Services (“DSS”);
and condemned the action in its entirety.
“Viewed the action as a threat to the
Independence of the Judiciary, which portends great danger to our
democracy; and also considered the action as a clear attempt by the DSS
to humiliate, intimidate, denigrate and cow the Judiciary.”
The NBA at the end of his second crisis
management meeting on 13th October , 2016 declared thus: “That the NBA
reiterates in unmistakeable terms its commitment to the fight against
corruption and commits itself to collaborate with the Federal Government
in bringing culprits to justice whether Judges or ordinary people.
However, we will only do this within the ambit of the law and in
accordance with due process.”
It was the great act of courage by
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Saturday , 8th October ,
2016 that saved the day for the nation’s judiciary . Otherwise , by now,
operatives of the DSS would have hunted down all judicial officers
believed to be impartial and not dancing to expected tunes.
It was that singular act that brought
the entire illegality to the National frontburner . Otherwise , the
Nigerian people would have been subjected to an overdose of media trial,
which will eventually destroy one of the most important structures of
democracy .
Those who know Governor Wike well
understand that he is not moved by falsehood and propaganda . The
actions of the DSS being sponsored by prominent corrupt elements of
Rivers APC will not stop the governor from defending the rule of law .
Governor Wike has the constitutional
responsibility to promote and defend due process, rule of law and
constitutional democracy . So far, he has lived up to the expectations
of the people in these regards. He has moved Rivers State away from the
days of impunity when the immediate past governor practically welded the
gates of the courts, drove away judicial officers and lawyers and
instituted a regime of lawlessness .
The 8th October , 2016 action of
Governor Wike disseminated one message unequivocally : “Never again ,
will anyone, no matter his connection and iill-gotten wealth be allowed
to drag Rivers State back to the days of impunity.”
Simeon Nwakaudu is a special assistant on electronic media to Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike.
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author.
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