Court Restrains PDP, Obuah, Others …Party Plegdes Support For Ake, Governor Amaechi …Let’s Not Toy With Judiciary – Amaechi

A High Court in Port Harcourt Judicial Division has granted an order sought by two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members from Asari-Toru and Ogu/Bolo Local Government Areas, of Rivers State, Mr Daere Samuel Horsfall and Tamuno-Tonye Brown restraining the Chief Felix Obuah-led PDP from dissolving the party executives at the local government and ward levels.

In two different suits, No PHC/799/2013 and PHC/800/2013, the PDP and Chief Obuah were joined as defendants.

On hearing the affidavit of both claimants as presented by their attorney, Roland Otaru (SAN), Justice Boma Diepiri gave  a substituted service and interim injunction restraining the defendants, themselves or agents from removing from office or dissolving the local government executives and ward level committees of the party in Rivers State.

It also restrained the defendants from setting up anybody to take over the responsibilities pending the determination of the suits.

The court gave orders that the claimants serve the order to the defendants by publishing it in one national daily and pasting same on the wall of the PDP party office at No 23 Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

The order is to last pending the determination of the matter in court,. The matter has been adjourned to tomorrow for argument of the  motion by the parties.

In the same vein, leaders of the various Legislative Assemblies from the 23 local government areas under the aegis of Local Government Legislative Forum, have rejected and condemned the judgement of the Federal High Court sacking the Chief Godspower Ake-led PDP in the state.

The forum says it rejects and dissociates herself, their colleague councillors and those from their ward from any PDP executive except that of Ake.

It added, “ the forum and our colleague councillors and indeed the good people of our various wards accordingly pledge our unwavering support, belief and trust in the ability of the executive governor of Rivers State, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi.

The declaration was signed by 22 legislative Assembly leaders in the state.

Barely a week after the controversial court judgement that dissolved the Chief Godspower Ake-led Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) executive in Rivers State, party supporters from the 23 local government areas have drummed support for the Chief Ake’s leadership.

Last Saturday, more than 2,000 PDP members drawn from the youth, women, national and state legislators thronged the Government House, Port Harcourt vowing not to recognise the court instituted new executive, while pledging their solidarity for the administration of Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

As each group took turn to condemn the court judgement, the Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, of the Natonal Assembly Magnus Abe on behalf of national legislators said, no amount of intimidation will rob Rivers people of their freedom to choose their leaders.

Abe blamed the crisis on selfish interests and those who want to arrogate to themselves the power to choose those who lead, Rivers State will be led by those who build schools, roads and hospitals,’’ the Senator insisted, stressing that it’s not in the power of few persons to upturn the mandate of the majority.

He expressed the hope that with an appeal already instituted to stay the judgement, the judiciary would rise to the challenge and correct the anomaly.

Leader in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd said there was no need to nurse fear over a temporary misfit” noting, we do not have fear as to the chairmanship of the party in Rivers State.’’

He believed that it was part of the democratic process and not new in Rivers State, emphasising that we have walked this road before, the truth will prevail’’.

Hon. Lloyd urged party faithfuls not to be deterred, as he counselled them on the need to be peaceful in their areas.

Chairman of Etche Local Government, Hon. Reginald Ukwuoma, who spoke for local government chairmen, expressed optimism that justice would come, describing the judgment as, temporary injustice and so we are here to pay solidarity to principals of truth and legacy’’.

He recalled that in 2007, the same scenario was experienced, and asserted that God who gave victory to them six years ago, will ensure another victory.

Ukwuoma maintained that it would be impossible for a group that did not partake in party elections in March last year to preside over those legitimately chosen.

Speaking on behalf of the youth, former Chairman of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYC), Comrade Bethel Oko-Jaja said the youth were solidly behind the Governor Chibuike Amaechi government.

Oko-Jaja believed that the appeal would be pursued to a logical conclusion, assuring the Chief Ake-led PDP that,” we will not relent till the end. We will stand by them in the morning and in the evening’’.

The youth leader described the Governor Amaechi-led administration as one that had brought hope, peace and restoration, noting that therefore the youth would not allow any group to truncate such government.

Rivers Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru who received the groups on behalf of the governor, harped on the need for politics to be played fairly and on truth.

Ikuru was of the view that the judiciary had to rise to the challenge of fostering democracy, pointing out that if it fails, then the people have lost hope of a better future.

As a witness to the election that brought Chief Ake to power, he wondered why the other faction, which did not participate, would claim victory.

Against this glaring injustice, he called on party members to be calm, peaceful, and promised to pass their message to the governor.

Meanwhile, ex-Rivers State Student Union leaders under the aegis of Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation (RIVLEAF), has vowed not to recognise the Felix Obuah-led executive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state despite the Abuja High Court judgement.

The foundation, which made the  vow during the inauguration of its Khana, Gokana and Tai chapters at the weekend in Bori, also vowed to resist attempts by few individuals to take control of the state by force.

The President of the foundation, Mr Alex Wele, who addressed supporters during the inauguration also said that Rivers people would resist attempts to foist unpopular leaders on them in 2015, by those based in Abuja.

He said that the foundation, which is made up of former student union leaders was formed to support the good governance of Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in the state.

The foundation president urged Ogonis to stand behind the governor, and disclosed plans by the group to establish the Chibiuke Amaechi Centre for good leadership to immortalise the governor.

Former State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Chief Andy Nweye said that the foundation was non-political, and formed to groom future leaders for the state.

Chief Nweye also urged the national leadership of the  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to intervene in the crisis rocking the state chapter of the party as Rivers State was very strategic in the overall success of PDP in the forth-coming election.

Earlier, the chairman of the occasion, Mr Austin Nwakoh pledged the support of the Ogonis to both the state government and leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)led by Chief G.U Ake.

In his solidarity message, an elder statesman in Ogoni, Chief Victor Ikpor described the crisis in the state chapter of the PDP as  a ploy to deny Rivers South-East the chance to produce the next governor in 2015.

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, says the April 15, 2013 verdict delivered by Justice Ishaq Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja, declaring Mr. Felix Obuah and Mr. Ibiba Opuene Walter, as duly elected Chairman and Secretary respectively of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, amounts to a desecration of the temple of justice.

Governor Amaechi said this last Saturday while addressing a mammoth crowd of Rivers people who marched in solidarity to Government House, Port Harcourt.

Represented by his deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, Governor Amaechi declared that “I think as a nation, one area we should not allow mud to go into is the judiciary. As a nation, one area we should not allow to become a thing of play is the judiciary. The temple of justice has been desecrated. Nigeria arise, Nigeria arise. If we do not rise, we will lose our country. As a nation, any day we allow the temple of justice to be desecrated, we’ll lose our country”.

Governor Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), stated that “any day a poor man cannot go to the court and state his case and get justice that country is lost”.

“I therefore call on the judges, particularly, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, to very quickly, with alarm, move into this matter,” emphasising that “I have faith in the Chief Justice of this country. She is a woman of integrity, she is a woman who has proved herself time without number,” noting that “this is another case for her to prove that she sits at the helm of justice in this country,” assuring that “she will ensure that justice is given to all”.

Engr. Ikuru disclosed that “I was privileged to be part of that convention, I was privileged to see the votes counted, I was privileged to see the results announced and then suddenly in broad daylight, somebody said that that election produced another person,” pointing out that “when certain people die their eyes will not close because they tell broad day lies. Those who open their eyes, know what is right, see what is right and say something different.

The day they will die, their eyes will never close”.

The Governor called on the people of the State, especially the members of the PDP to be law-abiding and go about their normal duties without breaching the peace.

“I will urge every one of you to hold your peace. Hold your peace because I know there are still men and women of goodwill in this country. There are still people of truth,” he stressed.

John Bibor

Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe (right), addressing a mammoth crowd of PDP members, during a rally in support of Governor Chibuike Amaechi at Government House, Port Harcourt, last Saturday.