Rivers Pdp And Algon’s Fight For Justice

Just two days after an Abuja High Court declared the Chief Godpower Ake-led Peoples  Democratic Party(PDP) executive in Rivers State illegally elected, more groups have joined to condemn the controversial judgement that gave the mantle of the party’s leadership to Chief Felix Obuah.

Many see the judgment as the voice of Jacob, while they feel the hands of Esau. One of those is Chairman of Rivers caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon Asita Honourable who described the development as “order from Oga and Madam.”

Asita who was visibly irked by the matter said consultations were being made since they would not fold their arms to see illegality take root in the State. He wondered why such illegality would take place at a time when the party was still struggling to mend parts of its torn umbrella across the country.

It would be recalled that the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur had visited the State in March to hold a reconciliatory meeting with the party stakeholders in the State. Barely a month later, the party’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih also visited the State. During the visit, Chief Anenih known conferred with Governor Amaechi and with party stalwarts which included Prof. Jerry Gana, Deputy Chairman of the party, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, Alabo Graham-Douglas, and Chief Ebenezer Babatope in Government House, Port Harcourt.

But a week later, the controversial judgment came as a a rude shock, making nonsence of the reconciliation that must have taken place. The judgment has however,  received massive condemnation. Last Wednesday, the Association of Local Government of Nigeria(ALGON) joined other groups to pick holes in the judgment.  Chairman of the body in Rivers State, Hon Chimbiko Akarolo told journalists that the court ruling was a ploy by Abuja forces to destabilise the state and perhaps call for a state of emergency.

According to him, apart from targeting Governor Amaechi, the current party stalemate was geared towards truncating democracy. “That unfortunate decision of the Abuja High Court is a ‘bad luck’ to democracy in Rivers State and in Nigeria”, he said.

As leaders of the party at the grassroot level, Hon. Akarolo says ALGON would not fold its arms to watch the sinister development in the state. “We shall not condone any illegal executive council to be foisted upon us. We took part and led the delegates who duly voted for and elected Chief Ake-led executive council of PDP in Rivers State, whose election had earlier been validated by a High Court judgment in Rivers State,” he stated

The body also declared its unflinching support for the governor and leader of the party in the state, saying,” while we appeal to our teeming supporters and party faithfuls to remain law abiding and go about their normal party business as the  judgment has already been  appealed at the Court of Appeal, while the earlier judgment that confirmed the G U Ake led executive council as the legitimate and duly elected State Executive Council of PDP is still subsisting”.

Shortly after Akarolo’s speech, questions from journalists drew more reactions from other members of the ALGON.

Barrister Edward Pepple who is the chairman of Bonny Local Government Area affirmed Akarolo’s position, noting that the briefing had the full mandate of  all the chairmen across the 23 local government areas.

Barrister Pepple insisted that country must be ruled on the platform of truth and fairness, questioning the credibility of the court that recognised somebody who did not buy form or participated at the state congress last year as the state PDP chairman. He expressed hope that justice would come at last.

But when asked whether the party members would dump PDP considering the development, Hon Akarolo said that would not happen. “We are not running from the PDP, we will remain in PDP,” he stated.

The Port Harcourt Local Government chairman maintained that unless the subsisting  judgment at the High Court at Okehi was set aside, the current judgment in Abuja was ultra vire, adding,” the issue of exhausting the legal process in the first place does not arise”.

Chairman of Okrika Local Government Council, Barrister Tamuno Williams also spoke on the matter while dismissing the claims that they were acting out a script from the executive. “We are not afraid of any suspension. Our aim is to let you know about the matter and we are not agents to anyone”.

He further queried, “when you see a stranger or an interloper .come into your house, will you allow him?”

For Chairman of Etche Local Government Area, Barrister Reginald Ukwuoma, the judgement is “judicial rascality, considering the basis on which it was given. He stated further that  “judges ajudicate matters based on the facts presented before them so they can be wrong and they can be right”.

Ukwuoma argued that for the present matter, there was no way party members would fold their  arms in the face of miscarried justice.

Chairperson of Ogu -Bolo Local Government Area, Hon Maureen Tamuno and the only female amongst them responded on how they view the judgment. “We view the courts as the hope of the common man but with what we saw yesterday, we think otherwise”.

Hon. Tamuno expressed the hope that the Court of Appeal would enforce justice and called on the media to also join in the fight for justice by reporting objectively on the matter.

Mrs Tamuno’s view was earlier held by Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari during a press chat last Tuesday. She described the judgment as full of error

“I believe that it is a travesty of justice. I think that this is a kangaroo judgment. It is amazing that a judge will agree that a process is statute barred and still go ahead and deliver judgment”.

She said that despite the ruling, Governor Amaechi would not leave the PDP. “We remain members of the PDP. We remain committed and loyal party men. Governor Amaechi has said this without fail. You do not leave your house because the thief broke into your house. You cannot abandon your place of residence for a rogue; you would stay in your house and challenge the rogue”.

From all indications, that proverbial expression seems to paint the current situation in PDP in Rivers State as many party faithfuls hold their ground to ensure justice and fairplay in all their affairs.