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PDP Slams Lawyers Over Call For Rivers AG’s Resignation
President Goodluck Jonathan (4th-left), Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina (middle) and other officials, cutting a cake at the launch of dry season farm support programme at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, last Monday. Photo: NAN.
Lawyers in Port Harcourt who yesterday joined the street protests against the administration of Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi have received knocks from the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), faction in the state loyal to Chief Godspower Ake.
The party, which described the protesting lawyers as “deviants” having disobeyed the directives of the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), Chairman, Lawrence Oko-Jaja, added that their call for the resignation of Mr. Wogu Boms, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, has further betrayed their source of protest.
In a statement yesterday, in Port Harcourt, signed by the PDP State Publicity Secretary, George Ukwuoma-Nwogba the Ake-led faction of the PDP accused the lawyers of working for the Grassroots Democratic Initiative, (GDI), which it said had been commissioned to overthrow the administration of Governor Chibuike Amaechi “by all means possible.”
“The leader of those protesters is a well-known GDI member, sympathiser and one of its legal counsels and so, sees nothing good in neither Governor Amaechi nor Boms. He was one of those who spoke in favour of the failed coup d’état of July 9, 2013 on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The use of the absence of a Chief Judge for the state, for the protest was a mere smokescreen”, it added.
“Because they have found Wogu Boms a bedrock in the Amaechi administration who has declined their overtures to betray his principal for a ministerial appointment, they now want to bring him down using hugely corrupt-minded lawyers, questionable ‘civil society’ and human rights groups.
“That lawyers would denigrate the wig for mere spoons of porridge would make legal guru, Frederick Rotimi Alade Williams, turn in his grave. QC, SAN, foremost Nigerian lawyer who was the first Nigerian to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, turn in his grave.
“The lawyers who embarked on that show of shame have re-written lawyers’ chapter of respect in opprobrium,” the PDP said.
According to the PDP, Wogu Boms is a gift to the Rivers State Judiciary whose actions and advice to the Rivers State Government in respect to the matter of the appointment of State Chief Judge has been purely professional and political.
“What the protesting lawyers only achieved was denigrating the wig and gown by joining street urchins and often rented miscreants to march on the streets for peanuts. We had assumed that lawyers were learned enough to know civility and decorum,” PDP said.
On the grounds for the protest, PDP drew the attention of the lawyers Section 271(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which it noted, they have over-flogged, arguing that there is an invisible, grammatical lacuna that empowers a governor of a state to either accept or reject a recommended Judge for appointment into the office of a chief judge.
“There are cases in Nigeria’s recent past where states’ governors rejected recommended judges for appointment as States’ Chief Judges. Lawyers in such states never took to the streets.
“It was the same National Judicial Council, (NJC), they are singing of its correctness which compromised recommendations made to it on the recall of the retired President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Ayo Salami.
It is a governor’s prerogative to affirm or reject a nominee to the office a CJ just like the NJC snubbed all wise counsel on the Salami matter.
“If there was any room for conflict in the subsisting sections in the Nigerian Constitution, Amaechi should not pay for such an error since he was not the writer of the Constitution. Makers of the Nigerian Constitution must be taken to be wiser than those protesters.
“We would suggest that rather than disturb the peace of Rivers State, those GDI-sponsored lawyers should visit the National Assembly to insist on an amendment to the section,” the PDP added.
The party said “in fact, a House of Assembly may also turn down a request for confirmation of a nominee, and that had happened in recent times in Nigeria. The lawyers ought to have known better before going to display how partisan they have gone.”
The PDP warned against further attempts to truncate the peace of the state, denouncing the Rivers State Police Command for again displaying its partisan colour in providing protection to the lawyers whom it said, “were paid to cause breach of peace.”
The Hausa Community in Rivers State has dissociated itself from media reports credited to one MaiwadaAdamu that the Arewa Community in Rivers State has appointed Alhaji Musa Saidu as the acting SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt, following the inability of the former SarkinHausawa, Alhaji Isa Madaki to carry out his functions.
MaidawaAdamu, who is also the spokesman of the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence, had briefed journalists on the change, but in a swift reaction, the Office of Alhaji Isa Madaki, has come out to say that the only recognised body which has the powers to appoint the SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt is the Council of SarkinHausawa in PortHarcourt headed by Alhaji Isa Madaki.
The statement also said Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki is the only recognisedSarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, adding that his appointment follows the proclamation and endorsement by the council members of SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The statement further called on the general public and all authorities concerned to give Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki maximum co-operation and support,as he discharges his duties as SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt.
The Suspended Rivers State Commissioner for health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, has described as baseless allegations in some quarters that she was responsible for the purported disruption of the Nigerian First Lady’s empowerment program in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh, who said this in a statement personally signed by her and a copy made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt also described the allegation as a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers
According to Dr Oreh, “they are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord”
In her words,”the allegations levelled against me, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, regarding the supposed disruption of the First Lady’s empowerment programme on Friday 2nd May, 2025, are entirely unfounded, completely false, and a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers and conflict entrepreneurs.
“They are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord.”
The suspended commissioner challenged those behind the allegation, especially the Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation to show proof of its assertion adding “It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I challenge the “Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation” (assuming such a body really exists) to provide tangible proof to support their assertions.
“It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I have neither sponsored nor will sponsor any activities aimed at embarrassing or disrupting the activities of the administration appointed by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to oversee the affairs of Rivers State following his declaration of a state of emergency on Tuesday, 18th March, 2025, and have rather spent the time of my suspension from office focused on other endeavours and my doctoral studies.
“I reaffirm my commitment to working tirelessly for the progress and development of Rivers State.
“Furthermore, I believe that it is crucial for all stakeholders to promote a culture of truth, integrity, and respect in public discourse.
“Unsubstantiated wild claims undermine trust and hinder constructive engagement, and this is not what the state needs at this difficult and delicate time.
“I urge everyone to focus on issues that unite us and foster a positive, solution-driven dialogue for the betterment of our State, and urge everyone to work together to build a brighter future for Rivers State, grounded in truth, transparency, and collective effort,”she said.
By: John Bibor
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has called on key regulators, asset owners and other stakeholders to continue to support the agency toward the goal of remediating the Ogoni environment and restoring the livelihoods of the people and building structures for peace.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who made the call during the Project’s first quarter meeting with regulators, asset owners and stakeholders in Port Harcourt, urged the stakeholders to remain resolute in supporting HYPREP’s work.
“We particularly expect each regulatory agency and asset owner to deepen their involvement and continue to provide strategic support to the project”, he said, stressing that the quarterly meeting platform remains instrumental in providing a structural avenue for regulators, asset owners, and implementation partners to offer feedback to HYPREP on project performance and deliberate on ideas that move the project forward, as well as strengthen collaboration, deepen synergy and reinforce collective responsibility.
Zabbey disclosed that the socio-economic study of Ogoni has started, as HYPREP has contacted the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organisation(WHO) to commence in the next quarter a three-year human health biomonitoring in Ogoniland.
He noted that work on several fronts of the cleanup project is progressing steadily, adding that as key project partners, the insights and shared experience of the regulators and asset owners have always enriched HYPREP’s operations.
He said the policy thrust of HYPREP for 2025 is clear, as the Project is intensifying efforts to complete within stated timelines, the various ongoing projects, including remediation works and mangrove restoration, potable water facilities, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, the Ogoni Power Project, Ogoni Specialist Hospital, and Buan Cottage Hospital, among others.
Zabbey, however, announced that HYPREP would commence new set of shoreline cleanup, mangrove restoration and livelihood projects, to sustain the momentum of implementing the Ogoni cleanup, adding that the agency would also conduct detailed site characterisation of the high-risk complex sites, leading to remediation works at the sites.
He noted that HYPREP’s collaboration with Rivers State Ministries of Health, Power and Environment, and civil society organisations remains vital, stressing that the technical and administrative support of all relevant government agencies and funding partners is indispensable in helping HYPREP overcome operational bottlenecks, especially those encountered in interfacing with host communities.
He further indicated that “the people of Ogoni and the nation are looking to us with hope and expectation, and expect tangible results from the remediation initiative”, assuring the participants that the Project Coordination Office is committed to delivering positive results.
“We must, therefore, continue to work with diligence, transparency, and a renewed sense of purpose”, he declared, saying, “ the completion and commissioning of projects this year must reflect not only our technical ability but also our collective commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainable development in Ogoni.”
During the interactive session, the Project Coordinator briefed the participants on the progress made so far by HYPREP to conclude the distribution of starter packs to the 5,000 Ogoni trainees, and called on contractors who had already collected huge chunk of money for the project, to deliver without further delay.
In all, the regulators, asset owners and stakeholders commended HYPREP for the good works it is doing, and urged it to do more.
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA) was represented at the event by Deputy Director, Oil Field Assessment, Dr Abam Komommo Omini, while Dr Vincent Nwachukwu, Director of Medical Services, represented the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
The Rivers State Ministries of Water Resources, Power and Environment were represented by Dr Bealo Brownson; Engr K. J. Osele; and Mr James Ordu respectively, while the Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA); and the Stakeholder Democracy Network(SDN); among other civil society organisations were also at the event.
By: Donatus Ebi