News
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 Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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