We Are Not Incompetent, Amaechi’s Aides Tell Wike

The Rivers State
Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Emmanuel Chinda and the National President of Save Rivers Movement (SRM), Charles Ahorlu, have debunked allegations that cabinet members of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s administration are incompetent.
The two politicians were apparently responding to the allegations by the Supervising Minister of Education, Mr Nyesom Wike. Wike had on a radio programme last week described most of Amaechi’s lieutenants as incompetent.
Chinda and Ahorlu who spoke on a radio programme in Port Harcourt also accused the National Judicial Council (NJC) of being used by the Federal Government to destabilise the state judiciary.
The duo said the motive of the NJC for insisting on a particular judge for the position of a Chief Judge was still unclear to the Rivers people, noting that it appeared there was a political plan against Governor Amaechi to rob him of his powers.
They advised the NJC to act according to the law, explaining that the constitution allows the governor to appoint a Chief Judge in a state.
They also faulted the NJC’s decision to appoint an administrative Judge for the state, insisting that the judicial council lacks such powers.
Chinda and Ahorlu also argued that Governor Amaechi did not breach the constitution as accused by the opposition, saying that what the Governor did was within his powers and has been backed by the pronouncement of a high court.
Hon Chinda commended the Rivers State House Assembly for rising up to the occasion by amending the Rivers State High Court Law which allows the chief registrar to perform the duties of the Chief Judge until a substantive Chief Judge is appointed.
He regretted that a serving minister would urge his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to obey the law passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly.