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Rivers East: ‘APC Would’ve Attacked Judiciary’ …We Believe In Judiciary -Wike
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has declared that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) only launches campaign of calumny against the judiciary when they lose cases, but applaud them each time they emerge victorious.
The governor also stated that the outcome of the litigation on the Rivers East Senatorial District Seat has confirmed the alarm he raised that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and police were in partnership to rig elections in the state.
Speaking during a stakeholders meeting with leaders of Okrika and Ogu-Bolo local government areas at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Saturday, Wike said: “Now that we have lost, nobody is saying that the Judiciary is corrupt. They are not saying that the Judiciary is corrupt because they have won.
“Tomorrow, if we win, they will say Judiciary is corrupt. Then they will send security operatives to arrest the judges. Nobody will bother to go now and arrest the judges to find out what happened”.
The governor regretted that when the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen visited the state to flag off the construction of the state Judges Quarters, the APC went to town, claiming that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will procure all judgments at the courts.
He noted: “But now, you will not see them claiming that the judgment was procured. I urge you to continue to have confidence in the Judiciary”.
Wike insisted that police colluded with APC to tender concocted results at the tribunal, which was relied upon to sack Senator George Thompson Sekibo.
He said: “Remember, last year, I raised an alarm that INEC and police were planning to rig the rerun elections. We caught people printing INEC result sheets and reported the matter. Somebody was arrested. They sent the person to Zone 6, Calabar, and granted him bail. Till now, they are yet to complete investigations into that critical matter.
“INEC declared results. All of us know that if elections are held 20 times, Senator George Thompson Sekibo will win. INEC printed their own result sheets, same serial numbers; these people printed their own result sheets with same INEC serial numbers. You ask yourself, how did they get to know INEC serial numbers? Because they could not smuggle in their own result sheets, INEC declared the authentic results.
“Unknown to us, they had gone to connive with the police. That tells you what they want to do in 2019. Thank God, they have alerted us. Instead of them to write INEC to give them the certified true copies of the result sheets, they went to the police. Police are now in custody of INEC results. Police certified their own and gave them”.
The governor said that while INEC authentic results were rejected, that manufactured by the Police High Command was admitted by the tribunal.
He said: “I have no trouble with that, but I thought that the reverse should have been the case. It has opened our eyes ahead of 2019”.
In his remarks, Senator George Thompson Sekibo stated that Wike stood with him all through the struggle, and assured the governor of the support of Okrika people at all times.
He said contrary to insinuations, his loss at the Appeal Court has nothing to do with the so-called Ikwerre agenda.
Sekibo said: “I have been sacrificed and buried, but PDP will come back stronger and better. We shall stand with Governor Wike”.
Also speaking, former minister of transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo thanked Wike for his support for Sen Sekibo.
He said: “The Okirika people are a political force, and they stand behind Wike”.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, Amanyanabo of Ogu, King Nicholas Ibiebele Nimenibo, assured the governor of the support of Okrika people in the discharge of his duties.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike said the state have not lost confidence in the judiciary despite the outcome of last Thursday’s Court of Appeal judgment in favour of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Andrew Uchendu for Rivers East Senatorial District.
He reiterated his earlier stance that the judiciary is still the hope of the common man hence there was no need for one to criticize the courts when judgments do not favour one.
Wike, who addressed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders from Okrika and Ogu/Bolo local government areas in Government House, Saturday in Port Harcourt, said they have accepted the tribunal judgment.
The governor urged the constituents from Okrika and Ogu/Bolo to be calm and focused stressing that, ‘we will continue to have confidence in the judiciary.”
He wondered why a police report should supersede result from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as he carpeted the police for compromising the outcome of the elections and frustrating the popular wish of the good people of Rivers East Senatorial District.
Wike criticized the police for raising false alarm while they were responsible for the breach and hiccups witnessed in the December 10th re-run elections.
On his part, Senator George Sekibo thanked the governor for being a pillar of support from the main elections and throughout the two re-run elections.
Sekibo described Wike as a dependable ally, “you are brother…And we won because you stood by us.”
Urging the people of his constituency to be calm, the senator assured that the judgment is not a setback but rather a shot in the arm to ensure that PDP becomes stronger and victorious in future elections.
He assured the governor of his constant support and steadfastness to the vision and goals of the PDP and to his administration.
“I will stand by the governor at all times, come rain, come shine,” Sekibo further declared.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.