Is Nyesom Wike and His Group Really Above The Law? Recent political events that have kept Rivers state in the news and the untouchable nature of the minister of state for education,the Felix Obuah-led PDP Executive and their loyalists in the state leaves many questions on the lips of concerned Nigerians. Amidst these developments, the Rivers State government has expressed sadness over the failure of the police to invite the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, for questioning over his alleged threat to make the state ungovernable. Similarly, a group, Rivers Peoples’ Forum (RPF), has said that, for openly threatening the peace and security of the state, they would mobilise Rivers’ people for protests to push for arrest and prosecution of the minister. The Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Tony Okocha, while addressing the chairman and members of the council of chiefs of Ekinigbo clan in Obio/Akpor Local Council, who paid him a solidarity visit Monday, decried the failure of the police to interrogate the minister. Okocha described Wike as being ungrateful to Governor Chibuike Amaechi whom he said brought Wike to the limelight by first appointing him as his Chief of Staff and then later nominated him for ministerial appointment in the President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet. He bemoaned the latest cases of kidnapping and armed robbery in the state, which he explained resurfaced because the police have allegedly compromised the security. Wike was said to have, at the Grassroot Democratic Initiative (GDI) event in Port Harcourt, said “for those who think that they can destroy Obio-Akpor Local Council, we will make life uncomfortable for them. We will make sure they will not sleep again. When they are sleeping, they will not sleep with their two eyes closed. One eye will be open because they know there is danger.” Meanwhile, a Rivers State lawmaker, Victor Ihunwo, has asked a Port Harcourt High Court to prohibit the judicial commission of inquiry into the crisis in the House of Assembly from investigating the crisis that rocked the House on July 9, 2013. The development came as the judicial commission headed by Justice Biobele Georgewill allayed fears that it will jail any person or persons directly responsible for the bloody confrontation that took place on the floor of the Assembly on July 9, 2013. The respondents in the lawmaker’s suit are Justice Georgewill; (Chairman), Mr. Baribura Gbaragbo, Chief Goddy (Godwin) Agbaraosimini, Iboroma Akpana, Mr. Ejike Iwediba, Chief Desmond Nwosu, Mr. Uba Agadagba, Mrs. Asivosuo M. Oriye , Mr. Barinua Keenam, Amaechi and the Attorney General of Rivers State. Ihunwo, who is regarded as one of the anti-Amaechi lawmakers, has urged the court to prohibit further proceedings or further inquiry by the respondents into the crisis in the House of Assembly in the name of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry instituted by the governor. RPF president, Charles Bekwele in a statement described the comments by Wike as a direct threat to the good people of Rivers State, since the Assembly members acted on behalf of the people who elected and mandated the Assembly members to represent them. “It is a shame, an outrage that the police instead of arresting and prosecuting Wike are allowing him to arrogantly and pompously roam the streets, making more provocative and hateful comments against the state and its people. This is the same police that have declared wanted and arrested supporters of Amaechi for extremely flimsy reasons. So why are they not arresting a man who openly threatened the people, the peace and security of the State? Is Nyesom Wike above the law?” said Bekwele. The groups called on the Inspector-General of Police to arrest and prosecute the minister because his comments are deemed dangerous to the country’s democracy. He alleged that since Wike was appointed a minister, he has carried on like a demi-god, acting like he’s above the law. He said the minister, who has practically abandoned his job at the ministry of education for politics and political campaigns, every week, according to him, the minister visits Rivers State to purportedly campaign for Mr. President but in reality campaigning for his own governorship ambition. “We are ready to march on the streets of Port Harcourt if the police refuse to act and allow this impunity and aggression by one man against the people of the state to continue. This will be the mother of all protests as we shall mobilise Rivers people from all over to come out and tell the police in very lucid terms that they will not allow Nyesom Wike to threaten their lives, their peace and security while the police whose duty it is to protect us, do nothing to protect the people. The time to arrest and prosecute Wike is now,” he added.
Posted on: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 14:17:29 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015