Attack on Rivers Judiciary by Police/APC: A coup against Rivers State Government —Governor Wike

…Abe commends Judiciary for boldness

 

Daniel Efe/Port Harcourt

 

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the devastating attack on Rivers State Judiciary on Friday  is an attempt by the Police and the All Progressive Congress (APC ) to overthrow the Rivers State Government.

 

 

The governor spoke on Friday after he inspected the Rivers State High Court Complex destroyed by the Police and supporters of the APC from the faction of the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

 

The APC and Police damaged several courtrooms, ransacked the  court library, destroyed vehicles  and looted shops. Hundreds of expended bullets littered the High Court Complex.

 

 

Governor Wike said it is unfortunate that the Nigeria Police connived with leaders of the APC to close the courts and stop it from dispensing justice to Rivers  people.

 

 

He said: “This is very unfortunate.  Do not trivialize this invasion by saying it is just an attack by the APC on the judiciary.  This is a complete coup by the Nigerian Police and the APC to overthrow the Rivers State Government.

 

 

“We have said it before and we have been vindicated by this callous joint invasion of the Rivers State Judiciary”.

 

 

He regretted that the Rivers State Police Commissioner decided to copy the Inspector General of Police in the exhibition of recklessness and lawlessness against an arm of Government carrying out its lawful duty.

 

 

“We cannot continue  to rely on the police to defend us. We must all stand up to defend democracy.  What has happened is a sign of what APC and Police have planned.

 

 

“APC Federal Government is not prepared for  election.  Therefore, they want to truncate the nation’s democracy.  They are fomenting trouble to create an avenue  for the military to take over.

 

 

“The APC Federal Government sponsored  Senator Omo-Agege at the Federal High Court.  Nobody  invaded the court.  This action by the Police and APC is not acceptable”, he said.

 

 

Governor Wike noted that it was the immediate past Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who plotted the attack on the Judiciary on Thursday on behalf of the Federal Government , pointing out that the plot was executed by a Former Local Government Chairman already standing trial for murder.

 

 

“We must defend ourselves and the nation’s democracy.  We cannot continue to rely on the police.  Remember, it was the police that kidnapped  a sitting governor.

 

 

“Nigerians have rejected the APC and there is nothing anybody  can do about it. Since they are unpopular, they want to truncate the nation’s democracy “, he said.

 

 

He commended Rivers youths for rising in defence of their mandate by mobilising to open the courts, despite the shootings by the Nigerian Police.

 

 

APC and Policemen on Friday locked the gates of the Rivers State Judiciary in an attempt  to stop the court from hearing a suit filed against the party by aggrieved  members.

 

The governor  was guided during the inspection tour of the High Court Complex by Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Iyayi-Laminkara.

 

 

In a related governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, has commended the Judiciary in Rivers State for the courage to stand boldly as the last hope of the common man by granting the request of some members of APC who approached the courts in order to seek a peaceful resolution to the crises that rocked the party after the ward congresses where members who have paid for forms were willfully excluded.

 

Read Also: Court Stops Rivers APC From Conducting LGA Congress

Abe, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by his spokesperson, Parry Saroh Benson, said it was regrettable that party leaders will descend so low by attempting to obstruct the functions of the Judiciary and disrupting the courts from sitting in the face of violent intimidation.

“We commend some members of the party who approached the courts in order to seek a peaceful resolution to the crisis that rocked the party after the ward congresses and for insisting that justice must prevail for those who were disenfranchised.”

 

“They have done well because the absence of law is the presence of anarchy and as Rivers people, we cannot fold our arms and allow anarchy to envelope the State.”