Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has described as worrisome, a deliberate ploy to politicise the judiciary for the purpose of hearing a bail application of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was charged for murder during the March 19, 2016 rerun elections in the state.
The governor reiterated his confidence in the judiciary to live above the political games being played by the agents of APC.
Speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday during the submission of report by the Justice Monima Danagogo Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the killings and other violent acts/ related matters that occurred during the March 19, 2016 rerun elections in Rivers State, Wike decried the setting up of a special panel by the Court of Appeal basically to consider an appeal of an APC chieftain standing trial for murder.
The governor stated that he was shocked to read in national newspapers about the unprecedented action by the Court of Appeal, pointing out that the action was detrimental to the rule of law and the maintenance of the law and order in the state.
He regretted that the APC through her agents have politicised crime. He noted that the immediate past Commissioner of Police in the state was queried and transferred because he charged the notorious APC chieftain to court for murder.
He said: “I just read in the papers today that they have set up a special panel to hear bail application for a murder case.
“We have had criminal matters in court for years, but for a murder case now, Rivers State has become a state where crime is committed and it is being politicised.
“See how politics has entered into crime. Where you belong to, matters. If you belong to a particular political party, a special panel will be set up for you. They believe that the person involved is an APC member from a local government where a rerun will take place.”
Speaking further, the governor said: “This is not funny. Then you ask yourself, if that happens, what are you telling the bereaved. Are you not telling them to do whatever they can to see that they get justice from wherever.
“We were concerned about the last rerun elections and we set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to look into it to know what happened. Assuming that recommendations have been made for their prosecutions, they will take measures to frustrate such prosecutions.”
He said he has the political will to implement the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.
Earlier in his remarks, Justice Monima Danagogo, stated that the committee said the report is in four volumes for the implementation of the state government.
Wike also raised the alarm that there was a grand conspiracy to pull down the state, wondering who would benefit from the ugly plot.
Addressing the leaders of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) at the Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday, the governor said those plotting against the state will fail as he will confront them with the People’s Mandate.
He said those who are working against the interest of the state in the name of politics, must remember that the state was critical to the development of the nation.
The governor noted that he would always work for the unity and progress of the country as a patriot, despite the distractions.
