The attention of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Rivers State Chapter has been drawn to a press release by the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, alleging partisanship by the Federal Government and the Nigeria Police in the decision by the Police to secure and forestall breakdown of law and order in Rivers State following the illegal dissolution of 22 Local Government Councils and replacement with Caretaker Committees by the Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike.
As a political party, the APC fails to see the need for such accusation by the PDP while it refused to caution Governor Wike to resist the lure of polluting the hallowed corridor of justice through the encouragement and purchasing of Jankara court rulings as witnessed yesterday in Port Harcourt.
For the avoidance of doubt and to situate the issues in their proper perspective, it is important to clarify that following suspect and hostile utterances and body language of the Rivers State Governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike from the moment he was sworn in on May 29, the 23 Local Government Council Chairmen in Rivers State, on behalf of themselves and their Councils, approached the Nigerian Industrial Court seeking an interim injunction which was granted on Monday, 22nd June, 2015 in Suit No: NICN/YEN/26/2015.
The Order which will remain in force until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for Interlocutory Injunction, restrained the Governor of Rivers State, the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Attorney-General of Rivers State and their agents from dissolving, suspending, sacking terminating or in any manner whatsoever, interfering with the tenure of office of the 23 Local Government Councils of Rivers State.
The Order also restrained the Inspector-general of Police or his agents and privies from enforcing any purported action detrimental to the existence of the 23 Chairmen and Councils in Rivers State.
The Order, given under the hand of Hon. Justice J.T. Agbadu-Fishim, presiding over the NICN Court, holden at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State was duly served on all parties including the Inspector-General of Police and others.
Surprisingly to the APC and its members, a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt presided over by Justice Lambo Akanbi reversed his earlier decision to adjourn sine die a similar case on same subject matter without serving hearing notices to the Council Chairmen despite the pendency of an appeal fixed for hearing on October 12. After a brief sitting, Justice Akanbi gave a ruling voiding the election of 22 Council Chairmen and their Councillors elected into office in the May 23 Council elections in Rivers State.
Purportedly acting on the sham ruling by Justice Akanbi, the Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike immediately dissolved the 22 Councils despite the fact that there is a subsisting Order of Interim Injunction by the NICN Court of Yenagoa which he, the State House of Assembly and other parties were duly served. Obviously, his action was illegal and aimed at humiliating the subsisting Order issued under the hand of Hon. Justice J.T. Agbadu-Fishim.
It is worthy of mention that the NICN Court which issued its Order of Interim Injunction on the 22nd of June, 2015 is of equal or cognate jurisdiction with the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt presided over by Justice Lambo Akanbi which handed his curious ruling just yesterday [July 9, 2015].
Obviously, the Nigeria Police were properly advised to obey and stick to an Order duly issued way back on June 22, 2015 until vacated or superseded by a judgment or Order of same court or of a higher court.
The APC simply sees the accusation by the PDP against the Federal Government and the Nigeria Police as cheap blackmail aimed at eliciting underserved sympathy from the Nigerian populace and the international community. However, we are happy that both Nigerians and the international community are discerning enough to see through the antics of the PDP.
The APC would like to re-affirm our belief in the new leadership of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to continue to provide an impartial service to all irrespective of political affiliation in the spirit of the new order in Nigeria.
Chief [Dr] Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, JP
