Rivers State Governor, Ezebuwon Nyesom Wike, has sacked the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Opunabo Christian Inko-Tariah. The sack, which the victim confirmed on a radio statement earlier today, comes days after Mr. Wike had disowned a statement from the sacked Adviser, denigrating the Nigerian judiciary.
Opunabo had, on behalf of Wike, while reacting to the ruling of the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Holden in Abuja, labelled judges judicial terrorists. Only some days later, Wike denied authorship of the statement but failed to condemn it. He neither condemned Mr. Inko-Tariah.
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There were signs that Mr. Inko-Tariah had been sidelined by Wike since that statement. Soon afterwards, press statements emanating from the Press Unit of Rivers State Government House, before signed by the Special Adviser, seized to bear his name and designation. Other statements in the name of Wike also no more bore Inko-Tariah’s name. Instead, Wike’s Special Assistant(Media), Simeon Nwakudu, signed off for Wike.
Inko-Tariah, in the radio statement, claimed to have resigned but an insider source told The Neighbourhood Wike actually sacked Inko-Tariah, a graduate of Communications Art, University of Uyo. Inko-Tariah publishes the HARD TRUTH newspaper, a weekly circulated in Rivers State.
Reproduced below is the statement that caused the Special Adviser his job.
Judicial terrorism
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I have watched with disdain, the insidious judicial gang-up against Governor Nyesom, CON. It is surprising that in this modern times, the tempest of justice will be allowed to blow fitfully across our courts. I am further dazed that the same Rotimi Amaechi who displayed so much hatred and disgust for the courts and rule of law by closing the high court’s in rivers state for close to two years without a twinge of conscience is today the lovely bride of the courts. This explains the reason for impunity in our country.
What is going on right now can best be described as judicial gang-up against Governor Wike, nay, the people of Rivers State. It is an affront on democracy and a blight disregard for the will of the people as evinced in the April 11 general elections.
The courts are setting pernicious precedents by hinging their verdicts on inane points. Rivers people overwhelming gave their mandate to Governor Wike but a microscopic few want to wrest that mandate from him through the back door. As at when the Tribunals were set up, the Court of Appeal and the Federal High court were sitting. The state was also peaceful. Why move the juridical seat to Abuja then?
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The answer is simple: to subvert the will of the people. The issue of security was ostensibly used; it is only a veneer for the compromising bias of our adversaries. But like Winston Churchill said:”truth is incontrovertible: malice may distort it, ignorance may deride it but there it is”. I believe that sagacity shall prevail at the Supreme Court on the substantive issue of who won the governorship election in Rivers State. Rivers people will not resign its self to fate and allow their mandate freely given to Governor Wike stolen away.
I enjoin all the political and judicial coup plotters to give this a penetrating thought. We shall defend our mandate. The voice of the people is the voice of God and the people have spoken: it is Wike or no one.
Source: THE NEIGBOURHOOD
