The Rivers State government has
condemned attacks on former governor of the state, Dr. Peter Odili and his
family following the Supreme Court judgment that nullified the election of
David Lyon as winner of the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State.
Odili’s wife, Justice Mary Odili, headed a five-member panel of the Supreme
Court that nullified the victory of Lyon and the All Progressives Congress
(APC) on February 13.
The State government accused the Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Timipre Sylva and the National Chairman of the APC, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, of sponsoring the attacks on Odili and members of his family.
But in a swift reaction, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Yekini Nabena, accused Rivers State governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of being behind the protest at the Abuja residence of Justice Odili.
In a statement on Wednesday by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Paulinus Nsirim, issued after the state Executive Council meeting, the government expressed concern that the Federal government did not show interest in what it described as sponsored threats to the lives of the Odilis.
Nsirim said: “The Rivers State Executive Council condemns the barricading of the residence of Dr. Peter Odili at Maitama, Abuja by sponsored thugs of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
The State wondered why Odili’s family should be singled out for “the unwarranted attack when the judgment that ousted David Lyon as governor of Bayelsa State was a unanimous decision of a five-member panel of Supreme Court justices.”
The statement added: “That the Rivers State Executive Council warns the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva and the National Chairman of APC, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole and their hired agents to desist from the sponsorship of violent attacks against Dr. Peter Odili and members of his family.
“That the Rivers State Government will
hold Timipre Sylva and Adams Oshiomhole responsible if anything happens to Dr.
Peter Odili and members of his family.”
It noted that Rivers State has suffered unfavourable judicial pronouncements
and never resorted to self-help as allegedly being promoted by APC leaders.
It warned that the Rivers State Government would employ all legal means to
protect the Odilis.
The statement added that the state would
protect all Rivers State indigenes serving as federal and state judicial
officers.
“The Rivers State Government warns that should this harassment and intimidation
continue, it will have no alternative than to retaliate. That the Rivers State
Government will defend the lives and property of Rivers people at all times.
Enough is enough,” it stated.
PDP, Wike Behind Protest, APC Chieftain Alleges
However, refuting the allegations
against the APC, Nabena accused Wike and the PDP of sponsoring the protest at
the Abuja residence of Justice Odili.
Nabena told journalists in Abuja that the opposition party sponsored protesters
who identified themselves as “APC Supporters,” stressing that it was a decoy to
portray Lyon and his APC supporters in bad light.
He stated: “Nobody should be fooled by the usual antics of the PDP. Resort to extra-judicial tactics such as maligning the judiciary and its officials is the PDP’s stock-in-trade. The same hired urchins the PDP Chairman, Uche Secondus has used for his protests to the embassies of the UK, US and the European Union were used for Tuesday’s protests at Justice Odili’s residence.
“The Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, aside from being the main financier of the PDP, must explain his inexplicable interest in the governorship of Bayelsa State. The people of Rivers State must begin to ask their governor how and what he uses their money for.
“The APC national leadership is already pursuing all legal avenues to contest the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare Mr. Duoye Diri as Bayelsa Governor, having failed to meet the mandatory constitutional requirement to become the governor.”
Nabena called on the judiciary to ignore what he described as the antics of PDP and always side with the will of the people and rule of law in all matters.
- Media Report