Reacting to the dismissal of the suit filed by the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the planned inauguration of Chief Nyesom Wike as Governor and his Deputy, Dr. Mrs Ipalibo Harry Banigo, come May 29, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has commended the judiciary for ‘for rising up to the occasion ‘as the true hope of the common man.’
Attempts by Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi and the All Progressive Congress (APC) to stop the inauguration of Wike suffered a setback, Tuesday, when in his ruling Justice S. M. Shuaibu, the Administrative Judge of the Federal High Court sitting in Owerri struck out the suit challenging the victory of Wike for want of jurisdiction.
The suit with number FHC/OW/CS/100/2015 was filed by the Attorney General of Rivers State and the APC.
In a statement made available to Global Patriot Newspapers, Tuesday, the state chairman of the PDP, Bro. Felix Obuah, said the APC and the Attorney-General of Rivers State ‘knowing that the Federal High Court Port Harcourt was unlikely to succumb to their prayers took the case to far away Owerri because as they stated through their Counsel B. E. I. Nwofor SAN, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that was listed as the 3rd Defendant, the Police listed as the 8th Defendant and the SSS listed as the 10th Defendant all had offices in Owerri.’
“Justice Shuaibu did not buy the frivolity. He held that by the provisions of the Federal High Court 2011 Notice on the venue of filing suits and the territorial jurisdictional limits of the Judicial Divisions of the Federal High Court enacted by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court pursuant to section 19 of the Federal High Court Act, Port Harcourt and not Owerri is the place in which the suit ought to have been filed.
“The Honourable Judge said so because all the principal claims in the suit are against their Excellencies, Chief Nyesom Wike CON, the Governor-elect and Dr (Mrs) Harry Banigo, the Deputy Governor-elect,” Obuah said.
The state party chieftain also praised the judiciary for rising up to the occasion ‘as the true hope of the common man,’ adding: “I am not surprised as Amaechi is a tyrant at heart in the class of Mobutu, Idi Amin and Bokassa and would stop at nothing to impose himself as Emperor of Nigeria. The PDP and the Governor-elect are ready and prepared to meet Amaechi and his millions anywhere they go to subvert the rule of law,” Obuah said.
Obuah, therefore, welcomed what he described as a ‘sound and unambiguous judgment’ delivered in Owerri, Imo State, by a Federal High Court, Presided over by Hon. Justice S. M. Shuaibu, Tuesday, May 19, in favour of the Rivers State Governor-elect, Chief Nyesom Wike, over his swearing in ceremony billed for Friday, May 29, 2015.
“The PDP expresses gratitude to the judiciary over the failure of Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress, APC, through his Attorney-General, Mr Worgu Boms to secure judgment in the matter through the back door, which it believes would have truncated the democratic process in the State,” the party statement said.
Obuah however expressed displeasure over what he termed ‘desperation’ as exhibited by the out-going governor, Amaechi which ‘clearly shows his exceeding hate for the Governor-elect Wike, even when everyone is expecting a robust peace in the state.’
“The manner in which Amaechi and the APC leadership have carried on the administration of government in the state since they lost in the last elections in the state has become worrisome and exposes their desperation to hold on to power at all cost.
“This, to us is undemocratic, selfish and unpatriotic of people who ought to act as statesmen, considering their political offices. It is however, sad and disappointing that even when they should realize that the tide has flown against their selfish desires, they are still living in fool’s paradise, thinking they can come out of the loss. All we know and sure of is that the APC will continue to fail, no matter the antics.
“For us, Obuah said, the Owerri Federal High Court Judgment clearing way for the inauguration of the PDP government and swearing-in of the Governor-elect, Wike on May 29 has further strengthened our hope and conviction that no matter the distractions and destructive tendencies of the out-going Amaechi-led administration in the state, the PDP government under Wike will still succeed.
“The PDP is therefore, of the view that rather than wasting its time and Rivers people’s resources on fruitless court cases and non-productive actions aimed at thwarting the smooth inauguration of the incoming government, Amaechi is better advised to channel his energies in joining the administration of Barr Nyesom Wike in building a united Rivers State.
“Amaechi and the APC should allow peace reign in Rivers State by not distorting the anticipated smooth handover of government to the PDP in the State on May 29, 2015, which is sacrosanct, as the party cannot wait to deliver to the people of the State what it promised them and many more after being inaugurated,” the statement concluded.
