The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers state chapter has alleged plot to make Rivers state another terrorist haven, blaming those it described as “undemocratic elements” for the High Court that was bombed on Monday morning in Ahoada.
A statement by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers state had earlier confirmed that the Court in Ahoada presided over by Justice Charles Wali in Rivers State was bombed.
Jerry Needam who issued the statement on behalf of the state PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah, said the High Court was bombed shortly before a case against the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Evans Bipi, was due to be heard.
Needam said the party suspected that the bombing was carried out by agents of the Rivers state Government to prevent the Court from sitting.
He stated, “Our team of Lawyers made up of over 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria from Abuja and Lagos arrived the Ahoada High Court this morning to argue for the vacation of the interim order, and saw the senseless and barbaric destruction of the Court.
“The PDP makes bold to suspect that the reported bombing was carried out by agents of the Rivers State Government to prevent the court from sitting, so that the court would not be able to vacate the interim order made by the Ahoada High Court Judge, Hon. Justice Charles Wali, who has turned his court to a ministerial department of the Rivers State Governor’s office to issue all manners of orders, injunctions and judgements in favour of his paymaster, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and subvert the course of justice.
“Their aim also of bombing the Ahoada High Court is to further create a state of insecurity in Rivers State, to justify their continuous call for the removal of the State Commissioner of Police.
“The PDP wishes to remind Rotimi Amaechi and his agents of darkness that the interim Order issued by Justice Charles Wali of the Ahoada High Court lasted for only seven (7) days, and it had since expired.
“Therefore, bombing the Court to prevent it from sitting was a wasted, wicked, callous and shameful exercise by agents of Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
”The PDP condemns Rotimi Amaechi’s desperation for power and assures that Amaechi would be held responsible for any break down of law and order in Rivers State.
“PDP urges Rivers people to remain calm and continue to pray for an end to Rotimi Amaechi’s government that has brought so much pains, shame and disgrace to a people he swore to govern.”
Reacting on behalf of APC, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, said it was unfortunate and sad to note that Ahoada East High Court premises of Rivers State South-South of Nigeria was bombed and set ablaze by those he called agents of undemocratic elements.
According to him, “Those that perpetuated this heinous act may not be far from those who are not comfortable with the ruling of His Lordship, Hon. Justice C. N. Wali, of 16th December 2013 barring Hon. Evans Bipi, leader of the G6 rebel members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, from parading himself as Speaker of the Assembly.
A statement issued by Eze reads further, “It is on record that the Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sponsored by Nyesom Wike, the Supervising Minister of Education, has over the time condemned this ruling of the Ahoada East High Court because it threw a spanner in its plot to use the rebel lawmakers led by Bipi to impeach Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in a House of 32 members.
“But the question we need to ask is, does the bombing of this court make Hon Bipi the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly? One would have expected this group of misfits to challenge the ruling of the High Court at Ahaoda East in a higher court instead of sponsoring this act that exposes them as agents of violence.
“The record exposing the agenda of this misguided group for Rivers State and her people as violence prone was exhibited few days ago when security agencies in Rivers State caught six youths with various sophisticated and dangerous arms at Ogu the home town of Senator Sekibo and Hon Bipi.
“The suspects have been linked to Senator George Sekibo and Hon. Evans Bipi, both chieftains of the state chapter of the PDP led by Chief Wike, the Supervising Minister of Education, whose determination to destabilise the administration of Governor Amaechi is well known to all and sundry.
“The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the leadership of Chief (Dr.) Davies Ibiamu Ikanya strongly condemns this desperation by the PDP to turn Rivers State into a theatre of violence.
“Nigeria already has enough trouble to contend with! Dr. Ikanya therefore calls on President Goodluck Jonathan to use his good offices to call PDP Leadership in Rivers State to order before they plunge Rivers State into a monumental and unprecedented chaos that will disrupt our hard democracy”.
