Both parties blamed the other for the bombing, which threw the country’s political space into chaos once again.
While the PDP put the blame for the bombing at the doorsteps of the Rivers State Governor, Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, the APC said it was a totally misplaced direction in which to look, as it accused chieftains of the PDPincluding the Supervising Minister for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, of being behind it.
In a statement on Monday, Jerry Needam, the Special Adviser on Media to the state Chairman of the party, Felix Obuah, accused Amaechi of being the mastermind of the bombing of the court house.
The party said: “The case that temporarily restrains Hon. Evans Bipi from parading himself as Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly was to come up today at the Ahoada high Court.
“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.”
In a counter statement, the APC described as very unfortunate and sad the bomb explosion.
It blamed those it tagged undemocratic elements for the bombing.
A statement by the party, signed by Chief Eze chukwuemeka Eze, alleged that those who perpetrated the heinous act may not be far from those who are not comfortable with the ruling of Wali December 16, 2013, barring Bipi, the leader of the G6 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, from parading himself as the Speaker of the Assembly.
The statement reads: “It is on record that the Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party sponsored by Chief 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 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 call 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
“Dr Ikanya further states that it is most unfortunate if the report we read in today’s Daily Independent is true that our mother and sister the First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs. Patience Jonathan has ordered the Police Commissioner CP Joseph Mbu to release the six alleged youths that were caught with these illegal arms and that the arms should be also be released to the youths as well.
“Though we know that CP Mbu knowing very well the implication of carrying out such an unfortunate instruction if it is true will have both on the security and lives of Rivers State and her people and the perception of the International Community on our country unless it is proven that we now operate a lawless society. we expect him for the interest of Rivers State and the image of our dear country not only arraign these youths been used by these misguided politicians to terrorise innocent people of Rivers State before a competent court but ensure that those behind them are brought to book accordingly.
“All these notwithstanding, for the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that this act of hooliganism and terrorism will not do Rivers State and its citizens any good. We therefore urge the security organs not to treat this issue with kid’s glove but with all amount of seriousness unearth those behind this wicked act as God will not allow these enemies of democracy to turn Rivers State into a war zone.
“Rivers State people based on the wicked acts of the PDP led Federal Government against Rivers State and her people have rejected PDP and they should accept their self-inflicted woes and allow peace to reign in the State!
“We are aware that the present PDP in Rivers State under Chief Wike is violence prone but we wish to reiterate that no amount of violence and intimidation will cause us to surrender the mandate freely given to us by the Rivers State people to a group that have demonstrated total disdain to democratic principles!.
“On behalf of Rivers APC, Dr. Ikanya wishes to plead with the good people of Rivers State not to despair but join Governor Amaechi to fight these misguided elements who have vowed to stop at nothing to bring the state to its knees just because of their personal differences with Governor Amaechi.”
No comments:
Post a Comment