Rivers govt fault Agbakoba’s on Omehia
(Nigeria) Rivers State Commissioner of Housing, Mr Emma Okah has said
that rights activist and former President of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA,
Chief Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, was wrong and insensitive by describing the decision
of Rivers State Government to accord a special privilege and recognition to Sir
Celestine Omehia as useless, unnecessary and capable of overheating the system.
In a statement in Port Harcourt on Sunday, Okah
said that a state government has the powers
to confer an advantage on anybody without reference to any court judgment and
wondered why such a reconciliatory and uniting action should annoy Chief
Agbakoba.
"This is purely a political concession, far away from
the courts. There must be an end to acrimony and bitterness or politics of
hate. As a people, we should encourage harmony, peace and consensus building so
that we can put the agony of yesterday behind us and together, move the state
to greater heights", he said, noting that in all jurisdictions, litigants
can still seek peace outside the court room or even after judgement and such
agreements calm frayed nerves and heal wounds better and faster.
According to Okah, a time comes when as leaders, you need to
think outside the box to solve political problems and create happiness for the
people. Nigeria did the same for Chief Ernest Shonekan who headed the Interim
Government which the Court declared as illegal. In Ekiti State, Governor Ayo
Fayose accorded similar recognition to Chief Segun Oni even though the court
said he was not a governor in law. People are happy with these situations and
that of Rivers State cannot be different.
Okah said that Agbakoba has more pressing things to worry
about in Nigeria like the current developments in the National Assembly where
statesmen like Him are expected to sound their voice for democracy instead of
dabbling into Rivers politics and it's complex dynamics. He expressed surprise
that as a respected Senior Advocate who has stood for the down-trodden over the
years, Agbakoba was among those who kept mute and played no major role to
reprimand Amaechi when his administration in Rivers State locked the courts and
emasculated the judiciary for over one year.
"Many thought that Chief Agbakoba would have risen to
the occasion but the plight and agony of detainees, lawyers, judges, litigants
and judicial stakeholders arising from the closure of courts could not move him
to strongly condemn the evils that Amaechi inflicted on the judiciary. Even the
emasculation of the legislative arm of government by the same Amaechi
administration who moved their sittings to the banquet hall of Government
House, Port Harcourt was not enough to catch the attention of our respected
Agbakoba at a time when many well meaning Nigerians saw it as an aberration and
embarrassment to democracy,” Okah added.
Okah said that Agbakoba can redeem his lost voice in Rivers
State by condemning the financial recklessness and outright fraud which the
Amaechi government visited on the State; refusal to cooperate with the present
government on handover notes, looting and desecration of the Rivers State
Government House in Port Harcourt and the carting away of vehicles, tv sets,
mattresses, air conditioners etc as if
the State was facing liquidation.
“Perhaps Agbakoba needs to know that Governor Wike has
nothing personal against Amaechi but the issue of accountability, due process
and outright stealing of public funds especially in the last weeks of the
Amaechi's government require explanation and the public has the right to know.
“Besides, the people are happy that Governor Wike is
squarely facing the task of development in Rivers State despite the landmines
the Amaechi administration. Two major contractors - Julius Berger and CCECC
have been contracted to rebuild all the roads in Port Harcourt City. So far the
Rivers State Government has opened the courts and judges, magistrates, lawyers,
judiciary workers and the public are happy.
“Members of the state House of Assembly are now sitting in
the Assembly complex. The eight months' salary arrears of management and
players of Dolphin Football Club, Sharks FC and Rivers Angels FC have been
paid. The refuse disposal contractors who were owed for four months are now
receiving payments in arrears.
“Efforts are been made to begin the payment of arrears of
salaries and pensions which the Amaechi government passed on to the present
government. In all, the people of Rivers State are happy.”
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