Accuses Maeba, Sekibo Of Plotting To Instigate Violence
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused Senator Lee Maeba and Dr. Abiye Sekibo of trying to instigate violence in the state by deliberately violating a state law that prohibits the location of political offices in residential areas of the state.
Recall that the governor had threatened to jail any politician who disobeys Order 21 and 22 of the state.
The governor pointed out that acting against the orders, the duo few days ago sited a political office at Igboukwu Street, D-Line, Port Harcourt, without the approval of the government.
He, however, stated that even in the face of political provocation, unfounded allegations and outright disregard to statutory laws by unruly political actors, his administration could not resort to political violence.
He declared that politics of violence is alien to him because he is a believer in the rule of law.
Wike stated this yesterday at the inauguration of the 17.2 kilometres long Bori-Kono Road that held at Methodist Comprehensive High School Premises in Baen community of Khana local council.
His words: “We are talking about Executive Orders 21and 22 that has now been taken over by the law passed by the State House of Assembly. We did not send the chairman of Port Harcourt council to go and bring it (the building) down. We have the powers.
“But we say, no, let’s take a step further. We went to court to say; look this is in violation of the provisions of the law. It is the count that has placed the seal-off.
“If we are violent, since you want to try to see whether we are violent or not, we would have shown it. But you have been defeated. We have always followed due process and we cannot be violent.”
Wike stressed that nobody was harassing anybody and preventing them from their political campaigns, but insisted that such must be done in line with laws of the state.
He explained that his administration and other state governors challenged the Executive Order 10 that President Muhammadu Buhari signed in the court and won at the Supreme Court.
On the illegal deductions of state fund to support the Police Trust Fund, Wike said it was also challenged in court and the Federal Government was directed to refund Rivers State.
He further stated that the state has been in court over VAT collection and remittance and another collection of fund by the Federal Government for one of its agencies without resorting to violence.
The governor said instead of politicians daring to disobey the Executive Orders 21 and 22, they should test the position of those regulations and laws in court.
He also took time to dismiss the alleged assassination attempt levelled against him by Maeba.
The governor said he had never contemplated sending people to kill the senator because that is not his style of politics.
He stressed that his explanation has become necessary to set the record straight for posterity.
He asserted that politically, Maeba was not a threat or a major influencer of votes whether in Khana local council or entire state.
THEGUARDIAN
