Rivers State Commissioner of Housing Barr Emma Okah has said that rights
activist and former President of Nigeria Bar Association Chief Olisa
Agbakoba, SAN misdirected himself on facts and therefore 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 press statement issued today in Port Harcourt, 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 further 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 further 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 8 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 4 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.