FOR WIKE, IT'S THE RULE OF LAW OR NOTHING  

April 11,  2015 witnessed the final demystification  of Mr Rotimi Amaechi, immediate past governor of Rivers State by Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.  Prior to this date, the former governor had used his media propagandists to promote the falsehood that he was on ground in the state.

This demystification process started with the Presidential election in March. Governor Wike proved to the nation that he controls the political space of Rivers alongside the PDP.  Of course,  Amaechi’s hired hands cried on the roof top, throwing up all manner of false stories.

When reality dawned on Amaechi,  he hurriedly coerced the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission ( RSIEC ) and a faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly to organise  illegal local government elections.  Never in the history  of the country had impunity and administrative recklessness been taken to the level the former governor took it to.

But as a law abiding political party,  the Rivers State PDP approached the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt to challenge the illegal process.  The court ruled that that all parties should maintain status quo.  In essence,  no party was expected to take any further action on the matter.

Without due process and the respect for the rule of law,  the former administration rushed to hold the local government council elections onMay 23. With few days to the end of his turbulent tenure, Amaechi contrived an illegal contraption,  foisted same on the state in a desperate attempt to divert attention from his political failures during the 2015 general elections.

With the illegal way Amaechi went about the entire exercise,  many believed that Governor Wike would dissolve the local councils upon taking over as the chief executive of the state.  Wike chose to stick to the rule of law and due process.

The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on Thursday nullified the May 23 local government elections conducted by RSIEC.

Unlike other states where their governors unilaterally sacked elected council chairmen,  Governor Wike chose to remain on the side of the law. A recent example is Plateau State,  an APC state, where the governor unilaterally nullified local council elections that took place in 2014.

It was the same story in Kaduna State where the local councils were unilaterally dissolved by the governor.

Following the nullification of the local council elections,  Governor Wike sent the names of Caretaker Committees to the State House of Assembly for screening and approval.  On July 9, the caretaker committee chairmen were sworn in to avoid a vacuum in the third tier of government.

The powers that be in liaison with officials of the APC in Rivers State attempted to use the police to provoke crisis in the state by sealing up the council secretariats.  In his usual legal approach to issues of governance,  Governor Wike prevailed on the people of the state to remain calm. Like every other challenge,  Governor Wike dealt with the situation within the ambit of the law.

Ever since he became governor,  Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has worked deliberately within the law. Every board or commission that has been constituted by the governor has been on the premise of the law and due process.  Nothing has ever been done to promote political advantage,  but all geared towards enhancing the development of Rivers State and the good of her people.

His commitment to the rule of law is hinged on his background. As a dedicated leader drafted by the people of the state to rebuild the battered state, Wike has the capacity to withstand all the antics of the defeated APC like the sealing up of council secretariats after the enforcement of the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the local government elections of May 23.

Like has been said over and again,  the process to rebuild Rivers State is effectively on course.  Their illegal actions will only reinforce the commitment of the governor to deliver on his campaign promises.  After all, Governor Wike was elected by Rivers to resolve the challenges created by the illegal actions of the defeated APC government.  That is what he is doing.

Written by Simeon Nwakaudu.