Soberekon Vs Amaechi: The Significance Of Princewill’s Example

Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi might have waged legal battles in the recent past, but what is heartwarming to his teeming supporters and associates is that he has finally surmounted the latest legal storm orchestrated against him by Chief Bekinbo Soberekon the gubernatorial candidate of the Accord Party in the 2007 governorship election in the state.

This is sequel to the striking out of Chief Soberekon's case at the appeal court on 21st April challenging the election of Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi as the governor of Rivers State. This latest development has put paid to the protracted legal blitz faced by Amaechi.

Reactions have trailed the appeal court judgment with the Rivers State Chapter of the Action Congress describing it as a judgment made in heaven and a formal confirmation that Hon. Amaechi's rise to power was divine. AC expressed profound gratitude to God while noting that the judiciary was the bastion of hope not only to democracy, politics but also to Nigerians.

Action Congress commended the plaintiff, Chief Soberekon for seeking redress constitutionally and Rivers' people for maintaining peace and calm while the case lasted and urged the former to emulate Prince Tonye Princewill by supporting Hon. Amaechi led administration to move the state forward.

The Rivers State AC leader, Tonye Princewill while reacting to the verdict, said that he never nursed any form of negative feeling about the outcome of the case, knowing full well that the pendulum would swing in favour of Hon. Amaechi , adding that the Rivers State Governor has justified his support by his(Amaechi's) people oriented project.

In his view the AC spokesman, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze opined that: “With today's judgment, Governor Amaechi has no excuse to give but to ensure that the people of Rivers State get the full benefit of dividend of democracy in all its ramification by renewing his drive and strength by completing the ongoing people oriented project in the state”.

It should be recalled that after the Supreme Court on 25 October 2007 ousted Sir Celestin Omehia and installed Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi , Tonye Princewill withdrew his case against the latter and decided to partner with him in the area of Public Private Partnership (PPP) among others which has been yielding positive results. It is therefore appropriate for Chief Soberekon and others who are watching trends in state from the sideline to copy the Prince and join hands together to move Rivers state to greater heights.

Nwaorgu Faustinus, Socio- political commentator writes from Igboetche, Rivers State