By Ochogwu Sunday The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA) has carpeted the Rivers State’s Governor, Nyesom Wike fo...
By Ochogwu Sunday
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA)
has carpeted the Rivers State’s Governor, Nyesom Wike for allegedly launching
crackdowns on his political opponents including those of his own Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP.
The rights group in a statement issued by its national coordinator,
Emmanuel Onwubiko, urged the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Usman Alkali
Baba, the Director General of the State security Services, DSS Alhaji Yusuf
Magaji Bichi and the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya to
instruct their operatives not to be used by Governor Wike for his “tyrannical
attacks against political rival”.
According to HURIWA, Governor Wike who is a lawyer ought to
be “abreast of the indubitably binding and authoritative fact that
constitutional democracy embodies several constitutional and democratic rights
that are fundamental human rights enshrined in chapter 4 of the Constitution of
the federal republic of Nigeria of 1999 as amended including the rights to
civil and political freedoms, freedom of association, peaceful assembly and
respect for the dignity of the human persons all of which are protected both
locally and globally by binding precepts, Laws and covenants entered into by
Nigeria as a member of the United Nations”.
The rights group stated that as a politician of many years
of experience, the Rivers State governor is not expected to be linked to
tyranny, dictatorship or launching attacks against political rivals.
HUIRIWA recalled that Governor Wike was said to have ordered
the arrest of another House of Representatives member and Rivers State Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) faithful.
Wike had during Saturday’s flag-off of a state project in
Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area, ordered police arrest of the owner of a
fuel retail outlet in Ojoto Street, Diobu, Port Harcourt, referring to the Mega
Tools Filling Station belonging to Hon Chinyere Igwe, member representing Port
Harcourt Federal Constituency II.
According to media reports, security operatives under Rivers
Police Command, apparently acting on Wike’s orders, had, the day before,
invaded, sealed and occupied the fuel station, citing alleged trading on
illegally refined petroleum products, an allegation the lawmaker denied,
accusing the governor of political victimisation.
Reacting to Governor Wike’s recent actions, the rights group
reminded the former presidential aspirant that he would not be in power
forever.
“His Excellency Governor Nyesom Wike should realise that
many governors have come and gone because political power is transient. Today
he is in charge, tomorrow he won’t be there.
“So, let all politicians campaign peacefully because Rivers
State does not belong to the governor but to the entirety of the people and the
governor is not an emperor but a servant of the people who exercises authority
because the people gave the office holder the legitimacy to exercise that
authority lawfully for only but a short-time and section 15(5) of the
Constitution frown against abuse of power and political dictatorship,” the statement
added.
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