2023: HURIWA Warns Wike Over Crackdown On Atiku’s Loyalists

2023 HURIWA Warns Wike Over Crackdown On Atiku’s Loyalists
Governor Nyesom Wike
WhatsApp
Facebook
Twitter
Telegram
LinkedIn
Print

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA) has lambasted the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike for allegedly beginning crackdowns on his political foes including those of his own Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement issued by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko which was made available to Africa Daily News, New York, the rights group called on 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 by profession 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”.

Read Also: 2023: Secondus Dares Wike For Threatening Him Over Atiku

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 went on to recall how Governor Wike was said to have ordered the arrest of another House of Representatives member and Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart just a few days ago.

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.

Many analysts believe that the clampdown by Wike is a way of cutting down the wings of the party stalwrt who support Atiku Abubakar in the state.

Africa Daily News, New York

WhatsApp
Facebook
Twitter
Telegram
LinkedIn
Print