By Godwin Anene
Governor Nyesom Wike on Wednesday warned that the people of Rivers State would hold the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, responsible if anything happens to Justice Mary Odili and her family.
Wike rising from the State Executive Council meeting said the recent attack on the Abuja home of former Rivers governor, Dr. Peter Odili and his wife by thugs allegedly sponsored by the ruling APC might not be unconnected with the Supreme Court judgement on Bayelsa State.
Justice Odili-led panel of the Supreme Court had disqualified Bayelsa state APC governorship-elect, David Lyon and his deputy and leading to the swearing-in of the PDP candidate at the poll, Douye Diri as the authentic Governor of the state, last Friday.
The governor, while condemning the attack on Justice Odili and her family, warned that the people of the state would hold Oshiomhole and Sylva responsible should anything happened to the learned judge and members of his immediate family including her husband, ex-Governor Odili.
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A communiqué issued at the end of the State Executive Council meeting and signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Paulinus Nsirim, stressed that the state would no longer tolerate further attacks in the name of politics on their senior citizens.
“That after careful review of the recent attack on the residence of Former Dr. Peter Odili after the nullification of the APC’s former governorship election, David Lyon, the state executive council has resolved as follows,
“That the Rivers State Executive Council observed that the Federal Government seems not to show interest in the sponsored threats to the lives of Dr Peter Odili and members of his family.
“That the Rivers State Executive Council condemns the barricading of the residence of Dr Peter Odili at Maitama, Abuja by sponsored thugs of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“That the Rivers State Executive Council wondered why Dr Peter Odili’s family should be singled out for the unwarranted attack, when the judgment that ousted David Lyon as Governor of Bayelsa State was a unanimous decision of a five-member panel of Supreme Court Justices”, the communiqué reads.
Governor Wike further stressed that the state would employ every legal means to ensure protect and ensure the safety of the Odili family.
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He added, “That Rivers State Government will hold Timipre Sylva and Adams Oshiomhole responsible if anything happens to Dr Peter Odili and members of his family.
“That the Rivers State Executive Council noted that in the past Rivers State suffered unfavourable Judicial Pronouncements and never resorted to self-help as being promoted by APC Leaders in the case of Bayelsa State.
“That the Rivers State Government will employ all legal means to protect Dr Peter Odili and members of his family.
“That the Rivers State Government will protect Rivers State Indigenes who are serving as Federal and State Judicial officers.
“That the Rivers State Government warns that should this harassment and intimidation continue, it will have no alternative than to retaliate.”
