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Wike frowns at neglect of PH Campus of Nigerian Law School

.Says Tinubu needs support of Nigerians to succeed

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.As Jagaban inaugurates Rivers Magistrates Court Complex

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Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says it is too early in the day for the Council of Legal Education to ignore the Dr. Nabo Graham-Douglas Campus of the Nigerian Law School in Port Harcourt.

The governor wondered why the campus is allowed to suffer a lack of regular provision of electricity and water supply when the Rivers State government had already donated commercial property and an N400M take-off grant to ensure maintenance of the campus.

Governor Wike observed on Thursday at the inauguration of the newly constructed Rivers State Magistrates Court Complex, named after Justice Iche Ndu, in Port Harcourt.

He explained that his administration did not want the Dr. Nabo Graham-Douglas Campus to suffer on the grounds that the Council of Legal Education has not received money from the federal government to cater to such needs.

“When we handed over the Law School to the Council of Legal Education, the (Rivers) State government gave out N400M, and said look, put it in an account for the maintenance of the structures.

“We gave them the property that they can use to make money to keep the school. We didn’t want a situation where they will say the federal government has not released money or the money they released is too small.

“We said okay, let the federal government be paying your salaries, take this money to keep and maintain the school. I was told the other day that there was no light, there was no water. I can’t understand our system.”

Governor Wike attributed such an attitude to the poor maintenance culture that has pervaded every facet of public life in Nigeria, wherein nobody cares enough to maintain the public property.

The governor, therefore, advised the Rivers State Chief judge not to allow the newly constructed Magistrates Court Complex to suffer such a fate.

Governor Wike assured that financial provisions will be made, which should cater to the maintenance needs of the complex for at least, the first year.

“As I am leaving office, in this one year, when I come here, I don’t want to see and hear that it is dilapidated or it has deteriorated it will be unfair.

“So each month, you’ll get N20M to maintain this place. So, we will give you one year (money) in advance so that you’ll keep this place well.”

Governor Wike also told the Chief Judge: “It will be unfair that in your tenure you cannot maintain this edifice. It will be quite unfair.

“Put it in your budget. I will plead with my successor that he should be releasing this money to you. Let them give it out to those whose responsibility is to keep it clean.”

Governor Wike thanked the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for accepting to inaugurate the project which is a fulfillment of another promise he made to the Rivers people.

The Rivers State governor recalled that he went to the State High Court premises and saw how congested it was, and the rotational use of available courtrooms because magistrates were accommodated there.

He said it was at that point that he opted to construct a befitting complex fitted with modern equipment for use by magistrates.

Inaugurating the Complex, the President-elect, Tinubu commended Governor Wike for his foresight and love to provide judges and magistrates with the best working and living condition.

He noted that with such a provision, Governor Wike has shown sufficient support to fight against corruption, particularly in the judiciary.

The president-elect stressed that expecting judges to live, operate and dispense justice in squalor cannot immune them from corruption.

“You don’t expect your judges to live in squalor, to operate in squalor, to dispense justice in squalor. This is part of the changes that are necessary in our policy think tank. We must fight corruption and we definitely must look at the other side of the coin. If you don’t your judges to be corrupt, you’ve got to pay attention to their welfare. If you want a fair dispensation of justice, you don’t want them to operate in hazardous conditions. Let’s think value for value.”

He assured that his administration when sworn in will fight corruption in the judiciary by reviewing in a policy think-tank their welfare, and conditions of service.

Tinubu, who commended Governor Wike for building the edifice for the magistrates, charged Nigerians to cultivate the virtue of maintaining public assets.

“To the magistrates, I say congratulations. This edifice from the outside is so beautiful. Yes, you have a new place, but the governor challenged the conscience of all of us. We have to change our culture of maintenance. That is a local issue, universally accepted.

“But we will fight poverty and we must fight it rigorously. the poverty of thinking, poverty of standard, poverty of reasoning like the perversion they gave my story yesterday. That is the poverty of thinking.”

Describing the project, Rivers Commissioner for Special Projects, Deinma Iyalla said there are 24 courtrooms in the five two-story buildings, while the single-story building has a clinic, restaurant and court registry plus a separate generator house.

The chief judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi described the project as an uncommon landmark achievement of Governor Wike because he has solved the perennial and overbearing burden of lack of space that magistrates suffered.

On his part, the Attorney General of Rivers State and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, said the project started on 23rd December 2021 and was delivered in less than 15 months.

 

Tinubu needs the support of Nigerians to succeed -Wike

 

Similarly, Governor Wike has advised those plotting to make Nigeria ungovernable for the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to rethink in the interest of the nation.

The governor said what the majority of Nigerians want is good governance, and he is confident that Tinubu has the capacity to deliver on his electoral promises to Nigerians.

Governor Wike made these remarks during a special State banquet in honour of Tinubu at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday night.

The Rivers State governor explained during his interaction with the President-elect, he had told him that his electoral battles are over, and now is time to settle for governance.

“The battle you have now is governance. What Nigerians want is good governance. And if we want good governance, then we must rally around the President-elect, because if he does not work, everybody will suffer. We will continue to cry. What we need now is to say, Mr. President-elect, we want to support you to better the lives of Nigerians.”

The governor cautioned those with sinister intentions to make the President-elect administration fail, to reconsider their stance in the interest of the majority of Nigerians craving for good governance.

“It is not to begin to set a trap on how Mr. President-elect will fail. If he fails, you have failed. So, we owe it a duty to give him support, and that support should start from the leadership of the National Assembly, give him that support.”

Governor Wike specifically charged the National Assembly to collaborate with the president-elect to churn out policies and programmes that will stimulate development and prosperity for Nigerians.

“All of you have come here, members of the House of Representatives and Senators. Check yourself. Are you going to work for the interest of Nigeria? If you’re going to work for the interest of Nigeria, then give him support so that you’ll not have a crisis from the beginning. Particularly, you people in the ruling party. I’m not in your party.”

The governor said Rivers people should be commended for promoting unity, equity, fairness and justice as clearly demonstrated by the electoral victory of the President-elect in the February 25th election in the State.

Governor Wike said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G-5 governors cannot be accused of anti-party activities because of their insistence that the next president to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari must be a Nigerian of southern extraction.

“It is only those who don’t know what to do, who are confused.  We have never been confused from day one. We didn’t do anti-party, we supported the unity of Nigeria which is more important than any political party. Those who did anti-party are those who violated the provision of the constitution of their party. They did anti-party. That said we must respect and obey the constitution of our party, we cannot be held anti-party.

“All I need is to thank Rivers people, they saw how this country was going and they said they will join the entire people that said look, let things be done right.”

Governor Wike charged the opposition parties in Nigeria to cultivate the attitude of conceding defeat after the general elections. According to him, the bickering often associated with the aftermath of every election in Nigeria is worrisome.

“It is only in Nigeria where I see if the opposition wins the election, that election was done well. It is only in Nigeria I am seeing that. If as a governor, I contested for senate and I lose that election, they’ll say that election is free and fair. Why? because a governor lost. But if I had won, they will say how can you tell us that, the governor has done something? We saw governors who lost the election.”

Governor Wike lauded the President-elect for fulfilling his promise to visit Rivers State and commission some of the legacy projects built by his administration.

The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his remarks, commended Governor Wike for inviting him to Rivers State to commission some of his landmark projects.

Tinubu reaffirm that he remains committed to fulfilling every electoral promise he made to Nigerians. According to him, “Governance is a serious business and Nigeria is a serious project. We shall all be together to fulfill promises.”

The President-elect urged the  members of the National Assembly to collaborate with his coming administration in order to provide Nigerians dividends of democracy,

“The essence of what we have just achieved is right in front of us because peace, unity, equity and justice in this country is a must.”

In his goodwill message, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila expressed gratitude to Governor Wike for playing a  pivotal role in the emergence of Tinubu as the President-elect of Nigeria.

The governor of Jigawa State, Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar appreciated Governor Wike and the people of Rivers State for ensuring the unprecedented electoral victory of Tinubu in the just concluded presidential election.

Similarly, the governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi also lauded Governor Wike for voting for the unity of the country in the last general election.

On his part, the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde noted that Governor Wike has demonstrated uncommon passion and commitment in the governance of Rivers State.

He added that now that elections are over, the President-elect will have to focus on addressing the Nigerian project. According to him, the members of the G-5 governors have already keyed into the Nigerian project.

In his opening remarks, the Secretary to the Rivers State government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo thanked the President-elect for the visit, adding that it has reassured the people of the state that their vote for him was not in vain.

 

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