The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction in Rivers State whose members were recently arrested and charged to court for alleged unlawful assembly by the police acting on the orders of the Amaechi-led government has raised alarm over fresh charges against the 12 party members who appeared in court today, Wednesday, August 18, 2010.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction in Rivers State whose members were recently arrested and charged to court for alleged unlawful assembly by the police acting on the orders of the Amaechi-led government has raised alarm over fresh charges against the 12 party members who appeared in court today, Wednesday, August 18, 2010.
Perplexed by the high level of conspiracy against their members by those who are supposed to be the custodians of law and justice, the party members frowned at the surrender of a sacred duty by Nyesom Wike and Ken Chikere for a senseless lucre from their political paymaster, Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
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In a statement issued on behalf of the embattled PDP members, the Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam expressed disappointment that Nyesom Wike and Ken Chikere could descend so low as to change the previous three count charge to six and worse still, asserting that the 12 PDP members are cultists and belong to a secret cult known as the Big 20, just to satisfy Gov Amaechi, their paymaster.
It wondered that the police who upon arrest of the party members subjected them to a thorough search and ransacked their individual houses without finding anything incriminating could turn round to so accuse the innocent, defenseless Rivers citizens of cultism, in possession of unlicensed fire arms and other dangerous weapons, against the initial charge of setting up a parallel PDP party secretariat which actually is the only bone of contention.
To buttress its position, the party noted with dismay the glaring presence of the State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Ken Chikere and Nyesom Wike, Gov. Amaechi’s Chief of Staff, at the court in a case that is supposed to be between the commissioner of police and the accused persons.
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It likened Gov. Amaechi’s tactics of handling a political issue to that of the draconian and oppressive regime of Late Gen Sani Abacha era when people were freely framed up, recklessly killed and imprisoned at will for daring the status quo and described the development as unfortunate and a betrayal of trust.
It however, commended the trial magistrate for taking the path of honesty and integrity in jettisoning the prayer of the prosecution to robe in the 12 party members by consenting to the request of the defense counsel for time to prepare adequately for the fresh charges, and adjourning the case accordingly.
The group’s publicity secretary, Jerry Needam while calling for caution said they are on top of the heap as ‘sparing justice only feeds iniquity’.
Signed
Jerry Needam, JP
Publicity Secretary
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