The President broke yesterday his silence on the crisis in Rivers State.
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan vowed to stop political excesses being exhibited in the country, saying the crises are mainly because of the 2015 general election, which, in his view, “is still far off”.
He spoke during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Also yesterday, the Senate intervened in the Rivers crisis, passing a resolution that Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu should be redeployed.
Senators also resolved to take over the functions of the House of Assembly, following a stalemate caused by the intransigence of five members who insist on having their way in a 32-member House.
The Senate’s stand alligns with the position taken by the House of Representatives last week.
NBA President Okey Wali (SAN) urged the President to do all within his power to ensure that peace returns to Rivers State.
Dr. Jonathan in response, promised the lawyers, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, at the end of the meeting, to curb political excesses in the country.
He said he had asked for a detailed briefing on the security situation in Rivers State and assured the delegation that actions would be taken to ensure adherence to the rule of law and the maintenance of law and order in the state.
President Jonathan said political excesses are overheating the polity ahead of the 2015 general elections.
He described the rising political tension in the country as uncalled for, saying:
“The political tension in the country is mainly built around the 2015 elections, which should not be the case. It is quite disturbing. The year 2015 is still far off. I expect politicians to focus on the business of governance now.
“We must do what we were elected to do first. We will do our best to curb the overheating of the polity.”
He urged Nigerians to exercise a little more patience, saying his administration is implementing the right policies, programmes and projects towards accelerating economic development and boosting employment.
Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike, who is the main backer of the faction of the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fighting Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, is believed to be enjoying the President’s tacit support.
The President has hosted the Wike-led group at the Presidential Villa while First Lady Dame Patience, is also believed to have been supporting the pro-Wike Group of Five lawmakers who insist on removing Speaker Otelemaba Dan Amachree .
The President’s wife attended the wedding of one of the five lawmakers in Port Harcourt. She also last week, while hosting some Bishops, spoke on the crisis, saying Amaechi refused to take her advice on the Okrika waterfront demolition.
Presidential aides have, however, insisted that Jonathan has no hands in the crisis.
Wali said that apart from making sure law and order prevails in River State, the NBA urged the President to ensure that the principles of rule of law are adhered to at all times.
The NBA chief said: “We talked about security. We pointedly talked about Rivers State. We expressed our concern that we were very disturbed about what is coming out from Rivers State. We appealed to the President to do all that he can lawfully do to ensure that peace returns to Port Harcourt and law and order prevails. And at all times, the principles of the rule of law must be adhered to. We made that clear to the President.”
On punishment to be meted out to NBA members found wanting in the Rivers crisis, Wali said: “I have addressed that issue when I said to you we had inaugurated our judicial processes panel. And we will deal with matters that arise at all times. If any matter comes to us, regardless of what state it is from, we will deal with it.”
He said the visit to the President has nothing to do with the 2015 elections.
“No; we cannot be talking about that. In fact, our position is that 2015 is still a long way. I know we need to be preparing for 2015. But there has been a clamour, I think since last year. They just got elected in 2011. We have elected them to deliver the dividends of democracy, good governance; good government.
“We think we should do more of that than politics. So, we didn’t bother to discuss that. It is the other way round. We think they should do what they are elected to do now and worry less about 2015.”
Wali went on: “We discussed some issues bordering on the security, economy of the country, rule of law and judiciary. We thought we should have audience with the President and express our concerns on some issues and then the president graciously took the issues and addressed them.
“We talked about the issue of the independence and funding for the judiciary. We talked about the rule of law because we believe that that is a strong issue in any civilised society and we talked about the economy. We appreciate the fact that the government is working. We have lots of reports. But our concern is also the impact on the average Nigerian. It is good enough to have the statistics, but we will like it to be moved to the next level where the average Nigerian gets the impact of what the government is doing.”
On problems in the judiciary, he said: “Justice has its own problems. That is one of the issues we raised with the President. What happens in the court is a cocktail of issues. It starts from prosecution. It gets up to what happens in court. So, it is not only about a judge that brings about delay.
“If investigation is not properly done, you don’t get a good prosecution before the judges come to judgment because what the judge decides on at the end of the day is the quality of evidence put before him. It is a total justice sector problem. And that was one of the issues we raised.
“If you talked about what the NBA has done with its members, you know the beauty of our justice system is that you have, an appellate system, whereby if you are dissatisfied with what you have you go to the Court of Appeal. And if you are dissatisfied with that you go to the Supreme Court.”
According to him, a lot of reforms in the right direction are being recorded in the judiciary.
On judiciary’s true independence, Wali said: “I don’t know about that. What I can tell you is that yes, we have some issues with the judiciary, but again there is also a new dawn in the judiciary. The CJN, you know, is somebody who has been dealing with such misconduct at the Bench.
“And you know how many judges that have been excused from the Bench in the recent past. So, the Bar and the Bench are on it. It is a gradual process, but we will get there. What is important is the determination and the focus to which the judiciary and the Bar rid themselves of elements which should not be there.” He said.
Dr. Jonathan, he said had accepted to attend the NBA conference next month in Tinapa, Cross River State.
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