Embattled Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that he remains the governor of the oil-rich state, despite the conspiracy of the ruling party and the election tribunal in Abuja.
Governor Wike made the declaration today, while addresing a crowd of party supporters at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.
The governor who was accompanied by his deputy, Ipalibo Banigo, and other high ranking party officials of the Peoples Democratic Party, said his legal training did not allow him criticize the ruling of a judge, saying that the verdict given by the tribunal was not God’s ruling.
“By my training I am not supposed to criticize any Judge for his opinions, but I have to say that the tribunal has given its verdict, but we know by the special grace of God, it is not God’s verdict,” he said.He declared that nobody could steal the mandate of Rivers people no matter how they gang up against him and his supporters.
His words: “Let me tell you that despite all the gang ups in Abuja against Rivers State, we must protect the interest of our state. If they like let them use all the powers they have, but their powers can never be superior to God’s power. I want to urge you all to be calm and peaceful because I am still the Governor of Rivers State.”
Mr. Wike said his team of lawyers would appeal the judgement of the tribunal on Monday, after which he would go to the Supreme court if need be.
He said: “We believe that we have a good case. I have never seen where a lower court will over rule the verdict of a higher court. In Lagos state PDP went to court with the governorship candidate of the APC. One of PDP’s grouses was that INEC did not comply with use of card readers, but at the court of appeal, it was held that the issue of card readers has no place in the electoral act. But today we have heard that the card reader is part of our electoral act as far as the Rivers state Election Tribunal is concerned.”
Governor Wike also asserted that the APC did not give the mandatory 21 days notice to INEC and therefore did not have a candidate, but the Rivers Election Tribunal did not acknowledge the charge by PDP’s lawyers.
He maintained that whatever the opposition does he will not be intimidated out of office.
“If they like let them summon the justices as they have been doing, but one day God’s own pronouncement will come. So I don’t want you to make trouble. Conduct yourselves as people who expect good governance . Do not panic, the law and the facts are on our side, because we have a competent legal team that will handle the matter.”