‘We often say how impressive power is But I do not find it impressive at all. The guns and the bombs, the rockets and the warshíps, are all symbols of human failure. They are necessary symbols. They protect what we cherish. But they are witness to human “folly”-Lyndon Baines Johnson
“Once has He spoken, twice have I heard; all power belongs to God” – Psalm 62: 11
When the Supreme Court on the 25th day of October 2007 corruptly installed Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi as Governor of Rivers State his popular refrain was Psalm 62:11 – “Once has He spoken, twice have I heard; all power belongs to God”
To drive that point home, giant bill boards were hoisted all over the state with a prayerful and soulful Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi with the with the words of Psalm 62: 11
He further directed that he should not be addressed by the title “His Excellency”
Today, where are these giant bill boards? They have been replaced by other bill boards demonstrating Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi’s power, pride and omnipotence even when he is not a candidate in any furthering election. He has giant bill boards all over the state with inscriptions such as
‘A Celebrated political leader”
“A fearless and brave leader”
“The truth Advocator”
And many more vain display of power and pride.
If God speaks a thousand times today, Rt. Hon Amaechi will not hear even once. It is that bad
In Rt. Hon Amaechi’s megalomaniac pursuit of power and “righteousness”, he has needlessly picked unnecessary fights with various institutions, agencies and persons far and near
A case in point is the judiciary. Rt. Hon Amaechi did not vote, neither was he voted for as required by the Constitution and the Electoral Act. He neither campaigned by printing posters and bill boards. Some other persons spent huge funds and campaigned day and night. The Supreme Court having been corrupted installed Rt. Hon. Amaechi as Governor of Rivers State. Today Rt. Hon. Amaechi has made the same Supreme Court and the judiciary his foot mat.
His agents and political appointees, including his Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, who should know better, have taken out multiple paid newspaper advertorials berating and diminishing the Supreme Court. What an irony.
Another case in point is the present 8 months old needless strike in the Rivers State Judiciary at the behest of Rt. Hon. Amaechi over the perceived slight that his preferred nominee was not recommended by the National Judicial Council for appointment as the Chief Judge of Rivers State. The gates of the Courts have been shut down since the 10th day of June 2014. The gates were further welded with iron bars in September 2014. It appears that the Courts will only be opened after May, 29th 2015 when Rt. Hon. Amaechi is no longer the Governor of Rivers State.
This is the first time in the history of Nigeria that employees will be on strike; earn their salaries from their employer without their employer attempting to resolve the strike. Rather, their employer threatens that if his employees return to work their salaries will be withheld. This is the sad situation in Rivers State.
The strike by the staff of Rivers State judiciary which has given Rt. Hon. Amaechi great sadistic pleasure has decimated families and denied over 4000 lawyers income for 8 months and counting. Other than lawyers, several persons have been put to the sword; these include persons who do business, such as, photocopying, typing, photographing and restaurant operators who can no longer do their businesses.
Above all, justice delivery has been truncated; several people can no longer have their day in Court and ventilate their grievances. The prisons in the state are choke points and under siege. Prisoners can not come out or go in. Police cells are congested. The police is now by the situation compelled to grant bail to all manner of suspects and undesirable elements for the simple reason that they can not charge them to court or hold them ad infinitum; it is that bad.
All the above mean nothing to Rt. Hon. Amaechi. It is rather a show of his power and omnipotence. He must have his way no matter the hundred of thousands that may suffer. Rt. Hon. Amaechi should remember that he is only a man and all this shall pass.
Finally, it shall be his unending, unenviable legacy and folly that when he was Governor of Rivers State, the Courts in Rivers State were shut down for nearly one year with so much attendant pain, suffering, tears, sorrows and blood all because of a perceived slight that his preferred nominee was not recommended by the National Judicial Council for appointment as the Chief Judge of Rivers State.
James Sokolo
