Bayelsa: CSO calls for arrest, prosecution of Oshiomhole, Lyon over inciting statements

A coalition of civil society organizations for democracy on Wednesday called for the prosecution of the National Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for allegedly “making careless, unpatriotic, unguarded and intimidating remarks on the Supreme Court ruling on Bayelsa State Governorship Election.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the Group’s spokesman, Mr Conscious Richard Leke, who frowned at the recklessness of some politicians over the Supreme Court pronouncement on the Bayelsa governorship case argued that Comrade Oshiomole’s action ” portends danger to the nation and survival of democratic experience in the country’.

According to him, “as a conscious civil society group whose responsibility is to serve as the conscience of the nation, check the excesses of the politicians and stand on the side of the masses at all times, we are worried, confused and concerned most especially with the ways and manner the All Progressive Congress has been reacting to the judgement of various Courts, particularly for Bayelsa State.

“We must, first of all, commend the Supreme Court justices for remaining resolute and uncompromising in their patriotic drive to bringing sanity, dignity and order into the political firmament of our nation. We also commend the boldness, independence and courageous judgements of the Supreme Court in the cases of Imo and Bayelsa gubernatorial elections despite undeniable intimidation of the Nigerian judiciary.

“We are however at want and concerned about the ways the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress Comdr. Adams Oshiomhole has been going about making careless, unpatriotic, unguarded and intimidating remarks and comments on the judgement.

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“We are worried also, that his actions and that of the APC as a political party suggest an attempt to intimidate, coerce and compromise the Supreme Court justices which portend huge danger for the nation and the survival of our democratic experience.

“We are aware that he, (Adams Oshiomhole) wrote a letter to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission with obvious intention to influence the decision of INEC over the judgement, this act is one that must not go uninvestigated. We have also been reliably informed that same National Chairman of the APC has written same strongly worded letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria requesting a review of the Bayelsa judgement.

“Apart from this highly inciting, instigating and anti-democratic tendency, we are aware that the statement of Comdr. Oshiomhole and behind the scene statements, plans and actions are capable of threatening our democracy and instigate crisis in Bayelsa, a very important revenue-generating state.

“We also have it on high authority that Mr Oshiomhole has emboldened APC candidate, Mr David Lyon, to apply all undemocratic means to make sure Bayelsa is in crisis, after all, he told the whole. Nigerians prior to INEC’s declaration that no one would be sworn-in, in Bayelsa, a statement that instigated violence in Bayelsa that led to the destruction of government facilities and even attack the innocent citizens.

“We also have it from a reliable source that APC leadership under the same Oshiomhole sponsored hoodlums to stage a protest at the private residence of the Supreme Court Justice, Mary Odili for doing her constitutional duty, thereby intimidating her with a view to using violence and threats to dampen the spirit of the Judges.

“We wonder why a ruling party will be so audacious, barbaric and uncivilized to the point of reprint to brute force and shown of shame. We are convened that the political environment is tensed now and urgent intervention must be made to control the plan that is capable of creating a crisis”.

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While noting that the prevailing insecurity challenges may worsen over the action of the APC National Chairman, the Group alleged that the “actions, strategy and careless statement from Adams Oshiomhole and the APC candidate, David Lyon have instigated a group name Reformed Niger Delta Avengers to come out, the group on Tuesday threatened the Nigerian state and our years of building a virile democracy by threatening to resume destruction of oil installations until APC candidate is declared the winner.

“This act is to us most barbaric, crude, undemocratic and capable of eroding almost democratic gains recorded over the years.

“It is rather shameful and archaic for anyone to think violence is the way out in this time and age. We are seriously worried that the same Adams Oshiomhole who benefitted from a judgement of the Supreme Court to become Governor of Edo State is the one instigating crisis today.”

To this end, the Group called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately order the arrest of Oshiomhole, for an attempt to compromise, intimidate and coerce INEC and Supreme Court and also instigating violence in Bayelsa and Nigeria.

Also, the group called for the immediate arrest of Mr David Lyon, APC gubernatorial candidate for instigating militancy and violence in Bayelsa State.

It maintained that the Supreme Court has given its final verdict and caution against any demand for the apex court to review itself as it will spell doom on our judiciary by the time every dissatisfied litigant seek review of the judgement of the apex court.