Lorine Emenike
A popular Port Harcourt-based human right lawyer and activist, Barr. Higher Kings has condemned the unlawful suspension of twelve (12) elected local government chairmen by the state governor, Barr. E. N Wike.
In his speech during a round table deliberation by various civil society organizations and human right activists in Port Harcourt that was organized by Rivers Civil society organizations(RIVSCO) in the state in its bid to curb the incessant killings and increased rate of crime in Port Harcourt and Rivers State at large, Barr. Higher Kings said it is unconstitutional for the Rivers State governor E. N Wike to suspend elected officials.
“I know and that I have read that there is no portion in the Nigerian constitution that gives power to an elected official to suspend another elected official. There is no provision for that in our constitution ”
“I don’t know under which law the governor derived the power to suspend 12 elected local government chairmen in the state. It is worrisome because what you do to others will be done to you”
“The President of the federal republic of Nigeria can not purport to suspend elected governors either because they failed to attend National Executive Council meetings or functions. And it is more worrisome because the state house of assembly has endorsed the action”
“You see, we are talking about constitution without fear or bias. We should not rape the constitution, we should not bee seen to disregard the constitution, because if you do, the same thing you have done could be used against you tomorrow”
“You can only suspend them if they were appointed as caretakers. Because they are your appointees and they are at your beck and call”
The human right lawyer also faulted the constitution saying that ” Nigeria constitution is an aberration, Nigeria politicians sat down and wrote the constitution in a way that it will favour them, a typical Nigerian politician only has a personal interest”
Barr. Higher Kings advised that local government council should be made autonomous, and that the local government executives be made to face charges when found guilty.
