The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, has launched a scathing critique against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, accusing him of disregarding the judiciary by failing to respect court rulings. Okocha’s remarks, made during an interaction with journalists in Port Harcourt, centered around a recent decision by the State High Court regarding the chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers, a matter that he claims is still pending at the Court of Appeal.
Okocha expressed disbelief at the High Court’s decision to rule on the state’s PDP chairmanship while the issue remained under consideration at the appellate level. He questioned the governor’s adherence to the rule of law, claiming that Fubara only respects legal rulings when they align with his interests.
“The governor does not respect laws. He respects laws when it suits him and when it does not suit him, he doesn’t respect,” Okocha said. “I don’t know that system; nobody has taught that system in Political Science. They only tell me that the laws are sacrosanct and must be obeyed.”
It is worth noting that Okocha’s comments specifically addressed the controversial ruling by the State High Court, which he argued had overstepped its bounds by ousting the PDP Chairman in Rivers State despite the ongoing appeal. He added that the authority to inaugurate a party’s state executive committee lies with the party itself, not the judiciary.
The APC chairman further lamented the state of Port Harcourt, once known as the “Garden City,” now allegedly transformed into a “Garbage City” under the Fubara administration. Okocha criticized the deterioration of infrastructure, particularly highlighting the lack of streetlights on major roads, including Ikwerre Road, Airport Road, G.U Ake Road, and Aba Road, calling attention to the growing concern over safety and the city’s general decline.
“Port Harcourt was known as Garden City, but under the present government, Port Harcourt has turned to a Garbage City,” Okocha said. “The areas stink, and Port Harcourt is dark. Are we not aware? Major roads are dark at night. And you say we have a government? Rivers State is dark, and you and I know the consequences of darkness in an environment.”
It bears mentioning that in response, the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Warisenibo Joseph Johnson, swiftly rejected Okocha’s accusations, asserting that the APC leadership under Okocha no longer exists in the state. Johnson referred to the court’s recognition of Emeka Bekee as the legitimate chairman of the party in Rivers, dismissing Okocha’s claims as irrelevant.
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“The Okocha-led executives of the APC no longer exist in Rivers State. The court has long acknowledged Emeka Bekee as the chairman of the party,” Johnson stated. He urged the public to disregard Okocha’s statements, emphasizing that Governor Fubara’s administration was focused on delivering tangible results for the people of Rivers State, a sentiment he claimed was echoed by the masses.
