APC distances self from anti-Justice Odili protest, alleges PDP masterminded action

• Rivers condemns demonstration, accuses FG of indifference
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has distanced itself from Tuesday’s protest at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) home of a judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili.

Its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yekini Nabena, who addressed reporters yesterday in Abuja, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should be held responsible for the unfortunate incident.

The Bayelsa State-born politician regretted that the protesters identified themselves as “APC supporters”, adding that, “it was a smokescreen to portray the APC governorship candidate, Chief David Lyon, and his supporters in bad light.”

He called on the judiciary to “ignore the PDP’s antics and always side with the will of the people and rule of law in all matters.”

According to Nabena, in recent time, the “PDP is used to protesting from one embassy to another just to blackmail the judiciary.”

Nabena claimed: “Nobody should be fooled by the usual antics of the PDP. Resort to extra-judicial tactics such as maligning the judiciary and its officials is the PDP’s stock-in-trade. The same hired urchins the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus used for his senseless protests to the embassies of the United Kingdom, United States and the European Union (EU) were also the ones used for Tuesday’s protests at Justice Odili’s residence.

“The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike aside being the main financier of the PDP, must explain his inexplicable interest in the governorship of Bayelsa State. The people of Rivers State must begin to ask their governor how and what he uses their money for.”

The spokesman further said: “The APC national leadership is already pursuing all legal avenue to contest the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare Douye Diri as Bayelsa Governor, having failed to meet the mandatory constitutional requirement to become the governor.

“Also, our leaders have already told our supporters to avoid violent confrontations while legal means are sort to review INEC’s unconstitutional decision. Our people have listened and are confident that our judicial system will ensure that the people’s will and justice are done.”

However, the Rivers State Executive Council has condemned the demonstration and accused the Federal Government of indifference to the incident during its meeting yesterday in Port Harcourt.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paulinus Nsirim, the state government criticised the barricading of the home of the Odilis at Maitama, Abuja by “sponsored thugs of the APC.”

“The Rivers State Executive Council wondered why Dr. Peter Odili’s family should be singled out for the unwarranted attack when the judgment that ousted David Lyon as Governor of Bayelsa State was a unanimous decision of a five-member panel of Supreme Court justices,” he said.

The state “warned the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, and the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, and their hired agents to desist from the sponsorship of violent attacks against Odili and members of his family.”

The commissioner threatened that the Wike administration would employ all legal means to protect the Odili family and other indigenes serving as federal and state judicial officers.

He said, “should this harassment and intimidation continue, the Rivers State Government would have no alternative than to retaliate.”

The official restated the South-South state’s commitment to the defence of lives and property of its people at all times.