…insists from their actions does not want anything good for Nigeria

The South East South South Professionals of Nigeria
(SESSPN) has taken a swipe at the Federal Government declaring that Hajj sponsorship, buying of aircraft, yatch and so many irrelevancies has made Nigeria a huge joke.

The professional group also made a clarion call on INEC to redeem its image by conducting very transparent Election in Edo State.

President of SESSPN, Hannibal Uwaifo made these declarations during a press conference on Wednesday.

Hear him:

“The SESSPN is gravely concerned about the Past and recent
happenings in Nigeria.

“While the Country has Laws, rules and regulations that guides Public
and Private conduct, nothing appears to have been learnt from events
and actions that have seen our Country sliding very fast into abys.

“While the Nigeria Nation is reeling in despair occasioned by Poverty,
hunger, disease, massive youth unemployment, unbelievable
Corruption, constant misuse, Grand theft of Public Funds and the
terrible Security situation, our Politicians have continued to behave in
an intolerable manner that our Association has concluded that they
do not want anything good to come out of Nigeria.

On Rivers State:
“Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, serious concern have been the
recent sad situation in Rivers State as it relates to Police siege on the
23 Local Governments of the State.
Firstly, the SESSPN condemns in its totality the unilateral actions of
the Nigerian Police Force purportedly for Security reasons and claim
that the matter is in Court.

“The Police authorities further inflamed
sensibilities when the Leadership insisted that the illegal occupation
will continue until the Courts give Judgement. This is sad and
unfortunate for Nigeria of 2024 for the following reasons:
1
1) The action of the Nigerian Police has the effect of preventing all
Workers in the 23 Local Government Councils of Rivers State
from accessing their Offices and rendering their legitimate
duties.
2) The 23 Local Government Area Council Workers are not
involved in any Court Case and did not invite the Police to
protect them from those in Court.
3) The Police are not Parties to the Cases in the Courts and the
Courts never mandated the Police to act on her behalf.
4) The Police do not have the capacity to determine when each of
the Court Cases will end and therefore it will be unreasonable
for them to close down Council Secretariats indefinitely.
5) There is a valid Court Judgement effectively nullifying the Local
Government amendment Law which purported to extend the
tenure of Local Government Chairman in Rivers State. That is
what the Police is to enforce but that is not what they are doing,
effectively signifying the Partisanship of the Police.
6) Assuming but not conceding that the rival claims and
Criminality are involved Particularly the violence perpetuated
by some of the Politicians and their cronies, the duty of the
Police is to identify the troublemakers, arrest and Prosecute
them not to close down an entire system except the Police are
saying that they are incapable of carrying out their statutory
duties.
7) The SESSPN believes that the Nigerian Police has Legal Advisers
and also composed of reasonable Men who are conversant with
the Nigerian Constitution and therefore should know what is the
difference between elected Officials and appointed Officials.

“Officials elected for a term by the People cannot be extended by any
Law or fiat whatsoever. The Local Government Chairmen were elected
for a period and once the period is completed, they can only be
returned by another election. No Court needs to interpret that.

“Everyone knows. Can the tenure of a State Governor or President
directly elected by the People be extended? Local Governments are
the 3rd tier of the Government directly elected by the People for a
fixed term.

“The Chairmen contested and took their oath for a fixed
term, therefore any amendment that seeks to elongate that is
patently illegal as any such amendment cannot have retrospective
effect.

“Local Government Councils are under the Nigerian Constitution
effectively under the control of State Governments and there is no
indication that the Rivers State Government invited the Nigerian
Police, it is therefore the view of SESSPN that the Police must be
careful not to join the March to Orchestrate a Constitutional crisis
which may become hydra-headed.
The SESSPN therefore condemns the Police siege on Local
Government Councils in Rivers State as manifestly illegal, baseless,
rootless, irresponsible and call on the Inspector-General of Police to
withdraw them immediately or face Legal actions including Peaceful
Protests until they vacate the Councils.
Similarly, we call on all actors in this unfortunate crisis to understand
that Rivers State is bigger than them and will continue to exist long
after them.

“We commend the Governor of the State Sir Siminalayi Fubara for
the maturity and candour he has exhibited in the face of these
Provocations and assures him the SESSPN will stand by him in all that
is Legal for the People of Rivers State and urge all Stakeholders and
detractors alike to stop calling for a State of Emergency in Rivers
State because a State of emergency does not amount to dismantling
the democratic Government elected by the People.

“The Federal Government has no power to remove an elected State Governor, not
even an elected Local Government Chairman under our Constitution.
Ladies and Gentlemen you can all see that bad as the Security
situation has been is most part of Northern Nigeria, banditry of the
highest order, terrorist attacks, the mass killings of innocent People,
the Federal Government never declared a State of emergency, Rivers
State is not even near that category, so why should any sane Person
call for a State of emergency such attempts will be vehemently
resisted by the People of the South South.

“Those making this
unpatriotic call should bury their heads in shame.

On Edo election:

“Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, the second issue the SESSPN will
like to address is the Gubernatorial Elections coming up in Edo
State later this year.

“While the Misconducts committed by INEC and some criminally
minded Politicians and their cronies during the 2023 General Elections
are still in the Public space and have disillusioned many Nigerians,
the SESSPN hereby calls on INEC to redeem its image by conducting
a very transparent Election in Edo State.

“SESSPN has taken notice of the unfortunate statements of President
Bola Tinubu about giving Edo State to his Party. The videos of
the President seen with his Party supporters boasting about giving
Edo State back to his Party is sad and has already sent tongue
wagging about the intentions of the President considering the
massive rigging and manipulations that took place during the 2023
General Elections.

“We believe that INEC as an independent body must hold its grounds
and conduct a transparent election where the votes of the People
counts.

“Politicians in Edo State are urged to behave themselves and see the
Election as an opportunity to advance the interest of Edo State not
their Personal interest or that of their Political Parties.

On hunger:

“Distinguished friends, other very major issues bothering the SESSPN
is the hunger and Poverty in the Land mostly occasioned by
some misguided Policies of this present Administration and
the flippant Statements and actions of some of her Officials.

“While the Prices of foodstuffs, Goods and Services have increased
astronomically beyond the reach of most Nigerians, the Federal
Government seems to be content with making frivolous
appointments, increasing taxes and budgeting for the luxuries of its
Officials.

“Spending on renovations of Official quarters, Hajj, buying of Aircrafts,
Yachts and so many irrelevancies has made Nigeria a huge joke while
insecurity continues to torment Farms and homes of the average
Nigerians, Petrol, Gas, Electricity and other essential Services have
hit the roof.

“The Federal Government doesn’t seem to care or have run out of Solutions.
The exchange rate of the Naira has become a very big problem that
traveling out of Nigeria for anything is now beyond Nigerians. While
paying School fees of our Children abroad with the current exchange
rate is a very big dilemma and giving Parents sleepless nights.

“The assessment of the SESSPN is that the present Government has
done very badly and must immediately wake up to its responsibilities
and stop the slide into anarchy and chaos which they have created
by the unleashing of hunger and Poverty on Nigerians.
Lagos.