…We Will Treat Riggers As Coup Plotters, Says Governor
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
![image](/2021/06/Legal-Research-On-The-Go2.jpg")
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused the Federal
Government of appointing compromised academics, willing to submit
names of politically exposed lecturers as returning officers to rig
elections for the ruling party, as vice-chancellors of federal
universities.
![image](/2021/05/NBASBL2021.jpg")
Wike, however, warned VCs and lecturers to be wary of attempts
by some unscrupulous politicians to use them to manipulate
elections.
He declared that those contemplating to rig elections in Rivers
would be treated as coup plotters.
The governor spoke on Tuesday during the groundbreaking ceremony
for the construction of 9200 capacity ultramodern convocation arena
for the University of Port Harcourt by the Rivers State
government.
Wike said it was worrisome that Nigeria had degenerated to the
point where politicians influenced the appointment of VCs for the
purposes of rigging elections.
He said: “Let me warn, not one person will dare to rig election
in Rivers State. Not one person will dare it. I have told people,
allow university community to produce those who will be leaders of
this country.
“Don’t turn university community to be where you will have
politicians who manipulate and change the mandate of the people.
Anybody who does that, you know it is a coup and you know the
punishment for coup plotters.”
The governor said the reason for the jostling for VCs of federal
universities was because of political interference by extraneous
forces.
He described as heartrending a situation whereby lecturers, who
were supposed to be revered in society, willfully compromised their
integrity, just to become VCs to manipulate elections.
“These days, you see a lecturer, a PhD holder, a professor ready
to soil his name, to allow himself to be kidnapped and taken
somewhere to sign result and to declare somebody who did not win
election winner,” he said.
The governor enjoined desperate politicians in the ruling party
not to dent the integrity of the university system because of their
inordinate ambition.
Wike warned that any VC that allowed himself to be used to rig
election in Rivers State, should be prepared for the consequences
of such act.
“If you want to play politics with us, I will rub you mud. If
you want to join us (politicians), openly come and join us. But if
you want to hide under the university, I will rob you mud.”
The governor declared that 2023 general election would be
completely different from the 2019 election, insisting that
attempts to prevent transmission of election results electronically
would be resisted.
“INEC knows that they have to be prepared in 2023. And that is
why we will resist any attempt for anybody to manipulate the
amendment of the Electoral Act, to say that election results will
not be transmitted electronically. That will not happen. If you
want the vote of the people to count, the result must be
transmitted electronically.”
Wike said that as an alumnus of the University of Port Harcourt,
his business was not to play politics in the university, but to
contribute to the development of the institution.
He promised to complete a primary school building in the
university that was abandoned by the previous administration for
inexplicable reason.
In his remarks, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of University of Port
Harcourt, Prof. Stephen Okodudu, commended Wike for consistently
identifying with the ideals and aspiration of the university.
“You have continued to support the successive administrations of
the University through donation of funds and provision of social
infrastructure to give meaning to the lives of staff and
students.
“I recall with nostalgia, that Your Excellency attracted then
construction of the Faculties of Law and Social Sciences buildings
while serving as the Hon. Minister of State for Education,” he
said.
Chairman of the Governing Council of the university, Senator
Andrew Uchendu applauded Wike for laying the foundation for what
would be the best, iconic convocation arena in West Africa.
Performing the inauguration of the new convocation arena, the
immediate past vice-chancellor of the university, Prof. Ndowa E.
Lale, said Wike decision to construct the new convocation arena was
a further demonstration that he had a heart to add value to the
institution.
He declared that history would be kind to Wike because he had
deliberately worked conscientiously for public good.
…We Will Treat Riggers As Coup Plotters, Says Governor
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused the Federal
Government of appointing compromised academics, willing to submit
names of politically exposed lecturers as returning officers to rig
elections for the ruling party, as vice-chancellors of federal
universities.
Wike, however, warned VCs and lecturers to be wary of attempts
by some unscrupulous politicians to use them to manipulate
elections.
He declared that those contemplating to rig elections in Rivers
would be treated as coup plotters.
The governor spoke on Tuesday during the groundbreaking ceremony
for the construction of 9200 capacity ultramodern convocation arena
for the University of Port Harcourt by the Rivers State
government.
Wike said it was worrisome that Nigeria had degenerated to the
point where politicians influenced the appointment of VCs for the
purposes of rigging elections.
He said: “Let me warn, not one person will dare to rig election
in Rivers State. Not one person will dare it. I have told people,
allow university community to produce those who will be leaders of
this country.
“Don’t turn university community to be where you will have
politicians who manipulate and change the mandate of the people.
Anybody who does that, you know it is a coup and you know the
punishment for coup plotters.”
The governor said the reason for the jostling for VCs of federal
universities was because of political interference by extraneous
forces.
He described as heartrending a situation whereby lecturers, who
were supposed to be revered in society, willfully compromised their
integrity, just to become VCs to manipulate elections.
“These days, you see a lecturer, a PhD holder, a professor ready
to soil his name, to allow himself to be kidnapped and taken
somewhere to sign result and to declare somebody who did not win
election winner,” he said.
The governor enjoined desperate politicians in the ruling party
not to dent the integrity of the university system because of their
inordinate ambition.
Wike warned that any VC that allowed himself to be used to rig
election in Rivers State, should be prepared for the consequences
of such act.
“If you want to play politics with us, I will rub you mud. If
you want to join us (politicians), openly come and join us. But if
you want to hide under the university, I will rob you mud.”
The governor declared that 2023 general election would be
completely different from the 2019 election, insisting that
attempts to prevent transmission of election results electronically
would be resisted.
“INEC knows that they have to be prepared in 2023. And that is
why we will resist any attempt for anybody to manipulate the
amendment of the Electoral Act, to say that election results will
not be transmitted electronically. That will not happen. If you
want the vote of the people to count, the result must be
transmitted electronically.”
Wike said that as an alumnus of the University of Port Harcourt,
his business was not to play politics in the university, but to
contribute to the development of the institution.
He promised to complete a primary school building in the
university that was abandoned by the previous administration for
inexplicable reason.
In his remarks, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of University of Port
Harcourt, Prof. Stephen Okodudu, commended Wike for consistently
identifying with the ideals and aspiration of the university.
“You have continued to support the successive administrations of
the University through donation of funds and provision of social
infrastructure to give meaning to the lives of staff and
students.
“I recall with nostalgia, that Your Excellency attracted then
construction of the Faculties of Law and Social Sciences buildings
while serving as the Hon. Minister of State for Education,” he
said.
Chairman of the Governing Council of the university, Senator
Andrew Uchendu applauded Wike for laying the foundation for what
would be the best, iconic convocation arena in West Africa.
Performing the inauguration of the new convocation arena, the
immediate past vice-chancellor of the university, Prof. Ndowa E.
Lale, said Wike decision to construct the new convocation arena was
a further demonstration that he had a heart to add value to the
institution.
He declared that history would be kind to Wike because he had
deliberately worked conscientiously for public good.