By Jimitota Onoyume

Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday appointed Justice Daisy Okocha as acting Chief Judge of the state. Wike who announced the appointment shortly after he took the oath of office administered by the Chief Judge of Bayelsa state, Justice Kate Abiri at the Liberation stadium, Port Harcourt said it was unfortunate that the crisis in the judiciary could linger on for close to a year.

Wike being sworn in as Rivers State Governor yesterday.

The new governor who took his oath of office shortly after his deputy, Dr Ipalibo Banigo was administered similar oath as Deputy by Justice Abiri said the state judiciary would immediately resume activities from Monday when the acting Chief Judge would be sworn in.

At the colorful ceremony attended by former governor Peter Odili, his wife, Justice Mary Odili and several other prominent Nigerians Wike also appointed Justice Christy Gabriel Nwankwo as Acting President, Rivers state Customary court of Appeal

“We had severally condemned the prolonged absence of a State Chief Judge and closure of our courts and promised that these issues will not remain unresolved beyond a day after today. Therefore, in fulfillment of our promise to reopen our courts and restore normalcy to the State’s judiciary, I hereby, in exercise of my powers under section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, appoint the most senior High Court Judge in Rivers State Judiciary, the Honourable Justice Daisy Okocha as the Acting Chief Judge of Rivers State.

Her Lordship will be sworn in on Monday 1st June 2015, after which she will be required to immediately terminate the dark moments of our ignoble judicial history by reopening the courts for business. Under our watch, never again will the doors to justice be deliberately and punitively shut against the people of Rivers State.

In the same vein, I hereby, in exercise of the powers conferred upon me by section 281 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, appoint the Honourable Justice Christy Gabriel-Nwankwo, as the Acting President of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal following the indefinite suspension by the National Judicial Council (NJC) of the holder of that office. Justice Christy will also be sworn in on Monday 1st June 2015.” , he said.

The governor further directed the authorities of the Rivers state University of Science and Technology to immediately reinstate sacked lecturers who protested alleged irregularities in the appointment of a Vice Chancellor for the university.

“Nigeria is a democracy and people are free to hold and express divergent views and opinions as well as to form trade unions for the purpose of collective bargaining without the fear or pain of any harm. As a government we shall not violate or tolerate the violation of the democratic and constitutional rights of Rivers State workers by any authority, be it public or private.”

The governor promised to provide pipe borne water in Abonnema, Gokhana and Khana local government areas within the first one hundred days.