Justice Mary Odili Judicial Institute Port Harcourt: Giving Honour To Whom It Is Due News

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Justice Mary Odili Judicial Institute Port Harcourt: Giving Honour To Whom It Is Due

By Victor Enyinnaya on November 28, 2022

I don’t want to know or listen to those rumours that have been flying about and around that very suave and charismatic hardworking executive governor of Rivers State, Governor Nysom Ezenwo Wike CON, GSSRS, Life Bencher, POS Africa on his and his other four PDP colleague governors on equity, Justice and fair play in the scheme of affairs in the biggest opposition party in Africa.

It is only in Nigeria that truth is bitter. The integrity governors have been so clear on their simple but legitimate request based on what their party stands for. A little recap, the G.5 governors have recognized the Presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar but insist that national chairman, Ayu must step down or aside for the party to move on in one accord for the forthcoming general election next year.

I digress. The River State Governor has surpassed practical performance in all ramifications and in all facets too.
Avail yourself the opportunity to the State and see for yourself what is called dividends of democracy scrambling amongst themselves for space in the State. To be honest with you, the governor has done so well for the citizenry and they enjoy these facilities to the fullest.

There is free and level playing field amongst political parties in the state as bill boards of opposition parties in the state adore and also compete for space in the state unlike what obtains in especially Lagos State where All Progressives Congress APC opposed to level playing field politics.

I was in Rivers State last week for a private visit and observation of political activities in the state and can authoritatively report that the State which fairy tales story tellers have painted several falsehood against is calmer than Lagos and some other states.
This columnist can authentically report that from what is on ground, it is the opposition parties especially APC in that State that has been portraying falsehood on the real situation on ground in the State. Such impression or signal APC portrays to the Federal government and their request for much more Military personal for election in the State we all knew have resulted to more destruction of lives and properties.

Close watchers of Rivers State politics since Chibuike Amaechi took that wrong political step in 2015 that led him into his current political wilderness as a result of his infamous decision when he walked out on PDP, the political party that brought him to instant limelight in every sense of the word.

After biting the fingers that fed him well, he is now like a fish out of water. If you look around today his key allies who followed him to paint PDP and former President Goodluck Jonathan black are back to the Rivers State PDP and more are still angling to go back. This reporter would leave this here, and before drawing the curtain on it must not fail to thumb up for governor Wike’s timely observation or outburst that Rivers State would not fold her hands and watch whoever may resort in using the Army or other security agencies like in 2015 and 2019 must think twice as nobody would make the State a battle field come 2023 polls.

That clarion call by Governor Wike was not only timely but must be seen as an alarm bell as 2023 polls draws near. No patriotic call can be more alluring than that. The Governor has hit the nail on the head. He does not pretend or suffer in silence in obvious national issues which affects the populace.

Last week to be precise on November 25, Governor Wike who rewards hard work and diligence as his tradition at that auspicious occasion to commission two projects executed by his administration, named the magnificent Rivers State Judicial Institute commissioned an ultra modern Justice Mary Odili Judicial Institute named after a living legend and eminent Jurist, very cerebral and erudite recently retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Mary Ukaego Peter Odili CFR which he started and finished both on record time which has been synonymous with his administration.

It would be recalled that another exquisite Office Complex housing the Federal Judicial Service Commission South- South Liaison Office. The imposing edifice is located at the high brow area of Port Harcourt metropolis proximate to high Court complex headquarters of the State. As expected, it was witnessed by who’s who in the society as quality people came from around the country to be part of the audience for epoch making event.

For the records, Governor Nysom Ezenwo Wike is widely known in practical terms as Infrastructural development or Project governor. On that note even his most and worst critics have come terms to acknowledge his dripping achievement.

His massive infrastructural development as far as Nigeria is concerned did not start and stop in Rivers State Judiciary alone, he extended it to the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, Federal High Court, Port Harcourt and National Industrial Court Port Harcourt and recently commissioned Dr. Nabo Graham Douglas Port Harcourt Campus of the Nigerian Law School etc. Little wonder therefore Vice President Yemi Osibanjo named Governor Wike Mr. Project years back.

Governor Wike is an eminent and outstanding Awardee of President Mahammadu Buhari‘s Excellence in Infrastructural Delivery in Public Service. These commissioning provided forum for the intellectual development necessary for the proper administration of justice in the State through the Justice Mary Odili Judicial Institute. It can be vividly said also without any iota of doubt that by building Federal Judicial Service Commission Liaison Office in the State, the Governor has admirably raised the sign post of National Unity. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, very unassuming Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola GCON was on hand to cut the tapes to open the edifices for the Judiciary.

It must be further noted that Governor Wike is well known for giving honour to who honour is due, little wonder therefore he has infectious like followership around the country. Love him or hate him, he does not joke with his Rivers State people. The governor has created a niche for himself and his administration, so for his no nonsense stance on everything Rivers State, ensuring that the people don’t see themselves as inferior to anybody from any other part of the country. He has also ensured that everybody living in the State co-exists peacefully and in perfect harmony too hence, the State has created for itself such atmosphere. I digress.

The honour which the State government bestowed on one of her own for her meritorious service to her fatherland in the Judiciary with all zeal and integrity in every sense of the nine letter word are glaring in the public domain. Justice Mary Ukaego Peter Odili retired is an epitome of selfless service to humanity and hold. An quintessence professional who does not take no as an answer roundly deserved this honour strictly from a grateful heart who recognized that terrain she worked and came out clean through her recent retirement, after reaching that mandatory age of retirement.

It is instructive to recall that retired Justice Mary Ukaego Peter Odili reached the pinnacle of her illustrious career in Law through exceptional hard work, continuous learning, humble and sundry hence her success story today. It never came on a platter of gold bearing in mind the part of the country she came from which keen observers even attributed to reason for denying her the position of Chief Justice of Nigeria as it didn’t take long after her retirement for the immediate past Chief Justice of NigeriaTanko Bello threw in the towel, citing health reasons as factors which made him not to continue in office.

Head or tail Justice Mary Ukaego Peter –Odili CFR, JSC (retired) won her sports clean and clear. There is no better time for Governor Nysom Ezenwo Wike to give the honour of naming such reference point after her than now.

It is kudos to a Governor’s governor who has eyes on excellence and hard work. For Justice Mary Ukaego Peter- Odili CFR, JSC (retired) it remains an honour well deserved. Forward with Governor Wike and Bravo our suave Justice the best is yet to come!!

Source Daily Sports Nigeria

Posted November 28, 2022