Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has explained why he refused to charge his former Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning, Reason Onya, for murder.
The Governor said that political consideration stopped him from pressing charges against the former commissioner who was indicted by a commission of inquiry.
It would be recall that the Rivers State Government had set up a commission of inquiry in 2018 over the collapse of a seven-storey building in Port Harcourt, the state capital, leading to the death of several people.
According to the Governor, Onya for indicted for murder and his ban from holding public office recommended.
Wike, who spoke during the defection of some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Port Harcourt on Saturday, however said he was pained by the outcome of the panel.
He disclosed that his Attorney General, after studying the report of the panel of inquiry, came up with a white paper but he (Wike) considered the political implications of charging his commissioner for murder and thereafter decided to let go the issue.
The governor said “the panel headed by Justice Adolphus Enebeli came up with their report and indicted the former commissioner of Urban, one Doctor Reason Onya. In fact he was indicted that he should not hold any public office in life again. It also said he should be charged along with the owner of that building for murder”.
“It touched us, as the Governor I felt bad over how my commissioner would involve himself to the point that he has now been indicted not to hold public office again and to be charged for murder”.
“The Attorney General looked at what the panel said and came out with a white paper report and I told the Attorney General that; yes I agree with what the panel has said but let us also look at it politically; how will I see it that our commissioner is charged for murder and have been told not to hold public office again in life?”.
The governor also said he stopped the commissioner from securing a lecturing job at the Rivers State University because of the indictment.
Onya recently defected from the PDP to the APC last week.
