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Coalition of CSOs praise judiciary over defection judgement on 27 lawmakers, say Wike is vindicated
A coalition of civil society organisations under the platform of coalition of Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, CCLCA, Public Interest Lawyers League, PILL others on Sunday threw their weight behind the verdict that dismissed a suit seeking to compel INEC to conduct fresh elections in Rivers for the 27 lawmakers.
Recall the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja on Friday, dismissed a defection suit instituted against the 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
The suit seeking to replace the 27 lawmakers on account of their purported defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was dismissed.
Justice Peter Lifu who delivered the judgment held that the suit instituted by the Action People’s Party APP was statute barred having not been filed within 14 days allowed by law.
The ruling is a watershed in the country’s jurisprudence and a vindication of the erstwhile Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike who had been vilified by some uninformed Nigerians since the defection saga began last year. It is also a huge plus for the 27 lawmakers who were duly elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly to represent their various constituencies.
In a statement on Sunday, by Director General of CCLCA, Dr Gabriel Nwambu on behalf of other NGOs, they noted that:
“We, members of the Coalition, Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, Public Interest Lawyers League, PIL and others are fully aware that the judgement may not have gone down well with the enemies of Rivers State, particularly those who want to destroy the legacies of Wike, but we must commend the learned judge for upholding the tenets of the law and justice instead of relying on sentiments and half truth.
“By this judgement, the Nigerian Judiciary has once again discharged and acquitted itself from the charge of bias and miscarriage of justice. In this light, we urge Governor Siminalayi Fubara to heed the advice of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow the 27 lawmakers to return to their seats at the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“In the spirit of love, peace and justice, ,Governor Fubara should set the process in motion for a reconciliation of the feuding parties in the state legislature. Of course that will pave way for the full implementation of the peace agreement he signed when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu mediated in the conflict in Aso Rock, Abuja.
“The Coalition is hopeful that Fubara will take this judgement as an opportunity to pull Rivers State back from the brinks. We urge him to shun all sentiments, and accept the reality that the Rivers State are one indivisible unit whose collective will cannot be broken by the ambition of one man.
“It is high time, Governor Fubara realises those stoking the embers of disunity and those who want him to bite the finger that fed him are the real enemies of Rivers State.
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See Photos of World’s Tallest and Shortest Women Meet for Afternoon Tea in London
The world’s tallest woman and the world’s shortest woman met for the first time this week, sipping tea from china cups — and bonding over what they have in common while celebrating their differences.
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Rumeysa Gelgi, from Turkey, stands at 7 feet and 0.7 inches, while Jyoti Amge, from India, is 2 feet and 0.7 inches.
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
“You’re so beautiful,” said Gelgi, 27. “Thank you — you too,” replied Amge, 30.
Their meeting, over afternoon tea at London’s Savoy Hotel on Tuesday, came ahead of Guinness World Records Day, which is held annually in November to mark record-breaking achievements and encourage people to attempt records. The pair have been honored as “World Record icons” in the 70th anniversary edition of the Guinness World Records book.
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“Meeting Jyoti for the first time was wonderful,” Gelgi said in a release Wednesday. “She’s the most gorgeous lady. I was waiting to meet her for a long time.”
Gelgi said the pair bonded over their love for makeup, jewelry and doing their nails.
Video footage showed them sitting down for tea, cakes and sandwiches stacked next to them, with the London Eye visible from the window.
Amge said in the release that she was “so happy to look up” and see the world’s tallest woman, whom she called “good-natured.” She added that it was difficult at times for the pair to make eye contact “due to our height difference.”
“Guinness World Records is all about celebrating differences,” its editor in chief, Craig Glenday, said in a statement ahead of Guinness World Record Day, which is on Thursday.
“By bringing together these two amazing, iconic women, they can share their perspectives on life with each other and, also, with us,” Glenday said.
Gelgi’s record-breaking height is due to a rare genetic condition called Weaver syndrome, which causes rapid growth, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
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The primary symptom is growth and bone development that occurs faster than usual, making those affected taller than average. People with Weaver syndrome may have rigid muscles and difficulty extending their elbows or knees.
Gelgi used a walking aid for support during the pair’s meeting. Her case of Weaver syndrome was the 27th ever diagnosed and the first in Turkey, according to Guinness World Records.
Weaver syndrome is generally caused by changes in the EZH2 gene, according to the NORD, though the organization notes that some people with Weaver syndrome do not have a mutation in the gene.
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Amge, an actor who played the character of Ma Petite in the television series “American Horror Story,” has a genetic growth disorder that occurs in the early stages of fetal development, known as achondroplasia.
According to Johns Hopkins, the condition causes shorter bones, abnormally shaped bones and shorter stature. While the genetic defect can be passed from parent to child, in about 80 percent of cases, achondroplasia results from a spontaneous mutation that occurs in the developing embryo.
On Thursday, Gelgi shared photos on Instagram of the two exploring London despite the cold weather, posing side by side in front of Tower Bridge.
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