Shekarau For Nigeria: New Release: Stop Compromising The Judiciary!

14 February 2011

By Sule Ya’u Sule and Alhaji Khaleel Bolaji

The ANPP Presdential aspirant and governor of Kano state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has attributed the dwindling fortunes of the country to bad leadership.  

Delivering a lecture at the Ekiti state University, Ado Ekiti organized the the student union of the institution, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau erged Nigerians to pool their resources to elect credible leaders who can champion the cause of national development.  

He maintained that the present crop of leaders have failed Nigerians, saying it is time for Nigerians to wake up and critically assess those seeking election into various elective positions in Nigeria with a view to voting for the best.  

The presidential hopeful asserted that the latest clamor for good governance at all levels is a pointer to the loss of confidence in the present political leadership in the country.  

“Nigerians should look out for dependable people with track record of achievements who are ready to uphold the yearnings and aspirations of the electorate as their watchword”, the governor advised.  

Governor Shekarau lamented that the democratic process practised in Nigeria is not properly operated, arguing that some selected few individuals hold the larger society to ransom by determining who becomes what in the country.  

He stressed that the time has come for Nigerians to wake up and bring about change in the leadership of the country so as to take the nation to the promised land, pointing out that the much – desired change is only possible with credible, respectable and patriotic leaders at the helm of affairs.  

Malam Shekarau who enumerated the attributes of good governance including, political stability, accountability, justice, fair play and zero tolerance for corruption charged the citizens to use their voter card wisely to effect positive transformation in the polity.  

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the Ekiti state University, Professor Dipo Kolawole said the university was a center for the transfer of knowledge to one another hence engaging Governor Shekarau to share his experience on the way forward for Nigeria.  

The president of the institution’s students union, Kehinde Usman Okunuga lamented the development stalemate in the country, stressing the need to reverse the situation in the interest of national progress and development. 

Sule Ya’u Sule , Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity To the Executive Governor, Kano state,

Shekarau For Nigeria: New Release: Stop Compromising The Judiciary!

The Shekarau for Nigeria (SfN) Campaign Organisation views the ongoing crisis of confidence and judicial tussle involving the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Iyorgher Katsina-Alu and the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami as the last straw that may break the back of constitutional democracy in Nigeria.

After rejecting the CJN's offer of a seat on the Supreme Court, Justice Salami personally deposed in an affidavit that Katsina-Alu had asked him to compromise the Court of Appeal's verdict on the protracted Sokoto governorship case by either disbanding the original panel, which he (Katsina-Alu) believed was about to give verdict adverse to the governor's interest or direct the panel to give judgement in the governor's favor.

This action raises serious questions the adjudication of election cases which will surely trail the forthcoming April polls. If the judiciary is the last hope of the masses of this country, what assurances are there that this judiciary, embroiled in its own politics as it is, can judiciously adjudicate? Is the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) confirming fears that it has infiltrated the judiciary which was hitherto the last refuge of the common man? Is this an attempt to pave the way for malleable jurists to handle the forthcoming election and the attendant litigations?

Tragically, this is not the lone instance in recent times where the PDP is involved in the manipulation of the judiciary. On Tuesday, February 8th, a Federal High Court in Abuja was told that a faction of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo fraudulently obtained the order barring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing the governor's list containing names of candidates for the April general elections. The PDP said the court was deceived into granting the order as counsel in the matter misrepresented the facts of the case and thereby misleading the court to issue the order.

It is also recalled that a diplomatic cable published by Wikileaks last month disclosed that former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aaondokaa, had written to British legal authorities to drop the case of money-laundering against former Governor James Ibori of Delta State.

We at the Shekarau for Nigeria (SfN) Campaign Organisation view the current imbroglio in the judiciary as a most dangerous signpost of a creeping dictatorship. The judiciary cannot be a tool of the ruling party if Nigeria is to enjoy genuine democracy and good governance. We are therefore calling on the National Judicial Council to correct this anomaly in order not to further expose the judiciary to the whims and caprices of politicians. Its order suspending Salami's promotion to the apex court needs to be followed by an inquiry into the allegations that arose.

Nigerians must from now on be very vigilant and prepared to resist the rape of justice in any quarters. We should also rally round and vote in the people-oriented All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). Nigeria must be great.


Alhaji Khaleel Bolaji, mni Director General, Shekarau for Nigeria Campaign Organisation (SfN) 0803 618 9067/0802 721 9449/kbolaji1@yahoo.com

18, Nun Street, off Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja

www.shekaraufornigeria.org

shekaraufornigeria@yahoo.com

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