The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said
there is nothing wrong with the January 27 Judgment delivered unanimously
by the seven Supreme Court Jurists led by the Chief Justice of the
Federation, Justice Mahmud Muhammed.
The Party in a statement by its Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah said the
comment from the All Progressive Congress, APC, National Chairman, Chief
John Oyegun to which he casted aspersion to the Judges of the Supreme
Court was indeed an insult to the Judiciary and a threat to Nigeria’s
democracy.
Obuah said that such view are not expected of a Statesman he ought to be.
Obuah described Oyegun’s position as not only disrespect to the Eminent
Justices, the Judiciary and the apex Court in the land but a dangerous
threat to the survival of the hard earned democracy in the State and the
nation, adding that it is most unfortunate and disappointing that such
statement came from a senior citizen like Chief Odigie-Oyegun.
He noted that rather than commending the Justices of the Supreme Court for
taking action to maintain the independence and unbiased position of the
judiciary by declaring sound judgments as in the case of Rivers, Akwa
Ibom, Delta, Abia and Ebonyi States, the APC National Chairman, Oyegun
preferred to make such derogatory and unpatriotic statements about the
Judiciary.
One thing is certain and that is the fact that the Supreme Court Justices
took the part of honour and dignity by not yielding to the pressure and
influence by the APC led Federal Government, demanding the nullification
of the elections of the affected PDP State Governors; a commendable feat
by the Supreme Court Justices.
Another truth revealed to us in Oyegun’s statements is the fact that the
APC leadership was and is not interested in the development and welfare
of the people or simply put, good governance, but obviously interested in
the economic resources of the States.
According to Oyegun, “we (APC) have lost every important resource-rich
States to the PDP. No matter how crude oil prices have fallen, it is still
the most important revenue earner for the country”. This statement clearly
exposes the selfish and economic interest of the APC, rather than genuine
quest for the development of the area; quite unfortunate!
One other issue of serious concern is the desperate declaration to the
Rivers APC delegation that the national leadership of the party will give
necessary support to ensure successes in subsequent elections in Rivers
State, while responding to an earlier request by the leader of the
delegation, Mr. Dakuku Peterside, for the Federal Government and the APC
national leadership to ‘do all that it takes to win all 12 House of
Representatives seats, three (3) Senate seats and 22 seats in the State
Assembly that will enable us produce the Speaker of the House’.
Our view of this position is that even if it requires setting the State
ablaze just for the APC to secure all these seats in the elections is of
no consequence to the APC. This must not be allowed to be witnessed in our
State, especially when everyone has his or her fundamental rights to vote
for his or her choice.
It is therefore, important that we remind the APC leadership that we are
in a democracy where the three arms of government must be made to function
independently, with checks and balance; where people should be allowed to
take decision based on their conviction and choice. It is only in a
dictatorial regime that the Oyegun’s policies and principles can strive.
The people have spoken and God has heard the voices of the people through
the decision of the Supreme Court, only Odigie-Oyegun and the APC
leadership know what they mean by investigating the applaudable judgment
of the Apex Court.
It is on this premise that we call on all Nigerians to be on alert on what
the APC led government wants to turn the judiciary and the entire country
into.
We also call on the international community to prevail on the APC national
leadership to respect the Constitution of the land and subject themselves
to the rule of law as it is only through this that the rights of
individuals and institutions can be guaranteed, thereby paving way for
meaningful development and peace in the country.