…Buhari Turning Nigeria To A Fascist State- PDP
As the Supreme Court prepares to deliver judgement on the Bayelsa State
governorship tussle on Tuesday, there are strong indications that top
officials in the Presidency were mounting pressure on the Supreme Court to
cancel the election of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson and order a re-run
within 90 days.
This was revealed on Sunday by a civil society group, the Movement for the
Independence of the Judiciary in the Niger Delta (MIJN).
In a press statement signed by the National President of MIJN, Comrade
Patrice Egribido, the re-run, a presidency source hinted would provide
enough time for the All Progressives Congress (APC) apparatchiks to
properly arrange the logistics to rig the re-run election and impose its
candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva as Governor.
Part of the deal by the presidency was to force the Chief Justice of
Nigeria, (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed to select the panelists from the
new Supreme Court Justices to be sworn in today (Monday) with a clear
directive to do a dirty job for the APC.
The Presidency has also threatened to use the DSS to sting any Justices
that refuses to do its bidding.
This development according to the MIJN has suddenly breathed life into the
APC in Bayelsa State as Sylva’s supporters erupted in jubilation over the
weekend; organizing parties across Bayelsa State.
Comrade Egribido noted that even though the threats by the Presidency have
sent fears down the spine of the Justices but there are strong indications
that some Justices are refusing to play ball, insisting on the rule of
law.
At press time, the group however said the CJN was also keeping the names
of the justices to hear the Bayelsa Governorship appeal closely to his
chest.
Justice Mohammed who is billed to retire on November 10 is said to have
vowed never to compromise his office especially at this time that he is at
the ‘‘departure lounge’’ of his flourishing career!
The statement reads in part: ‘‘This is not the first time, the Presidency
would be making incursion into the judiciary on the Bayelsa governorship
case to sway judgement in favour of the APC. It is unfortunate that a
government which claims to be fighting corruption would be bent on putting
justices under pressure to do its bidding. What the Buhari Presidency has
forgotten is that manipulating court judgements is worse than naira and
kobo corruption. The Presidency should urgently desist from shopping for
favourable judgements as well as stop threatening incorruptible justices
before the Buhari administration gives credence to critics who believe
that the recent raid on the homes of some justices by the DSS was meant to
gag the judiciary from being impartial!’’
While stressing that his group was apolitical, Comrade Egribido averred
that his organization would continue to defend the independence of the
Judiciary in the country and in the Niger Delta in particular!
Comrade Egribido said both the Bayelsa State Elections Petitions Tribunal
and the Appeal Court had in separate unanimous judgements upheld the last
governorship elections in Bayelsa which Governor Dickson won and wondered
whether the Federal Government was oblivious of the security implication
of thwarting the will of the people at the apex court?
The chilling revelations by Comrade Patrice Egribido have raised tempers
in Bayelsa State especially in the camp of the Peoples’ Democratic Party
(PDP).
The Bayelsa State PDP Chairman, Honourable Cleopas Moses has urged PDP
faithful to be calm. He lamented that the actions of the Federal
Government under the watch of President Muhammadu are drifting the country
to a totalitarian, fascist state.
He called on men of goodwill to rise to the occasion before Nigeria is
turned into an APC- one- party- state.
While expressing confidence in the Judiciary, the PDP chieftain urged the
Supreme Court Justices never to capitulate to the manipulation of the
presidency.
He however noted if elections hold 100 times, Governor Dickson and the PDP
will continue to trounce the APC because according to him, the
Governor has delivered on his campaign promise by placing Bayelsa State
on the path of security, rapid development, peace and prosperity for which
‘‘our people are eternally grateful.’’
Honourable Cleopas Moses said: ‘‘Governor Seriake Dickson of the PDP
overwhelmingly won theDecember 5 and January 9governorship elections in
Bayelsa State in 7 out of 8 local government areas of the state.
Timipre Sylva and the APC were roundly rejected by Bayelsans in the
elections. Both the trial court and the Appeal Court justifiably upheld
the election of my Governor and it will be preposterous for the Supreme
Court to cancel the election just because the Presidency wanted it
cancelled…’’
‘‘ For me, cancelling the election will stab justice on the head and make
mockery of democracy and it is against this backdrop that I urge the
judiciary to always stand up to be counted in dispensing justice and in
the defence of democracy in our fatherland! ‘’
ENDS…