Judges have restored confidence of Nigerians in judiciary —OBJ
By NIGERIA’S former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Saturday, hailed the judiciary over the judgment of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
In a statement he personally signed, Obasanjo, described the outcome of the Osun governor polls, in which the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Gboyega Oyetola was declared winner, illegal.
He commended the tribunal for upholding the truth by nullifying the September 22, 2018 election.
The former president said further that members of the tribunal, by the judgment, had restored confidence in the nation’s judiciary, despite what he termed coordinated effort by some political leaders to destroy or undermine it.
Obasanjo commended Adeleke for challenging the result of the poll at the tribunal, submitting that people should seek redress in the court of law wherever there was injustice.
The former president claimed that the so-called development partners and friends, did not mean well for the country, saying that the unity and stability of Nigeria would be promoted on the altar of justice, fairness, equity, freedom, human rights and democracy.
Obasanjo added that those asking the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, not to seek redress over the result of the election were evil minds.
The statement read partly: “While I was in Dubai to attend the Global Education and Skills Forum meeting, I received the news of the judgment of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal declaring Senator Ademola Adeleke, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the winner of the 2018 Governorship election in the state.
“Let me take this opportunity to commend the tribunal for its courage in nullifying what was clearly an illegality. This action by the judicial officers, albeit a first step in the legal process, gives renewed confidence in the judiciary at a time when there are coordinated efforts by some political leaders to undermine, if not destroy, it.
“As I have repeatedly said, the world is watching events in Nigeria with keen interest. What we do or do not do right in our electoral process will have implications not just for Nigeria but for Africa and indeed the world. By correcting what was clearly a desperate attempt to change the will of the Osun people, the tribunal has saved Nigeria from great embarrassment and started the process of saving and strengthening our democracy.
The Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23, 2019 election, Mr Peter Obi has commended the Judiciary on the victory of Senator Ademola Adeleke and the party at the tribunal.
The former Anambra State governor, through his Media Adviser, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, described the judgment as the triumph of justice over dictatorship of injustice aided by force that did not mean well for the country.
Obi took the opportunity to encourage the judiciary to continue to be steadfast in its dispensation of justice, especially now that, according to him, other arms of government were bent on fostering dictatorship on the country.
“As the bulwark of freedom and justice, once the judiciary capitulates, the country is as good as gone”, Obi said.
Analysing the effect of the judgment on nation-building, Obi said it renewed the faith of Nigerians in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
Meanwhile, former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope has expressed joy over declaration of Senator Adeleke, as the winner of the election in the state, describing the judgement as great victory for the people.
Babatope, a chieftain of PDP, said this in reaction to the verdict, while speaking with newsmen at the Ikoyi, Lagos residence of Chief Olabode George.
“This is a great victory for the Nigerian people. I am a proud Osun man; I am a proud Nigerian citizen. That they have declared Ademola Adeleke governor is a great day for every Nigerian and those who believe in democracy,” Babatope said.
This was just as he recalled the prophesy made by the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, saying: “On 13th of November 1983, Baba Awolowo made a prophesy that many of us may never know democracy again no matter how long we live.”
“But at 76 years of age, I am very happy that I will report to Baba Awolowo when I get to heaven that God has answered our prayers and Nigerians now see democracy,” he said.
“While I have refrained from commenting on the 2019 elections because one of the parties has gone to court, may I point out that those who call themselves our development partners and friends and preach sacrificing justice on the altar of so-called stability are enemies of justice, democracy and Nigeria. We will continue to sustain Nigeria in stability and unity on the altar of justice, equity, fairness, freedom, human rights and democracy. Stability cannot be successfully built on injustice, corruption, inequity, and divided nation, and incompetence, nepotism and one-sidedness.
“Nigeria will march forward with or without those who will want to feed us with diet of values and actions that are not acceptable in their own countries. Nigeria is of age. And if Buhari could go to court three times to seek justice, even without reasonable cause, any Nigerian who feels denied of justice must feel free to go to court.
“Those who have conceived and are promoting the narrative that if Atiku Abubakar continues to seek legal redress there will be violence, are evil minds looking for excuse to unleash violence on Nigerians. At no time in history has sustainable peace been built on theft, injustice, corruption and inequity. These merchants of chaos and violence should have no place in any decent society. And they must know that no intimidation or prophesy of violence and doomsday will cow anybody. Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians. We will respect as friends those who believe that what is good for their country should be good for Nigeria. Yes, we are Africans but we have values that are consistent with international standards. Court is part of our democratic process and it must be used when necessary if only to achieve justice, stability, unity and progress for our country.”
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