From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has said President Bola Tinubu’s non-interference in the judiciary has affirmed his statesmanship and credentials as a sound democrat, which will guarantee the independence of the judiciary.
The governor, who said he was on a thank-you visit to the Presidential Villa on Friday, said this while fielding questions from State House Correspondents after meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Supreme Court had last week Friday affirmed the election of Mutfwang as governor of Plateau State.
The governor said: “I came to see the President purposely to say a very big thank you to Mr. President, for keeping democracy alive in Nigeria. As you all know, I went through a very protracted legal battle and I’ve said it openly and I am repeating that the Nigerian president is a powerful president. And if he does not exercise restraint in the exercise of his power, he can intrude into the judicial arena and the judiciary will not be allowed to perform its function.
“In my own case and in several others, I’m sure, we can attest to the fact that Mr. President allowed the judiciary to perform its functions as it should, thereby guaranteeing its independence.”
Mutfwang also disclosed that he brought President Tinubu up to speed with the security situation, especially the Christmas period attacks on the Plateau.
He said: “Things are relatively calm at the moment. The security agencies are on the pursuit of the perpetrators of this dastardly act that we experienced during the Christmas period and we’re doing our best together with the Federal Government and international donor partners to be able to mitigate the pain of those families who lost their loved ones, and also those who are internally displaced. “