The biggest threat to the democracy is the judiciary-Obi

 

By Agatha Emeadi

 

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi has berated the activities of the judicial system and moved for stronger institutions and standard rule of law to save the country’s future democracy.

That the greatest challenge Nigerian democracy is facing is not the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) but the activities of the judiciary in the dispensation of justice and administration of the rule of law. He therefore enjoined all to do away with the rascality in the system and build a future stronghold.

Obi who was the guest speaker stated this at Godfrey Okoye University Enugu during the 5th Justice Anthony Nnaemezie Aniagolu memorial lecture yesterday. Aniagolu, a retired justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria died in 2011.

With the theme ‘The Judiciary and the future of democracy in Nigeria”, he stated that one cannot talk about judiciary without talking about the rule of law as Nigeria has become a difficult country for foreign investors unlike other African countries like Rwanda, Mauritius, even Kenya and Ghana. Nigeria insecurity and poor rule of law remains the challenge. Where we are presently, if we did not get it right, we all will regret it.

 

He said: “Nigeria has become a country where anything goes. There is no rule of law, there is almost no judiciary. Everybody could be pushed down because there is no rule of law.”.

 

“Whenever democracy is discussed, fingers point INEC as the problem. But INEC is not the problem, instead the judiciary is. The Judiciary is the biggest threat to Nigeria. If our judiciary is effective, our businesses will thrive. But because it has become commercialized and depends on how much one pays. It has become difficult to get true justice in the judiciary and at any point in time, where the judiciary is not working, the society suffers”

 

Obi recalled that he was the greatest beneficiary of the judiciary, stressing however that though he had gone to court to recover his election as governor of Anambra state, as well as recovered his tenure in office, he quickly added that the judiciary then and now were not the same.”

 

“Again, he added that this is not to say that there are no good and courageous judges presently but they are very few. We need to have a situation where those who are ready to protect the sanctity of rule of law are more in number than those who will compromise it.”

 

“In the absence of doing the right thing, by the judiciary, the people suffer. Stating that there are conflicting court injunctions everywhere is an indication that something is wrong with the system. Members of the judiciary should review their actions and activities to know how useful they are to the society because the future revolves around rule of law.

 

“In the days of strong judiciary, people were able to challenge what was wrong. But today, what one hears is go to court knowing that the system has been compromised. The days we had strong institutions, people were able to do things in the interest of the country.

 

“That is why people contest election to win at all cost and go to court to get endorsement. The future of Nigeria with what is happening today, the level of lawlessness, if we don’t do anything, none of us will be here any longer. We have a problem that we all need to see how we can start solving. The biggest threat of Nigeria, and our democracy is the judiciary. Let us rise and be patriotic for the good of Nigeria.

 

While extolling the virtues of late Justice Aniagolu, Obi praised him for what he stood for while alive and served the supreme court and urged other justices to emulated him. “Aniagolu served his country in all honesty before he went to the bench. He also thanked his children who are following the right footstep of their father and encouraged them to keep up the good work.”