Following the recent political comment of the, Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, justice Tajudeen Olukayode Ariwoola, Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, across Nigeria have been calling on the Federal Government, FG, to wade into alleged partiality of the chief justice of Nigeria, CJN.
The CJN had during the inauguration of a project built by Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, expressed joy that the Governor of his state, Mr Seyi Makinde, had continued to support Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers in the coalition of five governors, now known as the Integrity Group.
Reacting to this, a group: Coalition of Civil Society Group for Transparency and Good Governance, CCTGG, said the country cannot have a successful democracy without a fair and impartial judiciary.
The Executive Director, CCTGG, Manzo Abubakar, made this call when they presented a protest letter to the president of Nigerian Bar Association, Yakubu Maikyau, on Monday, in Abuja.
He said: “Democracy, rightly defined as the Government of the people by the people and for the people remains, to date, the best form of Government. Philosophers, thinkers, and world – acclaimed scholars have recognized it to be so. But for democracy to thrive, germinate and bring forth good and bountiful dividends, the three arms of government must work well.
“Given the fact that sovereignty belongs to the people, the Executive, the Legislative and the Judicial arms of the government must command the respect of the people. The citizens must trust and respect their leaders just as they must be allowed to freely elect their leaders.
“Judicial officers, most especially, are not expected to get involved in the political arena. They are expected to be fair and as such, they should be seen as the officers of law in the temple of justice.
“Integrity, more than anything else, should be their watch word. Integrity, is the hallmark or better still should be the bastion of the arms (three) of government most especially, the Judiciary.
“This is because of the critical role the judiciary plays in society. It needs no repeating the fact that the judiciary, a very important and critical arm of government, is responsible for adjudication and resolution of conflicts, issues and cases.
“It is in the light of this enormous power and influence of judicial officers on the stability of government and sustainability of democracy that the Coalition of Civil Society Group for Transparency and Good Governance Call for the immediate resignation of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the Chief Justice of the Federation.
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