The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has said that political crisis in Rivers State is a no benefits for the people and that the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is akin to garrison politics, which goes against the principles of democracy and good governance.
Executive Director of CHRICED, Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said this on Wednesday in Abuja at a state of the nation news conference, tagged, ‘2023, Most Tragic and Turbulent Year in the life of Nigerians’.
“The political landscape in Rivers State currently marred by a contrived political crisis between former Governor Nyesome Wike and his ‘godson’ Siminalayi Fubara, is a supremacy battle that holds no real or strategic interest for the people of Rivers State.
“The so-called recent ‘resolution’ of the crisis is nothing more than a continuation of garrison politics, which goes against the principles of democracy and good governance,” Zikirullahi said.
On the Kano State election judicial imbroglio, the CHRICED boss said that Nigeria is currently witnessing judicial manipulation and rash of judgements, with the judiciary dodging the scrutiny of citizens over inconsistent and bizarre judgements, which made no sense when juxtaposed with the provisions of the law and the principles of natural justice.
He said, “CHRICED wonders, for example, how the judiciary intends to remedy the ugly situation created by the Court of Appeal in Kano State, where the Court read a judgment in open court, which turned out to be substantially different from what was contained in the Certified True Copy of the judgment handed to the legal teams in the matter.
“What they should be doing now is to lead an inquest to determine the immediate and remote causes of the appellate court’s faux pas. In a more rational society that upholds the rule of law, those justices would be flushed out from the judicial system as they have become liabilities rather than assets.
“Regrettably, CHRICED has observed that one of the justices responsible for the embarrassing situation in Kano is now being considered for promotion to the Supreme Court.”
According to him, it has become a disturbing reality that the judiciary, which used to be described by citizens as the ‘last hope of the common man’, is now being derisively referred to as the ‘lost hope of the common man’.
Zikirullahi said, “CHRICED firmly believes that there is more to this situation than meets the eye, as the ruling party repeatedly snatches mandates from the opposition, thereby gaining control of states that were originally won by the opposition and pushing the country towards a one-party state.
“A prime example of this can be seen in Kano State, where the controversial ruling of the Court of Appeal made judgments regarding the opposition candidate’s party membership, disregarding the precedent set in another case and the provisions of the Electoral Act, which clearly state that political party membership is solely the concern of the party itself.
“CHRICED recalls that right from the infamous case of Ahmed Lawan and Machina, wherein the Supreme Court used the technicality around originating summons to facilitate Ahmed Lawan’s emergence as the candidate for Yobe North Senatorial district, despite his participation in the APC presidential primaries, it has become evident that there are significant flaws within the Nigerian court system.
“Justice Ariwoola and his fellow judges must take decisive actions to rectify the perception that the law is no longer being interpreted based on facts, logic, and precedents.
“The cases in Zamfara, Plateau, Nasarawa, and numerous others highlight the extent of these concerns. The judiciary, under the leadership of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, urgently requires a reset. To initiate this process, CHRICED believes that comprehensive internal procedures should be implemented.”
