…Says NBA’s Alert On Intimidation Of Judiciary Vindicates PDP’s Position
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has said that the fear of intimidation of Judges raised by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), has vindicated the opposition party’s stand that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), is using devious means to obstruct justice from coming out from the nation’s courts.
Secondus however expressed the hope that even in the face of harassment and intimidation, the Nigeria judiciary knowing their critical position in the sustenance of democracy in the land and being citizens who are resident in the country, knows that the judiciary is the last hope of the ordinary people and that no nation grows on injustice.
A statement by his media office, the PDP National Chairman noted that the NBA alarm merely confirmed the position of his party that APC administration is shrinking the doctrine of separation of power to allow for a full blown dictatorship to blossom.
Secondus also said that Judges and Justices by their calling cannot speak out publicly even if they are under pains except through the bar as has been eloquently and timely done by the Bar association and therefore urged all democratic watchers to note the concerns.
Secondus said the PDP has continuously raised alarm at the gradual erosion of the doctrines of Separation of power by the APC administration as the nation watch helplessly the moves by executive to muzzle the other arms of government including even the press.
He further said; “The opposition has remained resolute in crying out loud against harassment of those with opposing views because it clearly envisages the danger of concentration of power in one hand especially with a leader who has no history of appreciating and respecting democratic tenets and principles.”
The NBA through its President, Paul Usoro SAN, in a speech on Thursday, which was unanimously adopted by the National Executive Committee of the Association alerted the nation that the level of insecurity in the country and the attack on the independence of the Judiciary and the legal profession constituted a threat to the rule of law and by extension the country’s democracy.
Usoro said that the climate of fear instilled by the Federal Government undermined the independence of the judiciary and the ability of Judges to act confidently without fear or Favour in dispensing justice as they are threatened, intimidated and blackmailed by mostly the executive arm of government and their agencies at federal and state levels.