Niger Delta youths have rejected
the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen
by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari had on Friday suspended
Onnoghen and immediately appointed Tanko Mohammed as acting CJN.
Explaining his reason, the
President said he suspended Onnoghen, following an order from the Code of
Conduct Tribunal, CCT, asking him to wield the big stick.
Reacting, Youths under the aegis
of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, described the suspension of Onnoghen as an abuse of
constitution and practice of dictatorship by President Buhari.
The group in a statement signed
by its National President, Pereotubo Roland Oweilaemi said Buhari has no right
under a denmcratic government to unilaterally suspend CJN without the impute of
the National Assembly, especially the Senate.
The statement read; “The
suspension of the Chief Justice of the Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen
is an abuse of office taken too far.
“President Buhari has suspended
the Constitution thereby applying fascist rule. He has no power whatsoever
under our democracy to unilaterally suspend CJN without the input of the
National Assembly, especially the Senate.
“The Constitution under section
292 is very clear on the procedure to remove a judge, especially CJN or CJ.
“This unconstitutional act of Mr.
President has demonstrated that the government is pursuing an illicit agenda
against the judiciary. This is a dictatorship in the highest order. It means
even the Nigerian Constitution has been suspended.
“Nigerians need to rise up in
unionism to defend our democracy. Buhari’s onslaught against democracy must be
resisted by men of goodwill. No doubt that Buhari has let loose full blown
dictatorship where hard and fast rules have been introduced in place of our
Constitution.
“As for us in the Niger Delta,
this is a direct assault on our collective aspirations to live in a united
Nigeria. We shall resist this discriminatory action of the present government
even with the last drop of our blood. Nigeria belongs to all of us therefore,
we will no longer allow ourselves to be treated as second fiddle human beings.
“Mr. President should review his
action in the best in interest of our corporate existence and revise the
illegal suspension of the CJN with immediate effect. If Niger Delta man is not
good enough to occupy top national office under Buhari then we may not
guarantee peace in the oil sector.
“IYC is calling on the
international community to prevail on the Buhari-led government to back down on
some of his divisive, discriminatory and unconstitutional actions before he
sets the Country on fire. Nigeria is moving to the cliff. The end of democracy
is in sight if urgent action is not taken to stop Buhari from destroying our
hard earned democracy. After all, he is benefiting from his wrong and so he
didn’t value the importance of democracy to Nigerians.”
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