TRIBUNAL JUDGEMENTS: BAMIDELE WARNS PDP AGAINST RUBBISHING JUDICIARY

In view of the barrage of attacks being launched against judiciary in recent times, a lawyer and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, has cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against debasing the temple of justice.

Bamidele in a chat with journalists  in Ado Ekiti yesterday, described the comments made by the party’s National Publicity Secretary , Mr. Olisa Metuh,  in respect of Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Taraba States’ Tribunal judgments, as not only disparaging, but capable of damaging the judicial arm.

A member of the seventh House of Representatives,  said it smacks of ignorance and hypocrisy for the PDP that  commended judiciary when it struck out the impeachment carried out  against  Governor Ayodele Fayose in 2006 and also upheld his election, to turn around and ridicule such institution.
He warned the PDP spokesman against using caustic and derisive languages against judiciary, saying being in opposition does not give anyone the liberty to degrade a pivotal institution being driven by eminent and apolitical judges, for the law is no respecter of anybody.
“It is no longer hidden that Governor Ayodele Fayose won at the election petition Tribunal. The governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa won in the case instituted by APC candidate, Otega Emerhor against his election.

“Added to these was the fact that Governor Ibrahim Dankwabo also won
the petition filed by APC challenging his reelection in Gombe.
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwunayi and his counterpart in
Abia, Governor Ikpeazu also won all the cases instituted against them.

“When now did the judiciary began to err? Was it because the PDP lost
in those states that made them branded the judiciary  as derailing and
dancing to the whims and caprices of the APC?,” he asked.

Bamidele appealed that Nigerian judiciary remains the bastion and power house of the country’s democracy, warning that any attempt to desecrate it may boomerang or send a wrong signal that Nigerians are not civilised.

The ex-federal parliamentarian appealed to the Acting Chairman of the PDP, Chief Uche Secondus to call Metuh to order, for his action could further affect the already plummeted fortunes of the party.

“Anywhere across the world, no party can ridicule judiciary and expect that it would gain more popularity and Nigeria cannot be an exemption.

So, I expect every lover of democracy to rise up above partisanship and warn whoever exhibits any tendency capable of eroding the sanctity of the judicial arm in the overall interest of all of us,” Bamidele advised.

SOURCE: THISDAYLIVE