*Judiciary no longer hope of common man – South South groups cry out
*APC sources confess injustice done to Gov Yusuf as cross-country sympathy builts for him
*Correct negative impression Nigerians now have about you, Judiciary told
*As NJC asked to investigate Tribunals, Court of Appeal over Kano, Zamfara, Plateau cases
By BASHIR ADEFAKA and ABIRHIRE THOMAS, South South
The Certified True Copy (CTC) judgment scandal rocking the Court of Appeal in Abuja has taken a new dimension.
This was as more sympathy now builds up in support of Governor of Kano State, Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf, against whom the injustice was perpetrated, and the condemnation of same has become widesspread across the geopolitical zones of the country.
Comrade Austin Podoki, middle, addressing a press conference on behalf Coalition of NGOs in South-South of Nigeria, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday November 26, 2023.
To drive this home, the Coalition of Youth Groups and NGOs in the South-South of Nigeria, on Sunday, held a press conference in Port Harcourt generating conversation on current developments relating to democracy, the economy and the rule of law in the country especially as regards the manipulation of justice that is going on across all strata of judiciary.
In a text of press conference read to journalists by its Deputy Director General and Spokesman, Comrade Austin Podoki, during the event, the Coalition put its feet on the ground and demanded that all that happened to cases both at Tribunals and Court of Appeal over governorship election petitions in Plateau, Zanfara and, especially, Kano states must be investigated.
It said the judiciary has now lost the confidence and respect of Nigerians but urged the arm of government to purge itself of the bad acts and correct the negative negative impressions the country people have about the judiciary especially judges in the justice sector.
“The judiciary must immediately look inwards to correct the negative impression that Nigerians have about them. The NJC (National Judicial Council) must investigate all that occurred with the Tribunals and Court of Appeal in the Zamfara, Plateau cases and especially with the Kano State gubernatorial Appeal Court decision.
“Even to us as youths in the South-South, it is glaringly clear that the contradictory nature of the lead judgement in the Kano appeal case is scandalous and is an indicator to what the people of Nigeria see about the judiciary!
“A couple of paragraphs and sentences CANNOT BE DEFINED AS CLERICAL ERROR. Nigerians may keep quiet but we are not fools. Here we believe and see that there has been great and high level injustice; INJUSTICE IN HIGH PLACES!”
The South-South groups spoke just as some unidentified members of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja were said to havevexpressed concerns while confessing their knowledge of deliberate injustice being targeted undeserved at the Kano State Governor.
Read full text of the press conference address bellow:
Being text of an address at a press conference by a Coalition of Youth Groups and NGOs in the South – South of the country holding in Port Harcourt on current developments relating to Democracy the Economy and the Rule of Law in Nigeria.
1. Gentlemen of the Press, we welcome you all to this press conference which we have called to address some crucial issues as they affect us youths in relation to our democracy, the prevailing economic situation in the country and developments relating to the Rule of Law.
2. We are all witnesses to the struggles that citizens of our country are currently going through. Our democracy, especially as could be seen by all after the 2023 general elections and also the 3 off cycle elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states is under threat. The electoral umpire was unable to deliver free, fair and transparent elections and it is probably right to say that Nigerians on the whole feel that the country is worse off than after the 2019 elections!
3. The economy of the country is in a sorry state. The Naira has lost value. Inflation, especially food inflation, is on the high side. Unemployment is on the rise, and more concerning to us is youth unemployment. Our currency is now weaker than those of our neighbors. All these have led to higher costs of feeding, education, accommodation, transportation and health care.
4. The Rule of Law is also under strain. Unfortunately it is clear to all that the judiciary has never had it this bad in the country. The various cases from the elections and the sometimes conflicting and contradictory judgements from the Tribunals and now the Appellate Court has made the average Nigerian feel that the judiciary is no longer the last “hope for the common man”. The feeling now is that the judiciary is a tool in the hands of the political class to help it achieve it’s aim against the people.
OUR PRAYERS:
5. We call on governments at all levels, especially at the Federal level, to cut it’s costs. Our country is neck deep in debt and we are still borrowing. Unfortunately, our government is busy buying four wheel drives, renovating and still enjoying the same VIP privileges whilst it has told the people to tighten their belts (thus removing petroleum subsidies etc). The size of government is too big and it must be pruned down to an efficient size.
6. Government must thus use Fiscal means and discipline to reduce it’s costs. The Central Bank must use it’s monetary policy tools to gradually reduce interest rates etc. Some things must work in tandem to help begin to reduce inflation, interest rates and ultimately, unemployment. Government must move to provide the enabling environment for business to thrive so that our youth can begin to get to work.
7. The judiciary must immediately look inwards to correct the negative impression that Nigerians have about them. The NJC (National Judicial Council) must investigate all that occurred with the Tribunals and Court of Appeal in the Zamfara, Plateau cases and especially with the Kano State gubernatorial Appeal Court decision. Even to us as youths in the South – South, it is glaringly clear that the contradictory nature of the lead judgement in the Kano appeal case is scandalous and is an indicator to what the people of Nigeria see about the judiciary! A couple of paragraphs and sentences CANNOT BE DEFINED AS CLERICAL ERROR. Nigerians may keep quiet but we are not fools. Here we believe and see that there has been great and high level injustice; INJUSTICE IN HIGH PLACES!
8. We humbly sound a note of warning to the 3 arms of government at the Federal level, especially the Executive and Judicial arms. As Senator Sheu Sanni stated on his X (Twitter) page, there is a grenade about to go off and (we say), the fingers of the Judiciary and Presidency are on the Pin. Please handle with care. We say this because the decisions of the courts in these 3 volatile states constitute an existential security threat to the country. With the existing theatres that the military are bravely tied down to at the moment, we do not feel it is wise to open other chapters.
There are many pitfalls ahead for government. We are youths from the south – south. We are watching and waiting for the Supreme Court. Government must navigate these issues with dexterity. The Voice of the People, the Voice of God.
Gentlemen of the press. we thank you all for your attention.
Signed
Comrade Austin Podoki
For and on behalf of the Coalition
