Secondus accuses Buhari, APC of stifling judiciary, perverting justice

Tunde Opalana, Abuja

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has said that the fear of insecurity and intimidation of judges raised by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) vindicates the PDP’s position that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is using devious means to obstruct justice from coming out from the nation’s courts.

The NBA through its President, Paul Usoro (SAN) in a speech last Thursday, alerted the nation by saying that “the level of insecurity in the country and the attack on the independence of the judiciary, and the legal profession constitute a threat to the rule of law and by extension the country’s democracy.”

Usoro said that the climate of fear being instilled by the federal government undermines 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.

According to Secondus in a statement from his media office, the NBA’s alarm merely confirms the position of the PDP that the APC administration is shrinking the doctrine of separation of powers to enable a full blown dictatorship blossom.

He stated that judges 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, adding that all democratic watchers should note the cureent trend with concern.

The PDP, the national chairman said has continuously raised alarm at the gradual erosion of the doctrines of separation of powers by the APC administration as the nation watch helplessly as the executive continues to muzzle the other arms of government, including even the press.

Secondus added that the opposition has remained resolute in crying out loud against the harassment of those with opposing views because it clearly envisages the danger of over-concentration of powers in one hand especially, with a leader who has no history of appreciating and respecting democratic tenets and principles.

The PDP national chairman 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, know that the judiciary is the last hope of the ordinary people and that no nation grows on injustice.

Meanwhile, Secondus has condoled with the people of Kom Kom in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers state who lost their lives in the gas pipeline explosion that killed dozens of citizens when Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) were carrying out routine maintenance of the facility in the area.

“Our hearts are with you at this trying time,” Prince Secondus said while lamenting the incessant hazard the people of the Niger Delta region face due to the neglect and insensitivity of the federal government to listen to the cries of the people.

He also commiserated with victims of the killings in Zamfara and other states in North West and the North East zones.