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Democracy
and the rule of law are predicated on three co-equal and
independent arms of government, each vested with real and
separate powers. The legislative branch makes the law; the
executive branch executes the law; and the judicial branch
interprets the law. Any time any of these arms of government
performs below or above the prescribed powers, democracy is
at risk and the rule of law suffers.
Since the
advent of President Buhari and the APC government, things
are no longer at ease in our dear country and our dear
democracy. We see the erosion of democracy and the rule of
law on a day by day basis.
The most
glaring examples are the decisions by Mr. President to
encroach into the powers of the judicial arm of government,
thereby holding in contempt the laws and constitution of
Nigeria. The President has openly informed the world that he
is the power behind the continuing detention of citizens of
this country despite the fact that the courts have ruled
such detentions unlawful and ordered for their release.
These acts by the President are at war with his position as
the chief enforcer of the laws of Nigeria.
The
President swore an oath when he took office, among which are
to be careful to perform all the laws of Nigeria and to be
careful to protect the constitution of Nigeria. It is
obvious now that the President is in default of his oath,
which calls into question his character as a man of honour;
whose words should be trusted or believed by Nigerians.
In
disobeying the orders of the Courts, the President is in
breach of the Constitution of the Federal Republic, for
which proceedings of impeachment remain one of the remedies
proffered by the constitution. He will do well to avail
himself of this fact.
If these
were just happenstance, then we will not bother to proffer
such far reaching remedy of very dire implications; but it
has become the culture of this President and his government
to abuse the rights of Nigerian citizens, even when the
courts order to the contrary.
As
powerless citizens, we have no other legal resort if the
government that is sworn to protect the law and us, its
citizens, becomes the one who bastardize us and the law.
This is why all citizens of good conscience must come
together to demand that this government respect the laws in
the quest for a corrupt-free Nigeria.
If the
government performs its duties in this regards within the
bounds of the law, it will find us at PPP supportive.
However, when it opts to go virile; outside of the law, it
will produce our vehement consternation. It is our duty as
citizens to hold government accountable to the laws of the
land. Government is a necessary evil that must always be put
in check, otherwise it would run amok. Power corrupts and
absolute power corrupts absolutely!
Signed:
Dr. Damian Ogbonna
National Chairman |
