Onnoghen’s Resignation Vindicates Buhari, APC – Issa-Onilu
BY COBHAM NSA, ABUJA – The All Progressives Congress (APC) says the resignation of suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen has vindicated President Muhammadu Buhari and the action taken against him.
Equally, the governing Party said its earlier call for Justice Onnoghen to quit the exalted office has also been justified by the recent development, noting that though the wheel of justice grinds slowly, it would certainly catch up with those who abuse public trust by their corrupt actions.
It said evidence abound that progressive efforts are being made with strong signals to those who refuse to severe their unholy alliance with the corrupt past where Nigeria and Nigerians were readily betrayed for individuals’ selfish gains.
The suspended CJN’s resignation came on the heels of reports that the National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended his retirement with full benefits to President Buhari.
National Publicity Secretary of APC, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the suspended CJN’s resignation should have been an honourable option after openly acknowledging the mistake of improper declaration of his assets as required by law.
Issa-Onilu said in Abuja that with Onnoghen currently facing charges of non-assets declaration at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki’s earlier arraignment on the same issue, it has become clear to public office holders that nobody is above the law in Nigeria.
He said a time is also coming when a President, who involves in wrongdoings, will have his day before a court of competent jurisdiction, adding that those who disparaged President Buhari for acting on the CCT’s order should bow their heads in shame because their action ran against the overall interest of Nigeria.
“The issue we have in this country is that many people, especially those who have been part of the impunity of the past, are struggling badly to adjust to the reality of rule of law.
“There is so much struggle to allow the past. It is not good enough for us as a country to allow it go. All of us must rise and face the future; a future of promise and a future of change, so that we can move to the ‘Next Level’”, the APC spokesman said.
According to him, “When this happened, the PDP and some of their allies in the civil societies read the barometer of politics, and we do know that until we rise above sentiments, no matter what part of the divide you find yourself, we must realise that this is an issue that has to do with our country. That is the only way we can progress.
“We knew right from the beginning that the allegations against the former Chief Justice of Nigeria were too serious to be swept under the carpet, and we know that the President does not act on frivolities.
“He must have done his background checks and must have gotten good information to have taken the action he took, especially when there was basis for the action that can be legally proven.”
Mallam Issa-Onilu further said; “Those lawyers, so-called Senior Advocates of Nigeria, who had over the years dipped their hands along with some of these judicial officers into the till of this country, continued to lampoon the President, lampoon the APC and blame this government that is doing its best to right several of the wrongs that we have been used to.
“We were actually the one trying to deepen democracy. And this party rose in the defence of the President because we understand what the President was doing and that he meant well, and we know the real purpose that drives his actions.
“Now, events have proven the President right. Events have proven the party, APC, right. Events have proven those Nigerians who believe Nigeria first and any other things after – events have proven them right.
“We all can only be hiding behind one finger. Otherwise, we knew Nigerians, reasonable Nigerians, knew from the word go that those allegations were not cooked up, and if they were real, the next thing for the CJN to have done was to have stepped aside.”
The APC spokesperson insisted; “If he had done that, the question of he wouldn’t be the only one, why him, should not have arisen. There is nowhere in the world where judgment is passed on every sinner at once.
“It is not every armed robber you can catch the same day. And even some of you know the slow pace of justice may not catch up with them immediately.
“But we must continue to see evidence that we are moving towards that sanity and that we are making progressive efforts and sending strong signals to people who think this country must continue as long as they are comfortable and the rest of Nigerians are suffering.”
Also maintaining that Nigeria cannot continue in the past trajectory of ‘business as usual’; Issa-Onilu said; “We must send that signal to them that it is not going to be business as usual.
“Now, you have seen the head of National Assembly, Senate President, in the dock. Now, you have seen the CJN in the dock. So, one day, we will see a President that also misbehaves in the dock, which now shows that nobody is above the law and that we are all equal before the law.
“So, anybody who finds himself in any position should now begin to look closely at his own actions, knowing full well that today may protect him but tomorrow may expose him.”
The APC dismissed insinuations in some quarters that the Buhari-led administration has been selective in its anti-corruption fight, stressing that it was practically impossible to catch all armed robbers in a day.
