Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has hailed Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo for sending the name of Justice Walter Onnoghen to the Senate for confirmation as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), saying: “The action of the acting president has saved the judiciary in particular and Nigeria in general from unnecessary tension.”
The governor, who said Nigeria would only be great if institutions were allowed to operate without interference, added that “it is better to build strong institutions that will run on their own than to rely on strong leaders. Look at what is happening in the United States, judgment was delivered and no one waited for President Donald Trump to speak before obeying the judgment. That is how things should run in a normal clime.”
According to a statement issued yesterday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka,
Fayose, while reacting to the submission of Justice Onnoghen’s name to the Senate by Osibanjo, noted that “if President Muhammadu Buhari had listened to wise counsel, things would not have degenerated to this sordid extent.” He said inspite of the submission of Justice Onnoghen’s name to the Senate, those who, out of their own selfishness, foisted the position of acting CJN on Nigeria for the first time in the history of the judiciary in the country, will answer for their conspiracy one day.
The governor maintained that himself and other Nigerians who insisted on the appointment of Justice Onnoghen as the substantive CJN did so not for Justice Onnoghen as a person, but to uphold the sanctity of the office of the judiciary, which is the last hope of the common man.
The governor said: “Five days ago, I called on acting President
Osinbajo to do the needful by simply sending Justice Onnoghen’s name
to the Senate as recommended by the NJC and I am glad that
Osinbajo, who himself is a lawyer, listened to Nigerians and saved the judiciary from crisis.
“On this one, Osinbajo has shown that he listens, unlike President Buhari who has ruled the country like a military
dictator. I salute the acting president!”
Speaking further, Fayose said: “Like I have maintained, we didn’t fight for Justice Onnoghen as an individual. What we fought for and are still fighting for is the oneness of Nigeria and the sanctity of the judiciary.
