Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has commended the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo for sending the name of Justice Walter Onnoghen to the Senate for confirmation as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Fayose said “The action of the Acting President has saved the judiciary in particular and Nigeria in general from unnecessary tension.”
Noting that Nigeria would only be great if institutions were allowed to operate without interference, the governor added, “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.”
In a statement by his spokesman, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said, “If President Muhammadu Buhari had listened to wise counsel, things would not have degenerated to this sordid extent.”
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He regretted the damage already caused by the delay, saying, in spite of the eventual submission of 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 would answer for their conspiracy one day.
Fayose said those who joined him to insist on Onnoghen’s appointment as the substantive CJN did so, not for his sake as a person, but to uphold the sanctity of the office of the judiciary, which is the last hope of the common man.
His 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 Prof Osinbajo, who himself is a lawyer listened to Nigerians and saved the judiciary from crisis.
“On this one, Prof Osinbajo has shown that he listens, unlike President Muhammadu Buhari that has ruled the country like a military dictator. I salute the Acting President.
“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.”
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