Dispense justice, group tells Jonathan

By Segun Balogun
August 28, 2011 07:00PM




The founder and president of the Oodua People's Congress, Frederick Fasehun, during a press conference over the weekend said President Goodluck must be seen upholding the tenets of Nigeria's Constitution, to which he wilfully sworn on May 29.

Mr. Fasehun has been a vociferous supporter of President Goodluck, criticising how the top eleven political offices in the country are tilted "precariously" to the North than the South, against the dictate of constitutionally enshrined federal character.

"We still believe he [President Jonathan] is worth fighting for but he should sustain our expectation by dispensing social justice," he said, when asked if he still believes in President Jonathan's administration considering how he swiftly implemented the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, which prescribed the suspension of President of Court of Appela, Justice Ayo Salami.

"We will take it that the President was misled to hastily endorse a replacement for Justice Salami. It is not too late for Mr. President to bring all parties in this crisis to the peace table," he said.

However, he urged "all men of goodwill to pronounce that by the way the Justice Isa Salami matter has been handled, justice has not been done conclusively. In fact, the NJC has demonstrated impunity and resorted to self-help, qualities that must have no place in our law."

Mr. Fasehun implored the NJC to "revist" its deliberation over Mr. Salami's case. According to him, doing so will not diminish the council's constitutional right to discipline judicial officers. More so, the council's actions must be seen to have followed due process and rule of law "which have been flagrantly sacrificed in this case."

On the other hand, he enjoined the Nigerian Bar Association to brace up and "save Nigeria's judiciary by going beyond rabble-rousing and placard-wielding."

Deepening marginalisation

The suspension of Mr. Salami and the swearing in of Justice Adamu Dalhatu further got the ire of Mr. Fasehun, who believes that, in the mean time while the Sovereign National Conference is awaited, federal character must be strictly adhered to in order to preserve the sanctity of national unity.

The current arrangement means the South-south holds the presidency, while the north hold the next four positions of vice president, senate president, House of Representative Speaker, and the head of judiciary - the Chief Justice of Nigeria and President of the Court of Appeal.

He blamed President Jonathan for this marginalisation.

"Let it be said loud and clear that the noisy silence of the Yoruba people should not be considered as acquiescence to the evil being perpetrated against them. We Yoruba people strongly protest our marginalisation. And no effort shall be spared to make our protests heard at the highest level," he said, urging President Jonathan to "veto the confirmation of Justice Dalhatu."

"If no effort is made to arrest the status quo, we will review the comfort we derive from our common bed. We have silently tolerated more than enough. President Jonathan should persuade the Yoruba people that he has nothing against them. The Yoruba people are marginalised and it is time to give them their dues."

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5740243-146/dispense_justice_group_tells_jonathan_.csp

OPC is speaking truth to power. I hope the man they supported will listen to them.

I trust my president, he will listen. But I don't trust his cowboy handlers.

What's up with Yar Adua's ghost watching over him.

"If no effort is made to arrest the status quo, we will review the comfort we derive from our common bed. We have silently tolerated more than enough. President Jonathan should persuade the Yoruba people that he has nothing against them. The Yoruba people are marginalised and it is time to give them their dues."

@bolded, sounds like a threat of secession to me.