The All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday that the resignation of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen has vindicated the action taken against him by President Muhammadu Buhari as well as the party’s earlier call for his resignation.
Justice Onnoghen’s resignation came a few hours after the National Judicial Council reportedly recommended him to President Buhari for retirement with full benefits.
The National Publicity Secretary of APC, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, told newsmen in his office that the resignation of the suspended CJN should have been the first step for him to take when it became obvious that he made the mistake of not properly declaring his assets as required by law.
He said with the CJN standing trial for non-declaration of assets and the previous trial of the Senate President for the same purpose, it is gradually becoming clear to public office holders that there is nobody above the law in the country.
Onilu said a time is coming when a President who misbehaves will also be docked for wrongdoing, stressing that all those who criticised the President for obeying the ruling of the Code of Conduct Tribunal will now realise that their action was not in the interest of the country.
Onilu said: “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’.
“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.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
