Akanbi: Are you doing Lee Kuan Yew?

Justice Akanbi, who was the pioneer chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission [ICPC] also frowned at the quality of aspirants for leadership positions in the country. He said, “In Kwara State there are 14 people who are vying for governor in just one party. If you look at their CVs you see that they […]

Justice Akanbi, who was the pioneer chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission [ICPC] also frowned at the quality of aspirants for leadership positions in the country. He said, “In Kwara State there are 14 people who are vying for governor in just one party. If you look at their CVs you see that they are not even qualified to be messengers.” He warned Nigerians to work hard to change their own circumstances saying, “God will not change the condition of people unless they are ready to change.”
Akanbi also warned that if the ongoing strike embarked upon by the members of the Judiciary Workers Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) was not called off, it will create problem for the forthcoming 2015 general elections. The 1999 Constitution provides for the National Assembly election tribunal and the governorship and legislative Houses election tribunals which are to be empanelled by the President of the Court of Appeal (PCA) Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa.
Part of the problem, according to the retired jurist is that the courts cannot do pre-election cases and Judges who are to empanel the various election petition tribunals nationwide that will hear cases arising from the conduct of the 2015 general elections cannot be appointed yet.
He said, “It is a long history and they will finish it (strike). Before I came here I have had some discussions with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). They will call them (JUSUN) and hope that the strike will be called off in no time. Because without it, it would create problem for this election. They cannot really do pre-trial, pre-election cases; they cannot appoint those who will hear election petitions. All these are problems. There is a meeting already fixed and at the end of the meeting everything will be alright and the strike should be called off. The CJN is working very hard to ensure that the strike is called off’.
The retired jurist said further that “the die is cast, the challenge is thrown and there can be no retreat. History and our own generation shall judge us according to the loyalty and devotion to which we pursue the cause of the common man.”
He said unless the law enforcement agencies are committed to the well-being of Nigerians, not much can be achieved in making Nigeria a winner. He said that apart from educating the police, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) should also educate politicians openly.
Nigerians must not sell their votes and must also be determined to have the right leaders, Akanbi said. He said that the 2015 election is a challenge to all those who think that Nigeria will be the leader of Africa.