The unmaking of the president
If some of these moments of missed opportunities are pardonable, the recent decision to accept the recommendation of the NJC over the Ayo Salami issue and go ahead to sneakily swear in an acting President of the Court of Appeal at 8.30am Monday morning, is one of the low points of the Jonathan presidency. Coming […]
If some of these moments of missed opportunities are pardonable, the recent decision to accept the recommendation of the NJC over the Ayo Salami issue and go ahead to sneakily swear in an acting President of the Court of Appeal at 8.30am Monday morning, is one of the low points of the Jonathan presidency. Coming so early in his reign as President, it is for close watchers a defining moment. What was the hurry in responding to the recommendation of a rogue NJC people with judges with soiled gowns? Pray, when did the Jonathan presidency realize that the crisis at the very top echelon of the Judiciary became a major crisis? For the six months it raged, why was the government content with pretending it was not interested. Even then, it was not a crisis in the eye of the government. Then suddenly, with things coming to a head, the government became all business about protecting and preventing a crisis in the country’s judiciary. The President’s decision to hurriedly intervene and appoint an acting President Court of Appeal has come under expected torrents of condemnation from diverse quarters. What is shocking is that these unceasing condemnation couldn’t have been sponsored or organized by any group or persons. Nigerians, civil and professional bodiesand the media having read the situation well are taking their position in defence of our hard won democracy.And in support of the rule of law.
The last one week has witnessed fireworks from both sides of the divided and in situations like this, truth is often the first casualty. However, in this particular case, a calculated attempt to frustrate and abort the career of one man, Justice Salami is self-evident. With Katsina-Alu as the platoon leader, the onslaught has been met stoically by Justice Salami and the defenders and lovers of democracy. Miffed by the temerity of Salami, the NJC reached for the sledge hammer, handed it over to Goodluck Jonathan to administer and he fell for it. So what is a judicial system that fails to protect or avail one of its topmost guardians the protection of the courts worth? Perhaps, not much. Especially, when a sitting President who is expected to protect the rights of every single Nigerian has chosen to hide his face behind a pen while been seen in clear daylight. The action of the president needs no further interrogation, it is one that has eroded confidence in his ability to rise up to the occasion. It has raised questions in the minds of many as to whether Jonathan really is in charge or a band of Party Lords and clueless advisers blinded by inordinate ambitions.But in this matter, Salami must be allowed to have his day in court against is accusers . He must get justice so that the cause of Justice must be served. To want to ruin the illustrious career of such a legal luminary on the flimsy as we have seen will not go unchallenged.
While the president must be given some credit for his cautious approach to certain issues and willingness to bring all sides to the table, It is not enough for the President to be a leader that is sincere and an apostle of the rule of law by mouth- he must make it count. It is for situations and circumstances like we have in the judiciary that we have on hand that Presidents are made or unmade.
To want to fritter away a people’s mandate on the plater of satisfying some no gooders at the expense of our democracy is at best building on a miry ground.It is not enough for the President to be a leader that is sincere and an apostle of the rule of law, he must make it count. It is for the situations and circumstances such as we have on hand that Presidents are made or unmade. We continue to wait though in bated breath for the time when the President will hit a rhythm and make us all feel that we have a true leader able to rise above party and politics. President Jonathan already has power. He has a few men and women of honor around him and a sincere heart. Now, all he needs now, is for Goodluck Jonathan to step up to the plate and be the President and Commander In chief.
The confidence of millions of Nigerians is being badly shaken in the judiciary under the present circumstances. So much has been said about the rightness or wrongness of the decision of the President to go ahead and appoint an acting PCA and also, about the decision of the NJC upon which the president based his decision. A series of illegality and violations of the rule of law, cannot be smothered away under Presidential wings and authority. The CJN whose term is now ended did all in his power to make sure that Rule of Katsina-Aluwas made supreme to the rule of the law. Many people aided and abetted him in this regard. And it rankles the brain to think that Nigeria’s president, whether wittingly or unwittingly played along. This moment in our history. At this moment in the Jonathan Presidency, what should matter most is ensuring the Nigerian project survives and not the rush to satisfy the egos and enlightened self- interest of party monguls. Nigeria is greater than the sum total of the parties put together. Right now, for the Jonathan Presidency it is winter time.
Dare is an Abuja-based journalist