The Labour Party’s presidential candidate for 2023, Peter Obi, has stated that the judiciary poses the greatest threat to Nigerian democracy.
Obi claimed that the judiciary had declined and emphasised that the Independent National Electoral Commission—the entity in charge of elections—was not the nation’s issue.
During the fifth memorial service for the late Justice Anthony Aniagolu at Godfrey Okoye University in Enugu, the former governor of Anambra State disclosed this.
Obi asserted that the Nigerian judiciary must be revitalised immediately because the success of the nation’s other institutions depends on it.
He said: “While the judiciary, today, still boasts of a few outstanding judges, there is an undeniable decline in our judicial system. This decline poses a significant threat to the future of Nigeria. Justice is increasingly commodified, and delivered in favour of the highest bidder.
“Whenever democracy is discussed, fingers point to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the problem.
“But INEC is not the problem. Instead, the judiciary is. The judiciary is the biggest threat to Nigeria. If our judiciary is effective, our businesses will thrive.”
The former governor stated, “The most vulnerable members of society are disproportionately affected when the rule of law is compromised.” And our society’s fabric starts to deteriorate. The stability of our country, the preservation of human rights, and the integrity of our institutions are all in danger.
“The rule of law is the highest intangible and most valuable asset of any society. And we must work tirelessly to protect and preserve it. We must prioritise the pursuit of justice above all else.
“I emphasised the urgent need to revitalise our judicial system by safeguarding its independence and promoting the values of character, competence, capability, compassion, and integrity among our jurists, as well as within our political leadership.
“By doing so, we can ensure justice and fairness prevail as we endeavour to build a better Nigeria for all.
“Nigeria has become a country where anything goes. There is no rule of law and almost no judiciary. Everybody could be pushed down because there is no rule of law.
“Because the judiciary has become commercialised and depends on how much one pays, it has become difficult to get true justice in the judiciary. At any point in time where the judiciary is not working, the society suffers.”
