Northern Nigerian Breaking News

2023 Elections: Group demands CJN’s resignation over comments on G5 governors

By Muhammad Muhammad

A non-governmental group, Concern Kano Citizens for Justice on Sunday demanded voluntary resignation of Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Kayode Ariwoola over the recent comment made in Rivers state.

SOLACEBASE had reported that Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, recently expressed joy that the Governor of his state (Oyo), Mr Seyi Makinde, had continued to support Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers in the coalition of five governors, now known as the Integrity Group.

He stated this in Port-Hacourt as a joke at a reception held in honour of retired Justice Mary Odili whom  the judicial institute built by Rivers state governor was named after.

The group of five Governors are the PDP governors against the party national chairman, that include, Nyesom Wike of River State, Makinde of Oyo state, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state.

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Briefing journalists in Kano, Coordinator of the Group, Dr. Kabiru Sani Garko described the CJN’s utterances during the inauguration of Justice Odili Judicial training centre as unnecessary and highly condemnable.

Garko reminded that Justice Ariwoola should have respected the sanctity and reputation of the office of the CJN before dabbling into a discussion laced with political undertones.

The group inferred that by the body language and utterances considered “unguided”, during the Rivers event, Nigerians can no longer sustain the confidence that the CJN would dispense justice and equity to all manners of people.

Garko demanded that the CJN should rather step aside voluntarily as the head of the Supreme Court and join full time politics where he can freely declare support for any political party or be force to do so.

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On whether the group was equally motivated by an interested part against the personality of the CJN, Garko denied affiliation with any political party. He claimed the group was simply concerned about the free, credible and transparent conduct of elections in Nigeria in 2023.

“As concerned and peace loving citizens of this country, we are worried by the comments of the Chief Justice of Nigeria during one of the series of projects commissioning in Rivers state where he was invited by the Governor His Excellency Barrister Wike.”

“It is clear the comments at the occasion is seen as political motivated and practically tailored to favor a particular interest political. We all know what is happening in Rivers state and the turmoil in PDP. Coming on full stage on to dabble into the trouble water is dangerous to the reversed seat of the CJN.”

“We believed as judicial officer, the duties and roles are clearly separated. They are required to remain neutral and apolitical in any event whatsoever and whatsoever circumstances. And if they must, certainly it is not when they lace in the wing and occupy the sacred bent.”

“This is the reason we believe the CJN should rather resign his present position and join politics because Nigerians may no longer trust him or have the confidence that he would do justice and fair to all manners of parties especially as we face next year general election”. Garko noted.

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