PDP to Buhari - Focus on governance, leave judiciary alone

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed worry over President Muhammadu Buhari’s attack on the judicial arm of government.

Speaking on Monday, February 1, during the inauguration of the caretaker committee of Imo state PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, the acting national chairman of the party said the judiciary and all discerning Nigerians were shocked on Sunday when a press release quoted Buhari to have described the judiciary as the ‘major headache’ of his administration.

Secondus said: “This statement is a direct affront on the statutorily guaranteed independence of the judiciary and more worrisome is the fact that a president of a country had to tie back already settled judgments of the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, in cases involving him, as a benchmark of his assessment of the institution of the judiciary at the moment.

“While we express worry at the attacks on the judicial arm of government, we are aware that they are intended to blackmail and stampede the judiciary to deliver judgments against the PDP in various pending cases involving our party and some of our leaders in the courts.

“While we urge the judiciary to ensure that it adequately guards its flanks from all external influences, we also caution the executive to focus on governance, while respecting the constitutionally guaranteed principle of separation of powers by allowing the judiciary and the legislature indeed, all statutory arms of government to freely operate within the bounds provided by our laws.”

Secondus urged the judiciary to keep asserting its independence and upholding justice and the rule of law, no matter the pressure.

“Finally, the PDP wishes to call on critical stakeholders to appreciate the fact that the Judiciary, in its nature as an arbiter, cannot join issues with the other arms, and such needs to be defended from the brazen blackmail by the APC-led Government,” Secondus added.

Addressing the caretaker committee, the PDP acting chairman charged them to be fair, just and balanced, accommodate every interest and also restore Imo PDP to winning ways.