MAKARFI WINNING IS VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY, RULE OF LAW


Caretaker committee chairman of PDP, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi speaking to newsmen after Supreme Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday (12/7/17) sacked the National Chairman of the opposition of the, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff. With him are Sen. Ben Obi (L) and Rep. Jones Onyereri.
03460/11/7/2017/Ernest Okorie/BJO/NAN
The outcome of the Supreme Court ruling on the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), which declared Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the authentic Chairman of the party, can be described, as victory for democracy and the rule of law.

The ruling has put to rest internal feuds between Senators Ali Modu Sheriff and Makarfi, which had split the party along factional lines in the last 14 months. The victory would no doubt go a long way towards setting the tone for the rebuilding process in the party and place it in good stead to reclaim its ruling party status in 2019.

The judgment is also good for democracy in Nigeria because the PDP has shown tenacity and the ability to lead Nigeria as egalitarian society based on the rule of law. PDP ran Nigeria for 16 years, and during that period, democracy was deepened and the rule of law respected; things were done according to the dictates of democracy and rights of Nigerians. There was no form of infringement and violations of people’s rights.

The party crises could be attributed to external influences orchestrated by those who were afraid of the soaring popularity of the PDP. Those party supporters who decamped and those that left in the midst of the crises should bury every sentiment and rally round the party with the return of peace and unity to PDP. They are advised to return and be part of the rebuilding process. As the outcome of the ruling could be described as “no victor, no vanquish but a victory for democracy and the rule of law”.

We should salute the courage of the Supreme Court justices who have asserted the independence of the judiciary in Nigeria. The ruling has once again rekindled the hope of average Nigerian on the judiciary as the last hope of the people.

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