Niger Delta youths have rejected the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari had on Friday suspended Onnoghen and immediately appointed Tanko Mohammed as acting CJN.
Explaining his reason, the President said he suspended Onnoghen, following an order from the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, asking him to wield the big stick.
Reacting, Youths under the aegis of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, described the suspension of Onnoghen as an abuse of constitution and practice of dictatorship by President Buhari.
The group in a statement signed by its National President, Pereotubo Roland Oweilaemi said Buhari has no right under a denmcratic government to unilaterally suspend CJN without the impute of the National Assembly, especially the Senate.
The statement read; “The suspension of the Chief Justice of the Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen is an abuse of office taken too far.
“President Buhari has suspended the Constitution thereby applying fascist rule. He has no power whatsoever under our democracy to unilaterally suspend CJN without the input of the National Assembly, especially the Senate.
“The Constitution under section 292 is very clear on the procedure to remove a judge, especially CJN or CJ.
“This unconstitutional act of Mr. President has demonstrated that the government is pursuing an illicit agenda against the judiciary. This is a dictatorship in the highest order. It means even the Nigerian Constitution has been suspended.
“Nigerians need to rise up in unionism to defend our democracy. Buhari’s onslaught against democracy must be resisted by men of goodwill. No doubt that Buhari has let loose full blown dictatorship where hard and fast rules have been introduced in place of our Constitution.
“As for us in the Niger Delta, this is a direct assault on our collective aspirations to live in a united Nigeria. We shall resist this discriminatory action of the present government even with the last drop of our blood. Nigeria belongs to all of us therefore, we will no longer allow ourselves to be treated as second fiddle human beings.
“Mr. President should review his action in the best in interest of our corporate existence and revise the illegal suspension of the CJN with immediate effect. If Niger Delta man is not good enough to occupy top national office under Buhari then we may not guarantee peace in the oil sector.
“IYC is calling on the international community to prevail on the Buhari-led government to back down on some of his divisive, discriminatory and unconstitutional actions before he sets the Country on fire. Nigeria is moving to the cliff. The end of democracy is in sight if urgent action is not taken to stop Buhari from destroying our hard earned democracy. After all, he is benefiting from his wrong and so he didn’t value the importance of democracy to Nigerians.”
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