Onnoghen: Buhari’s Desperation is Leading Nigeria to Crisis- Kingsley Moghalu Warns

Onnoghen: Buhari’s Desperation is Leading Nigeria Crisis- Kingsley Moghalu Warns
President Muhammadu Buhari is leading Nigeria to a major crisis by his desperation to hang on to power by hook or by crook. His latest scheme in this regard is the plot to unconstitutionally remove the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, from office and have him tried at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged failure to declare his assets and for operating domiciliary accounts.

For the CJN to be removed and tried if he has contravened the law, the due process of the law requires the National Judicial Council to have first indicted him. But the due process of the law is being violated in the efforts to hurriedly remove Justice Onnoghen from office, raising suspicion of a political motive behind his ordeal.

Nigerians have been expressing concerns that President Buhari is bent on rigging the February 16th presidential election in his favour. Onnoghen’s removal, just a few weeks to the election, would pave the way for the President to appoint a new Chief Justice that would be partial to him, should he rig the election, and should his dubious victory be challenged up to the Supreme Court.

But President Buhari will be making a big mistake, if he thinks that he can continue to undermine the independence of the judiciary and the political impartiality of state institutions as he has done in nearly the past four years of his administration. He will not be able to intimidate Nigerians into permanent silence and submission. After squandering the hope Nigerians invested in his government with his incompetence, nepotism and double-standard, fellow citizens now look forward to voting him out next month.

The country now needs a visionary leadership to unite the country, rebuild the economy and restore Nigeria’s respect in the world. My candidacy and our party, are committed to providing this leadership. Nigerians will resist any outcome of the election that scuttles the people’s mandate.

Signed
Kingsley Moghalu
Presidential Candidate of the Young Progressives Party