Bola Tinubu has threatened that court orders aimed at undermining Nigeria’s democracy will no longer be tolerated.
He made this known while he was delivering his Democracy Day message earlier today.
Recall that Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) is challenging Bola Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 presidential poll at the ongoing Presidential Election Tribunal.
The significance of Democracy Day lies in honoring the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, the winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, along with other democracy heroes.
During his address, Tinubu, who was recently inaugurated, highlighted that the 2023 general elections demonstrated the resilience of democracy in Nigeria. He emphasized that one of the fundamental aspects of democracy is the ability for today’s winners to become tomorrow’s losers, and vice versa.
However, he expressed concern over the misuse of court orders by politicians to overturn the electoral victories of their opponents and unlawfully occupy positions of power. President Tinubu emphasized that such actions would no longer be accepted, as they pose a threat to the democratic system in Nigeria.
In some cases, conflicting court orders on elections have left the public confused. But the President said “illegal orders” won’t be condoned.
“For Chief MKO Abiola, the symbol of this day, in whose memory June 12 became a national holiday, democracy is eternal,” Tinubu said.
“It is about rule of law and vibrant judiciary that can be trusted to deliver justice and strengthen institutions. It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary illegal orders issued to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated.”
Going by the Nigerian constitution, it is believed that Tinubu’s meddlesomeness in the judiciary is clearly in violation of the principle of separation of powers which should not be condoned in any democratic clime.
In an ideal Presidential system, Tinubu is expected to maintain a neutral position by giving the judiciary a conducive environment to dispense justice without unnecessarily putting, judges and justices presiding over the ongoing Presidential tribunal, under pressure.
By threatening the judiciary for doing their jobs, Tinubu has further unraveled his dictatorial tendencies, anti-democratic principles, and propensity to hijack all arms of government.
