By Ononye VC
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, has repeated his call for stronger institutions and rule of law to save Nigeria’s democracy and future of the citizens.
He said the greatest challenge the country’s democracy was facing was not the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but the activities of the judiciary in the dispensation of justice and administration of rule of law
Obi, who spoke in Enugu during the 5th Justice Anthony Aniagolu Memorial Lecture, said Nigerians of goodwill must join hands to dismantle rascality in the system and build a future that is acceptable to her citizens
He pointed out that the future of the country was seriously threatened by the alleged compromise and transactional activities in the judiciary, stressing that urgent steps need to be taken to rescue the country
Obi, who spoke on the theme: “The Judiciary and the future of democracy in Nigeria”, stated that it had become difficult for foreigners to invest in the country due to weak institutions, lack of rule of law and ravaging insecurity.
“Nigeria has become a country where anything goes. There is no rule of law, there is almost no judiciary. It is a place where I can go anywhere and they give you land. You pay into the government’s purse and they issue you with receipts and the next governor will pull the place down without even looking at the papers. This is because there is no rule of law. You can push everybody down because there is no rule of law.
“It is impossible for people to invest in a society of such nature. Anybody calling foreign investors has to be sure there is security, strong institutions and rule of law; in the absence of all these makes it impossible for foreign or even locals to invest here.
“Whenever we talk about democracy, they will say the problem is INEC. But I tell you that it is not INEC. It is the judiciary. The Judiciary is the biggest threat to Nigeria. If our judiciary is effective, our businesses will thrive. Our judiciary has become transactional and depends on how much you pay. It has become difficult for people who don’t know people to get justice in the judiciary and at any point in time, where the judiciary is not working, the society suffers,” he stated.
