The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as nothingness and show of comedy the Federal Government’s withdrawal of forgery case against Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and three others.
The PDP stated this on Sunday in a statement made available to FORUMSPOTZ.
While accusing the President Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of interference on other arms of government, called on the government to respect the principle of separation of powers as enshrined in the constitution.
The full Press Statement
October 9, 2016.
Re: Withdrawal of Forgery Case Against Saraki and Ekweremadu…A Nothingness Says PDP
The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is drawn to the recent withdrawal of the Forgery Case brought before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Jabi Division of the FCT High Court, Abuja by the Federal Government through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation against the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and the Clerk and Deputy Clerk of National Assembly, respectively.
We are amused by this sudden realization of the Federal Government that the so called ‘Rule-Forgery Case’ was a shadow chase from the beginning. It was complete nothingness! More so, the claim through the Lead Counsel, Aliyu Umar, SAN, that the withdrawal was on grounds of respect for the rule of law and hierarchy of the Judiciary demonstrates more of comedy on the side of this Federal Government that has penchant for legal disobedience and abuse of Court processes. Notwithstanding, this act of withdrawal justifies our earlier position that the All Progressive Congress (APC) led Administration is on a vendetta mission and not to govern.
The PDP is worried with the frequent interference on other Arms of Government by the APC led Administration, and this must be curtailed as a matter of urgency if Nigeria is to practice democracy like other democratic systems across the world, and live as one indivisible Nation.
The Principle of Separation of Powers as propagated in every democratic setting is to allow for checks and balances amongst the different arms of government in order to prevent excessive or cohesive use of power by any of the organs of Government. In this context, it was clear to us and other well-meaning Nigerians from the onset that this Case of Forgery instituted against the Presiding Officers of the National Assembly was just another bad politics of the APC because the Federal Government under the Penal Code Law has no business with the Standing Rules of the National Assembly as alleged.
We therefore further call on the Executive Arm of Government in the Country to maintain the sanctity of this Principle, and desist from unnecessary distractions with acts of impunity against persons, groups and organizations. We are in a democracy and not anarchy.
Signed:
Prince Dayo Adeyeye
National Publicity Secretary