Posted by By JACOB EDI, Abuja. on
Barely two hours after the Supreme Court judgment throwing out his appeal, Maj-Gen. Mohammadu Buhari announced that he had accepted the decision of the nation's highest court, even though he did not agree with the ruling, just as he said his commitment to serve the country was unshakeable.
Barely two hours after the Supreme Court judgment throwing out his appeal, Maj-Gen. Mohammadu Buhari announced that he had accepted the decision of the nation's highest court, even though he did not agree with the ruling, just as he said his commitment to serve the country was unshakeable.
'Regrettably, the main effect of this judgment is that no normal election will be held in Nigeria in the near future. The local government elections of 2004 and 2005 are clear examples of the character of future elections.
There is also the danger of voter apathy. This situation must not be allowed to continue. The courts have accepted and ruled that the use of troops and police in intimidating the opposition was wrong and still ruled in favour of those who committed these crimes. Nigerians must awake and fight against this brigandage in the future," Buhari stated.
He continued: 'As we accept this denial of justice, it is pertinent to note the direct impact it is bound to have on the country. Our concern as responsible and patriotic citizens of this country is that the failure of our courts to remedy this chilling wrong is likely to be construed as a signal for likely victims to, in future, take necessary steps to ensure self help for self protection. This will be an unfortunate and regrettable development."
Also reacting to the judgment Professor Awwalu Yadudu, himself a professor of Law told Sunday Sun shortly after the judgment that he was not surprised at the outcome of the case. According to him, 'the kind of electoral law we have in place will not allow electoral fraud to be over-turned judicially. The case however holds a future for democracy and judiciary that is if the laws are amended as contained in the judgment just read."
Expectedly, Barrister Ibrahim Shema, Deputy National chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], praised the decision of the Supreme Court: 'The rule of law has been allowed to prevail by this decision. This is a good sign that democracy will succeed in Nigeria. I am glad and delighted."
But Ahmed Saliq, House Minority Leader, views the outcome of the judgment differently.
To him, the decision holds a bleak future for the country and democracy at large. 'This judgment has marked the end of election in Nigeria. Anybody with the opportunity can rig his way to power and you cannot challenge it. It is a known fact that the 2003 elections were massively rigged and generally fraudulent yet the judicial system could not come to the rightful conclusion. This is sad for democracy and most unfortunate. I won't comment on the 2002 electoral Act but there is sufficient evidence to nullify this election."
Another ANPP chieftain form Katsina state, Alhaji Abubakar Halilu, condemned the outcome of the case.
He said 'Nigerians have been cheated and it encourages that future elections will never be peaceful. I just hope that by this judgment it will not be the end of our nascent democracy."
In a separate chat before Major-General Buhari's press conference ANPP National chairman Don Etiebet told Sunday Sun after the judgment that there is an urgent need to correct the electoral law. He called on his party men to calm their nerves that the party has done its best and that they should accept the judgment and work towards the 2007 elections.