According to VANGUARD, President Bola Tinubu has been under fire from development consultant Furoebi Akene for what he called a “ambush” on Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) officials during their recent visit to Abuja.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Akene accused the President of using the judiciary as a tool to pressure the group into accepting a biased resolution in the Rivers State political crisis.
He argued that the legal system’s recent rulings suggest that the law and constitution no longer hold the same authority.
He pointed out that a five-man Supreme Court panel overturned a decision made by a seven-man panel on the same issue in previous years.
Akene also condemned the political dominance of former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
He questioned how a former governor could “turn himself into an emperor” and continue to exert control over an incumbent governor.
He warned PANDEF leaders to be cautious in their mediation efforts.
While acknowledging that peace efforts are important, he stressed that they should not come at the cost of their credibility.
Akene further criticized the judiciary’s declining integrity and claimed that trust in the legal system has ended, making it difficult for the public to believe in fair rulings.
His comments reflect the growing frustration among South-South leaders regarding Tinubu’s handling of the Rivers crisis.
Many believe the President has taken sides, rather than promoting a fair resolution.
PANDEF, which has traditionally played a key role in peacebuilding in the Niger Delta, now faces a test of its influence and independence.
“For the president to say he has confidence in the judiciary simply means he is setting ambush for them. We have never seen where a former governor will turn himself into an emperor to lord over an incumbent.”
“From all the judgments the various courts are giving, it is clear that the law and the constitution do not matter again for a five-man panel of the Supreme Court to overturn a judgment given by a seven-man panel of the same Supreme Court on the same matter some years ago, and the president says he is confident in the judiciary. There is nothing wrong with going on a peace mission, but they should be careful not to damage their reputation. If there is any integrity left in the judiciary, it is lower than the integrity of prostitutes,” he said.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
