ABUJA – DEPUTY President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu said,
Monday, that the on-going trial over alleged forgery of 2015 Senate
Standing Order was not about him and Senate President Bukola Saraki, but
that Democracy, separation of powers, rule of law, the legislature were
on a ridiculous trial.
He warned that the government should have
a rethink in its move to destroy democracy and justice as that would
ultimately will lead Nigeria down the road to perdition.
According
to Ekweremadu, it was worrisome that those in government who should
know better, were
presently using the paraphernalia of office to pursue
private vendetta against people they disagree with.
He said that democracy does not allow for vindictiveness, arrogance, and mindless targeting of innocent citizens.
In
a statement he personally signed Monday and made available to
Journalists, Senator Ekweremadu warned those in government to know that
Democracy was sharply different from military rule.
Deputy
President of the Senate said that at the end of the day, he and others
would be vindicated and the wicked will not go unpunished.
The
statement read in full: “I presented myself to the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT) High Court today as an ordinary citizen of this great
nation to plead NOT GUILTY to charges I did not and could not have
committed.
“It is deeply troubling to note that people in high
places who swore to uphold the law have dwindled into purveyors of
falsehood and rumours who seek to smear and tarnish the reputation of
law abiding and responsible citizens, as well as cripple the hallowed
institutions of democracy. It is all the more disheartening that people
who should know better use the colour of their office to pursue private
vendetta against people they disagree with.
“This grotesque
display of vindictiveness, arrogance, and mindless targeting of innocent
citizens should find no sanctuary in our democracy.
“Using the
machinery of justice to create disorder is a dangerous and invidious
scheme that ultimately will lead Nigeria down the road to perdition. It
is Senator Bukola Saraki and Senator Ike Ekweremadu today, who knows
whose turn it will be next?
“I am a law-abiding citizen and
believe in the rule of law and all the rights and privileges it
advertises. But, even at that, it is only in my place not to commit
crime, but way out of my reach not to be accused of one, especially when
instruments of power become apparatuses for oppression of the innocent
and voices of opposition.
“Indeed, I, in no way or fashion, claim
to be above the law, just that I believe that the law should not be
used as an instrument to bludgeon innocent citizens into submitting to
the untamed wishes and caprices of witch-hunters.
“However, I put
my trust in God, the court, and the overwhelming solidarity of the good
people of Nigeria. When the dust settles, Nigerians will see clearly
that this charge is nothing but meretricious thrash.
“Time,
occasions, and provocations like this will teach their own lessons. I
hope that one chief lesson will be that democracy differs markedly from
military rule and that public officer should never subvert the
foundations of democracy by prioritizing the rule of man over the rule
of law.
“Let us make no mistake about this: it is not Senator Ike
Ekweremadu or Senator Bukola Saraki or the other accused persons that
are on trial; rather the hallowed democratic principles of separation of
powers, rule of law, the legislature itself, and indeed democracy are
on a ridiculous trial.
“Mere anarchy is unleashed upon the land,
but our courage must not fall apart. No condition is permanent and
nothing lasts forever.
“For me, I find great comfort in the
immortal words of late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who said that history will
vindicate the just and the wicked will not go unpunished.”
Source: Vanguard
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