The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the resignation of Walter Onnoghen, former Chief Justice of Nigeria
APC in a statement by Spokesman of party, Lanre Issa–Onilu, APC National Publicity Secretary, said Onnoghen’s resignation had vindicated President Mohammadu Buhari and the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) on their mission for the country to make progress.
Onilu said the decision by Onnoghen to throw in the towel was also a call for the opposition to shun act of implying political motives to every action of government.
He added that with Onnoghen’s case, a President of Nigeria will soon be arraigned before the law.
The statement read: “We knew right from the beginning that what the immediate past CJN (that is if his resignation letter is accepted)… the allegations were too serious and we know that the president does not act on frivolities, he must have done his background checks, he must have gotten good information to have taken the action he took and not just taking that action, that there was the basis for the action that can be legally proved, and those lawyers, so-called Senior Advocates of Nigeria who had over the years dipped their hands along with some of these judicial officers, in derailing of this country, continued to lampoon the president, the APC and blame this government that is doing its best to right several of the wrongs that we have been used to.
“That we were actually the one trying to kill democracy, and this party rose in the defense of the president because we understand that the president, we know he means well, he knows the realpurpose that drives his actions. Now, events have proven the President right. Events have proven the party, APC right.
“Events have proven those Nigerians who believe Nigeria first and any other things after – events have proven them right.
“We all can only be hiding behind one finger, otherwise we knew Nigerians, reasonable Nigerians knew from the word ‘cooked’ that those allegations were not cooked up and if they were real, the next thing for the CJN to have done was to have stepped aside and the question of, he wouldn’t be the only one, why him? There is nowhere in the world where judgment is passed on every sinner at once.
“The issue we have in this country is that, many people, especially those who have been part of the impunity of the past who are struggling badly to adjust to the reality of rule of law. That is the major issue we are facing in this country.
“There is so much struggle to allow the past that is not good enough for us as a country to allow it go and for all of us to rise and face the future, future of promise, future of change, so that we can move to the ‘Next Level’.
“It is not every armed robber you can catch the same day. And even some you know, the slow will of justice may not catch up with them immediately but we must continue to see evidence that we are moving towards that sanity, that we are making progressive efforts and sending strong signals to people who think this country must continue as long as they are comfortable and the rest of Nigerians are suffering. We must send that signal to them. It is not going to be business as usual.
“With the unexpected arraignment, in the life of present administration, of the Heads of the legislative and judicial arms of government, it may not be long before a Nigerian President is made to face the long arms of the law, maintaining that all are equal before the law.
“Now, you have seen the head of National Assembly, Senate President, you have seen him in the dock. Now, you have seen the CJN in the dock. So, one day, we will see a President that will also misbehaves, in the dock which now shows that nobody is above the law of this country that we are all equal before the law.
“So, anybody who finds himself in any position, should now begin to look closely at his own actions knowing fully well that today may protect him but tomorrow may expose him.”
