Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Saturday, called on Supreme Court Justices to put the interest of Nigerians first for the sustainability of democracy as they adjudicate on the appeals challenging the eligibility of President Bola Tinubu as President.
Frank made this call in a statement in Abuja, in reaction to hearing notices from the court to parties in the case fixed for Monday and the setting up of a seven-man panel of Justices to hear the appeals filed by three presidential candidates challenging the outcome of the February 25 election and the subsequent dismissal of their petitions by the tribunal.
The candidates are Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and Chichi Ojei of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The Supreme Court Justices to sit on the appeals include Justices Musa Dattijo Muhammad, Uwani Musa Abba Aji, Lawal Garba, Helen M. Ogunwumiju, I.N. Saulawa, Tijjani Abubakar and Emmanuel Agim.
Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, urged the Justices to know that the appeals they are about to hear would remain the toughest, far-reaching and represents the most difficult decision they would ever make in their long years of stewardship at the bench.
Frank said: “Some of you are about to retire. What reputation do you want to retire with? Do you want to retire with blood-stained wealth given the number of people whose blood were shed during the election without peace in your conscience? You can be vindicated today by man who wants you people to do injustice and inflict more pains on Nigerians. Will you also be vindicated by God? What do you want to be remembered for upon retirement?”
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He added: “This is not about Atiku Abubakar, it’s not all about Peter Obi, it’s not about the APM party. But it’s about the legacy and precedent that you are about to hand down in Nigeria. The Supreme Court as the last line of defense of democracy and the rule of law must fulfill its duty and this is the moment to do so.
He urged the justices not to seek to protect the interests of one party or one man against over 200 million Nigerians, home and abroad, that are now anxiously waiting for truth to prevail.
He noted that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola, while addressing 22 newly sworn-in judges of the Federal High Court recently said the constitution must be considered in deciding each case brought before them.
According to Ariwoola, “Several vitriolic attacks are regularly heaped on the judiciary; it is, however, crystal clear that public opinion, no matter how serious or weighty it might be, cannot override or supersede the Constitution of the country which we apply in deciding each case.
Frank said: “We agree with the CJN that the constitution must be the basis of arriving at a decision in the instant case. The Justices of the Supreme Court that would hear this appeal would owe their decisions to the provisions of the constitution, their consciences, God and the good of the country.
“Already, members of the ruling party and those in government are celebrating their expected favourable outcome of the appeal which points to the fact that they are privy to how the Justices will rule which Nigerians do not know, if that be the case, man would have spoken but God and posterity will speak for Nigerians at the end of the day,” He concluded.
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