General Yakubu Gowon, a former military head of state in Nigeria, on Thursday, pleaded with disgruntled candidates to let the court decide their destiny as the legal conflagration over petitions contesting the results of the 2023 presidential election begins.
Gowon urged the petitioners and Nigerians to accept the tribunal’s rulings in good faith while serving as a special guest at the 15th Punuka Annual Lecture and Symposium, which was held in memory of the late Judge of the Supreme Court, Chike Idigbe.
As a country, he declared, “We have come a long way since our independence in 1960, and to put it mildly, we have experienced many hurdles along the road.”
It is no secret that the court is essential to establishing and maintaining our nation’s unity.
In essence, the judiciary is the protector of the Constitution and the rule of law. The judiciary guarantees that the rights and liberties of the people are preserved through the use of the court and serves as a check on the authority of the executive and legislative departments.
“The judiciary is the foundation of our democracy, and we can only defend our democracy and promote our country by having a strong, independent, and impartial court.”
“The court, which acts as the balance between all classes and is genuinely the hope of the ordinary man, has retained its enviable position as the beacon of hope for our democracy over time.
“Let us not forget the role that the judiciary plays in nation-building as we go forward as a nation, especially the top court in carrying out its duty of challenging the validity of the judgements of the subordinate courts.
In order to preserve the integrity of the judiciary as a whole, both as individuals and as an institution, we must enable the supreme court to deliberate and reach its decisions and, as a society, be humble enough to accept them as binding.
This is crucial at this point in light of the ongoing post-election litigation. “Let us allow the judiciary the chance to perform their work and let us accept their conclusion as it is,” the senator said.
Gowon praised the late jurist and said that his unwavering dedication to upholding justice and the rule of law was a testament to his unwavering character and faith in the country. The deceased jurist served as the Chief Judge in the defunct Republic of Biafra before being called back to the Supreme Court in 1975.
“Judge Idigbe exemplifies the values of integrity, courage, and service in both his life and work on and off the bench.”
He continued, “His legacy will continue to live on for years to come because of his unshakable dedication to justice and fairness, which has been a source of inspiration for many.”