Nnamdi Kanu: FG Welcomes Ohaneze Monitoring Group to Court Trial
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has welcomed the formation of a Legal team by Ohanaeze Ndigbo to monitor the proceedings at the trial of the self-acclaimed IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Malami has said that Inherent to their position on the matter the Ohanaeze Ndigbo has demonstrated that they belong to Nigeria and succumbed to the rule of law while maintaining their stance that they are not averse to the trial of Nnamdi Kanu.
According to a press statement by the AGF’s Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Jibrilu Gwandu, Malami stated that the group says they do not support the use of any form of violence while channelling concerns and presenting demands.
Malami also said that by urging the youths to be law-abiding and sheath their sword as well as asking them to try to obtain voter’s cards to enable them to contribute to national development, the position of Ohanaeze becomes glaringly constitutional and commendable.
Meanwhile, the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has cautioned State Houses of Assembly not to stifle opposition voices, particularly the recent actions of cowing minority leaders in their midst.
In a statement released in Abuja by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom on Monday, the Minority Leader bemoaned recent happenings in some state Assemblies in the country, where minority leaders and opposition party members are hounded as perceived enemies in the performance of their statutory and democratic functions of clear oversight on the executive.
Most worrisome, Senator Abaribe said was the recent occurrence in Imo State House of Assembly where the Minority Leader and some other members were suspended in a manner that strongly suggests circumvention of democratic ethos.
“Democracy does not stop at the national level. It must permeate all levels of government i.e, wards, local governments, state, and other democratic institutions. In all of these, everybody must enjoy the freedom of expression and association as guaranteed by our constitution.
“So, it is undemocratic and smirks of dictatorship, any attempt by anybody, particularly a parliament for that matter to abhor minority functions and stifle opposition voices, just because you want to pander to executive whims. It is reprehensible to even contemplate suspension of a minority leader because he questions the executive on things that seem to be antithetical to democratic norms” Senator Abaribe said.
“Without dissenting opinions, democracy loses its kernel. The essence of liberal democracy is the accommodation of different viewpoints, which is warehoused in the interplay of the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary independently in the political system”, Senator Abaribe added.
