Dr Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, has warned that until Nigerians begin to respect the rule of law, the country will never thrive, lamenting the failure of executives and judiciary to respect the rule of law.
Obi, who spoke on Tuesday at the 5th memorial lecture of Late Justice Anthony Aniagolu at the Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu solicited the support of Nigerians to join him in dismantling rascality to ensure the rule of law and building a better future for Nigerians.
Speaking on the topic, “The judiciary and the future of Nigeria” Obi said that the future of Nigeria has been compromised because there was no respect for the rule of law.
He said, “The rule of law fosters development through strengthening the voices of individuals and communities, by providing access to justice, ensuring due process and establishing remedies for the violation of rights.
“It’s very difficult for businesses to survive and exist in Nigeria because of insecurity and no respect for the rule of law. We cannot talk of development when both international and local investors cannot have an enabling environment to do business.
“We must have a fair, strong and independent judiciary for the rule of law to take its preeminent course.
Nigeria dwindles today because there was no respect for the rule of law. No business will thrive and no investor will like to invest because you can not challenge the government when anything goes wrong and if you eventually go to court, you can not get fair judgment,” he said.
Speaking in his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Prof. Christian Anieke said that Nigeria needs people like Justice Aniagolu in the justice sector to save democracy.
He explained that Obi was chosen to deliver the lecture because of the importance of the theme of this year’s memorial lecture.
“We are celebrating the incorruptible judge and fair judge, the late Justice Aniagolu. we are celebrating him because of his good work in the Supreme Court. Nigeria needs uncorrupt judges to deliver the country,” he said.
Credit: punchng.com
