God arranged for Buhari to be sick and flown abroad so Onnoghen could be CJN- Wike

Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State, says it was God who arranged the circumstances that made embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, to emerge.

He said God allowed the circumstances that saw President Muhammadu Buhari fall ill and flown abroad so the delay in confirming Onnoghen could end.

Wike also said Buhari’s administration is worse than the military era.

He said this during the inter-denominational service held to mark the year’s armed forces remembrance day.

Accusing the government of poor human rights record, Wike said Nigerians would resist any attempt to “deliberately truncate the nation’s democracy”.

He said the plan to arraign Onnoghen is aimed at “frightening the judiciary, ahead of the attempt to manipulation of the polls”.

Read also: SERAP tells Buhari where to take complaints against Justice Onnoghen

The governor added that the trial of Onnoghen is targeted at the Niger Delta.

“Since 1960 when Nigeria gained independence, for the first time in 2011, a Niger Delta person became the president. The entire country ganged up against him,” he said.

“They gave excuses and denied us a second term. We did not fight. We did not shed blood. He said his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian and they called him a weak man.

“Since 1960, no Niger Delta person has been the Chief Justice of Nigeria. When it came to his own time to be appointed the Chief Justice of Nigeria, politics came in. They were not willing to appoint him. It was God that created the circumstances. The president was sick and was flown out. That was how Onoghen became the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“Now, because they believe that the Niger Delta is not part of this country, they have come again with all kinds of stories. They think they are talking to small children. Fabricated stories and said he did not declare his assets in 2011. Step aside for who take over? We must know whether or not we belong to this country. Enough is enough. I have never seen people who are so desperate to cling to power.

“Nigeria will resist any attempt to truncate this democracy.

“We are no longer in a democracy. This system is worse than the military. Even under the military, opinions of the people count.

“In order for them to consolidate in their rigging machinery, they want to gag the judiciary. The only that they want to do is to intimidate the judiciary.

“How can an attorney general who calls himself an attorney general sit and file such charges against the chief justice of Nigeria one month to the general election. What kind of crisis are they setting up. They want to cause crisis in the judiciary and they think everyone should keep quiet?”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now