The Supreme Court takes centre stage

By Joseph Edgar . . .

In the last one week, the Supreme Court has taken centre court with a series of earth shaking decisions. Decisions that could either make or mar our budding democracy, depending on how you see it or on what part of the divide one sits.

It has returned Nyesom Wike as substantive governor of Rivets State. This is a real dampener for the APC and Rotimi Amaechi who will now be very uncomfortable. Wike has not hidden his planned intention towards not only the APC but also Amaechi who I believe are still sworn enemies. The Supreme Court by this ruling has shown that it would not be drawn into emotional arguments as the decision seems in my own estimation to have taken into consideration the bare facts of the arguments and have taken a stand that I am sure will imprint negatively on the immediate past
administration and its party.

Same story for Akwa Ibom and Abia. For Abia, I once sat with a group of corporate people from that state who were strongly in support of the APGA candidate. All sort of allegations bordering on the integrity of the lower courts were being casually thrown around in that very informal gathering. They were so sure of victory at the Supreme Court that they had even started mulling on the kinds of appointments that will come to them on the back of their victory at the Supreme Court. But alas the apex court thought differently.

However, the recent decision on the Senate President is another landmark decision. The court has said that the trial at the CCT should go on. Expectedly, the Senate President is not finding this funny and through his spokesman has stated his disappointment.

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What this tells me as an observer is the fact that the Supreme Court in these rulings has shown that it is determined to play its role in this democracy without fear. The Supreme Court in these decisions is telling us that they will not be carried away by the emotions of the moment. They will not dance or be carried away by the ‘change’ that seems to have enveloped the nation.

This is very important to the man on the street especially in these days when people are being granted bail and the authorities on their own strength deny these bail judgments at the lower court with impunity, or with little or no resistance from the lower courts. This sends a very strong signal that the Supreme Court would stand by the law and defend not only the integrity of the judiciary but also protect the rights of the citizens especially at these times.

This is a real welcome development as we await decisions on the Kogi State elections if it will get there. I am very eager to see how this will end. The issues are very clear but it seems some very powerful forces have decided to twist facts for whatever reason and enthrone their own idea of what should be. With these decisions, I am especially very confident that justice will prevail in Kogi. So we wait.

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