Fubara Charges Judges On Courage To Protect Democracy…

As Ex-Liberian President Declares Weak Judiciary Threat To Democracy

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi, Fubara has charged judges to be circumspect in their judgements, noting that their courage to strictly adhere to the constitution is the foremost way of protecting democracy.

He gave the charge yesterday, while declaring open the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Governor noted that law, order, peace and meaningful progress prevail whenever the law is treated as sovereign, stressing that when there is absence of the sanctity of the rule of law, democracy is threatened.

“It is said that in times of uncertainty, particularly when political power attempts to overreach the constitution and the rule of law, it is the courage of the legal profession that can intervene to nip such aberrations in the bud and ensure that the process of power is not used to circumvent the laws of the land and the values of democracy.

“Consequently, we expect that our judges should not be mere apologists or conformists, if they are to be the ultimate guardians of our democracy, the rule of law and the advancement in our country”, the Governor stated.

Fubara frowned at a legal system that technicalities, rigid procedures and other obstacles to the rule of law takes precedent over the dispensation of true justice to the common man, adding that such impediments can damage the reputation of the judiciary.

He insisted that judges must ensure that nothing but the truth prevails at all times, irrespective of the status of the parties involved or their social affiliations.

He said: “We cannot continue to insulate our laws from today’s reality, neither should justice remain shackled by unjust precedents, technicalities, inadequate access, undue delays, slavish adherence to rigid processes, political manipulations or brazen corruption.

“The prevalence of these serious impediments to justice in our polity has damaged and continues to damage the reputation of the judiciary and the bar.”

Addressing the theme of the conference: “Beyond Limits”, the Governor charged Nigerian lawyers, as ministers and custodians in the temple of justice, to rise above real or perceived constraints to protect the Constitution and advance the peoples inherent rights to democracy and good governance.

In reflecting on the challenges faced by his administration, he stated that though his government had passed through the furnace of difficulties, yet they are determined to pursue peace, unity and the delivery of the dividends of democracy to the Rivers people.

“In Rivers State, we understand what it means to push beyond limits. We have walked through the furnace of power, may have been bruised, yet remain unbowed in our determination to safeguard our unity, peace, progress and more resolved than ever in our commitment to delivering the dividends of democracy to our people”, Fubara added.

A former President of Liberia, George Weah, who delivered the keynote address at the conference, also emphasised the crucial role of the bar and the bench in safeguarding the rights and freedom of the citizenry and charged lawyers and judges to remain impartial in the delivery of justice.

Weah noted that an independent judiciary protected by a fearless judicial bar, is needed in every serious nation, warning that threats to democracy do not come only from the barrel of a gun or a defeated leader who refuses to hand over power, but from a situation where the judicial institutions might be weakened and unable to carry out their own duties.

He reminded the delegates that democracy doesn’t end on the election night, but that it is tested every single day, adding that democracy cannot survive on strong men but on strong institutions.

The former Liberian leader described as a dangerous threat to democracy, governments that call themselves democratic but are corrupt and in bed with judges in order to undermine the rule of law and manipulate the society.

• Kenoye is the Information/Public Relations Officer, Government House Press Unit.