DEMOCRACY
ON TRIAL
ABUJA -
I presented myself to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court today as
an ordinary citizen of this great nation to plead NOT GUILTY to charges I did
not and could not have committed.
This
grotesque display of vindictiveness, arrogance, and mindless targeting of
innocent citizens should find no sanctuary in our democracy. Using the
machinery of justice to create disorder is a dangerous and invidious scheme
that ultimately will lead Nigeria down the road to perdition. It is Senator
Bukola Saraki and Senator Ike Ekweremadu today, who knows whose turn it will be
next?
I
am a law-abiding citizen and believe in the rule of law and all the rights and
privileges it advertises. But, even at that, it is only in my place not to
commit crime, but way out of my reach not to be accused of one, especially when
instruments of power become apparatuses for oppression of the innocent and
voices of opposition.
Indeed,
I, in no way or fashion, claim to be above the law, just that I believe that
the law should not be used as an instrument to bludgeon innocent citizens into
submitting to the untamed wishes and caprices of witch-hunters.
However,
I put my trust in God, the court, and the overwhelming solidarity of the good
people of Nigeria. When the dust settles, Nigerians will see clearly that this
charge is nothing but meretricious thrash. Time, occasions, and provocations
like this will teach their own lessons. I hope that one chief lesson will be
that democracy differs markedly from military rule and that public officer
should never subvert the foundations of democracy by prioritizing the rule of
man over the rule of law.
Let
us make no mistake about this: it is not Senator Ike Ekweremadu or Senator
Bukola Saraki or the other accused persons that are on trial; rather the
hallowed democratic principles of separation of powers, rule of law, the
legislature, and indeed democracy itself are on a ridiculous trial.
Mere
anarchy is unleashed upon the land, but our courage must not fall apart. No
condition is permanent and nothing lasts forever.
For
me, I find great comfort in the immortal words of late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who
said that history will vindicate the just and the wicked will not go
unpunished.
SENATOR
IKE EKWEREMADU, PhD, CFR Deputy President of the Senate, Federal Republic
of Nigeria
June
27, 2016
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