PRESS STATEMENT – PORT HARCOURT, August 18, 2016
APPELLATION OF RIVERS STATE AS AN ENVIRONMENT OF IMPUNITY MUST END
The Doing Democracy
Movement Nigeria (DDM), is shocked by the series events that led to the voiding of the Peoples
Democratic Party’s(PDP) inability to hold its national convention slated for Port
Harcourt, Rivers State, August 17,
2016. The unending spirit of impunity
and imposition that has characterized the way of life of the party, intended
always to override the rule of law is a
serious threat to the burgeoning
interest and yearning of Nigerians for quality participatory democracy in the
country.
We unequivocally condemn this manifest incompetence of
political leaders who are extremely good at the wastage of scarce state resources
on fruitlessly frivolities; but lack informed knowledge and capacity, to manage the minutest necessary group conflict
in their internal party affairs, thereby creating the kind of tension and
extreme endangerment of the rights and freedoms of unsuspecting citizens and
residents of the state today. Also
condemnable is the appellation of Rivers
state as an extremely violent and lawless environment, where all manners of
electoral maneuverings must take place, yet heavens never fall: whether it is the
regular failure of the PDP conventions, extremely violent elections where youth
corp INEC Adhoc staff is slain in broad day light, INEC facilities razed
down, voters are beheaded without none
being prosecuted, and a host of other
negatives.
DDM vehemently condemn the existence of corruption in the
judiciary which is making a travesty of effective judicial independence. Almost
every pronouncement out of the courts today is viewed with utter suspicion, if
not downright disdain from the public. Judicial independence we must be
reminded is a necessary requirement for ensuring that a society like ours
operates under the principle of the rule of law. The existence of corruption in
the judicial system undermines the rule of law, as corruption indicates that decisions
are being made with consideration to extraneous factors, rather than on the
basis of and in accordance with the law. Corruption therefore not only violates
the rule of law, but it threatens the principle of judicial independence. The
principle of judicial independence as it stands today in this country is
becoming a less worthwhile objective, as it serves to inhibit the rule of law,
rather than enhance its protection, especially so in matters political in
nature. The conflicting decisions from
courts coordinate jurisdictions from both Port Harcourt and Abuja, that is allegedly blamed for inhibiting the PDP convention is a case in point.
DDM maintains that greatness on the bench lies in
creativity. It is for this reason that when the Constitution or the law comes before
a judge, he has to invest it with meaning and content so as to achieve the
social purpose of the law and the values embodied in the Constitution. Law
derives its legitimacy from justice. The people obey the law if it is just and
in accordance with the norms and values which they have set out in the Supreme
document. Above all, the law as
interpreted by the judge must have the welfare of the people and of the common
man and woman as supreme in its scale of values. The judiciary cannot escape its
accountability to these values by a
mechanical, or turning itself into a local or national supermarket where
‘justice’ is sold to the highest bidder
or donated to political allies. Herein lies the accountability of the judiciary
to the people of this great country.
DDM maintains that all persons or groups possessing a
portion of power ought to be strongly and awfully impressed with an idea that they act in trust
and that they are to account for their conduct in that trust to the one great
master, author and founder of Society. In a society based on the rule of law
and democratic rules of governance like
ours, the master author and founder happens to be the people. Every power
holder, whether legislative, executive or judicial is, in the ultimate
analysis, accountable to the people. The
rule of law therefore, is most essential to enduring democratic stability in
Nigeria; that the PDP should not continue to overlook especially as it
relates to recurring situations that threaten human security in Rivers state.
DDM maintains that Nigerians deserve a viable, capable
political opposition political party, which the PDP epitomizes; but that
enduring stability can only come to the party from a participatory party
organization that is open, representative, accountable to its members,
respects, promotes and protects their
rights, and is guided by the rule of law.
DDM maintains that Nigerians from all works of life are
desirous of democracy, and have remained insistent on the same in the new era;
and it is in our national interest that a national political party as the PDP,
that has ran the affairs of the country at the highest level for upward of 16
years, help Nigerians to deepen democracy, rather than engage in deliberate
retarding actions to deter it.
DDM maintains that it is most fundamental that the PDP through
its internal working mechanisms ensure that this is a working civilian
democracy, not one infested with unparalleled impunity, discrimination and or
intolerance of opposing views; one that fosters dialogue, rather than
imposition of views based upon how much unaccounted public monies is placed on
the table. It is critically important that the PDP escape from the circle of
intolerance and impunity which has been
its way of life over time. Only a truly fair, open, and competitive internal
and external democratic practices can begin that process.
DDM maintains that one of the great challenges to Nigeria
today, is the establishment of a loyal
opposition, since it is impossible for any single party to represent the many
diverse interests of a great, multi-ethnic
nation like ours. The current
political leadership of the PDP has a fundamental responsibility to deflate
their inordinate power ambition, deter selfish interests and secure their place
in the political history of Nigeria by ensuring that a viable, capable and
informed loyal opposition emerges in-spite of their own personal greed.
DDM maintains that attaining these goals, as well as
ensuring that their poor behaviour does not threaten nor lead to the violations
of the rights and freedoms, security and economic and social prosperity of the people, is a critical aspect of opposition politics
project that the Nigerian civil society movement must undertake to monitor and
observe.
DDM calls on the Federal government to invoke its
constitutional responsibility to protect the entire country and its peoples in
times of utter political leadership recklessness at the state and local
government levels, watch closely such
aspects of their horrendous behaviour with a view to proactively halting brutal
security breaches which could escalate, and confront especially politically
instigated criminal activities; at the same time continue to persuade state
governments to take constructive steps that serve the interests of the governed
within their jurisdictions, rather than their cliques. The state government continue
to run a government with its other arms, that appears flawed if not downright
fraudulent. Patronage and payoffs are more widespread than ever, at the expense
of those who for example work for the
government without their wages paid as at when due.
Signed
Anyakwee Nsirimovu
Convener
