Chief Justice of the Federation Kayode Ariwola has come under attacks for making statements considered to be partisan and political.
Ariwola had said in PortHarcourt on Friday that he commended his state Governor Seyi Makinde for being a member of the G-5 Governors.
The group of G-5 are governors within the Peoples Democratic Party who are opposed to
the continuation of the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu retaining his position after the emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar a Northerner as the party’s presidential candidate.
The five governors who are on the front roll of campaign for Ayus removalas condition to support Atiku are Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
Ariwola was a guest at the event in PortHarcourt where the Governors witnessed the commissioning of state projects.
The CJN said Wike was threatening to withdraw Makinde’s wife, who is from Rivers, from Oyo, expressing hope that Makinde would emulate Wike to replicate the good works in his State.
Ariwoola said: “That is why we should not be scared to have these men of the integrity group.
And I am happy that my own Governor is among them because he would try to imitate his friend and in-law because we came here to marry for my governor.
“So, Governor Wike will always threaten that he will call back his sister if my Governor fails to play ball. That is why you see him following his Excellency (Wike) because my Governor is afraid of his wife being recalled.”
Many Nigerians have suggested that the CJN’s remarks were political.
@SamAmadi said, “A CJN making careless political statements in election season when his court will probably decide. Well, where are Nig. Lawyers trained?”
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Arise TV presenter Rufai Oseni in his response asked why the CJN must make such a political statement.
“Must the Chief Justice of Nigeria delve into politics? Its sad for our judiciary,” he tweeted
Some have called for the resignation of the CJN over the statement.
Reno Omokri in his response said, “How could CJN Ariwoola go to Rivers to publicly praise Wike, Makinde and the G5? It means he is partisan! When Atiku wins, as he is sure to do, and Tinubu challenges Atiku’s victory, as he’s sure to do, can CJN Ariwoola be impartial in judgment after these comments?
Dr. Festus Akande, Supreme Court Director of Information, said the CJN’s comments had been taken out of context.
“Well, this is the era of aggressive politics and politicking, so, there’s nothing that will not be heard or seen between now and the period of the 2023 general elections. People say whatever they choose to say just to please their interests and inordinate desires, most often.
“I don’t really know where that is coming from; and I don’t also know at what point the CJN said he was happy that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State was a member of the now christened “Integrity Group” or G-5 Governors.
“You all know that the CJN, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, is a judicial officer and not a politician. He and other senior judicial officers were in Port Harcourt on Thursday and Friday being 24th and 25th November, 2022 to commission two buildings to accommodate the Federal Judicial Service Commissioner’s South-South Liaison Office and the Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili Judicial Institute, that were conceptualized and constructed by the Rivers State Government.
“Even at the State Banquet organised in honour of the CJN, he made it clear in his brief remarks that he (CJN) wasn’t in Port Harcourt for the State Banquet but simply to commission the two major Judiciary projects as a mark of honour for the Judiciary and Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili, CFR, JSC Rtd and go back to Abuja thereafter.
“Similarly, he said he was surprised to see the G-5 Governors (Integrity Group Governors ) which, incidentally, his own State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde is a member at the occasion.
“Anything said, assumed, presumed or reported outside this, is simply a mere figment of the imagination of such authors and don’t in anyway represent what the CJN said in Port Harcourt, as no one is ready to join issues with such purveyors of misinformation.”