President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday assured Nigerians that his administration would ensure that all cases of political assassinations, intimidation and kidnappings in the country are thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators speedily brought to justice, irrespective of their political affiliations.
Addressing state chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at a parley at the Presidential Villa, Buhari declared that he remained fully committed to providing a level playing field for all Nigerians to get on with their daily lives or participate in electing their leaders, without fear of intimidation.
Although it wasn’t clear if the President also intends to probe previously unresolved cases of high-profile assassinations and kidnappings in the country alongside recent incidents, he said his administration would continuously strengthen Nigeria’s criminal justice system to curb the reign of injustice and impunity in the country.
Nigeria has witnessed some high-profile political killings and assassinations in the past, most of which have remained unsolved till date. Examples include the killing of elder statesman and NADECO financier, Pa Alfred Rewane in his Ikeja, Lagos home in 1994; murder of former Governor of Oyo State and Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige on December 23, 2001 in his Ibadan, Oyo State residence; former All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) chieftain, Chief Harry Marshall killed in Abuja on March 5, 2003; and former National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-south, Chief Aminasoari Dikibo killed on February 6, 2004.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President said, “At every point, the law must be supreme and everyone must respect the law, if our democratic system is to survive. Injustice cannot survive for long. Justice will ultimately prevail. We will make sure that those saddled with the responsibility of ensuring justice and equity do not rest on their oars. “The only way we can sustain our democracy is to ensure that the law remains supreme at all times. If the law is upheld, people will have confidence that they can vote for who they want to vote for, without intimidation or threats. People must have protection to exercise their rights freely or we could be headed for anarchy.
“The police and the judiciary must ensure that justice is done in the country. We won’t allow impunity to continue in certain states, where the rights of the people are being violated. I have a personal commitment to fair play and respect of personal rights. This government will do all that is possible to enforce that”, he said.
“My address to National Executive Council of the APC was very clear. We are now in the frontline. We are the party in government. We must lead by good example and consolidate on the gains of our democratic system”, the president added.
He urged the APC state chairmen and other political leaders in the country to keep to prescribed legal processes for the resolution of political disputes and never resort to violence, criminality and other forms of unacceptable behaviour in seeking redress for any perceived injustice.
He equally called on the state chairmen to work with the party’s elected officials to ensure that the APC delivers on its promise of better living conditions for all Nigerians.
The leader of the delegation and Chairman of APC in Kano State, Umar Doguwa, said the APC State Chairmen were on a visit to the Presidential Villa to reaffirm their support for President Buhari and his administration.
Doguwa assured the President that the state chairmen would uphold the values of the party, promote peace and unity in the country, and also ensure that APC elected members fulfill their promises to Nigerians.
Some of the APC State Chairmen in states controlled by other parties had complained to President Buhari of political intimidation and harassment.
-nasarawanewsonline.com
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