DEPUTY President of the Senate,
Senator Ike Ekweremadu said, Monday, that the
on-going trial over alleged forgery of 2015 Senate
Standing Order was not about him and Senate
President Bukola Saraki, but that Democracy,
separation of powers, rule of law, the legislature
were on a ridiculous trial.
He warned that the government should have a
rethink in its move to destroy democracy and
justice as that would ultimately will lead Nigeria
down the road to perdition.
According to Ekweremadu, it was worrisome that
those in government who should know better,
were presently using the paraphernalia of office to
pursue private vendetta against people they
disagree with.
He said that democracy does not allow for
vindictiveness, arrogance, and mindless targeting
of innocent citizens.
In a statement he personally signed Monday and
made available to Journalists, Senator
Ekweremadu warned those in government to
know that Democracy was sharply different from
military rule.
Deputy President of the Senate said that at the
end of the day, he and others would be vindicated
and the wicked will not go unpunished.
The statement read in full: “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.
“It is deeply troubling to note that people in high
places who swore to uphold the law have
dwindled into purveyors of falsehood and rumours
who seek to smear and tarnish the reputation of
law abiding and responsible citizens, as well as
cripple the hallowed institutions of democracy. It
is all the more disheartening that people who
should know better use the colour of their office
to pursue private vendetta against people they
disagree with.
“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
itself, and indeed democracy 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.”
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