metro

Updated: Tinubu warns judges against illegal orders that can derail democracy

Published

3 years ago

June 12, 2023

Tinubu warns judges against illegal orders that can derail democracy

Says sacrifice of fuel subsidy removal won’t be in vain

President Bola Tinubu says it is only the rule of law and vibrant judiciary that can be trusted to deliver justice and strengthen institutions of government.

He said his administration would not tolerate illegal orders from the judges that could truncate the nation’s democracy.

The President stated this in his nationwide broadcast to commemorate June 12 now celebrated as Democracy Day.

He said, “It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated.”

He also said, “We must never take this democracy for granted. We must forever jealously guard and protect it like a precious jewel. For, a people can never truly appreciate the freedoms and rights democracy guarantees them until they lose it.

“We have traversed the dark, thorny path of dictatorship before and those who experienced it can readily testify to the unbridgeable gap between the dignity of freedom and the humiliation and degradation of tyranny. True, rancorous debates, interminable wrangling, ceaseless quarrels, bitter electoral contestations may be perceived by some as unattractive features of democracy. But they also testify to its merit and value.”

He also spoke on the 2023 general elections and the outcome, warning those who felt aggrieved not to use extra-judicial means in challenging the poll results.

“This year, we held the seventh in the cycle of elections that have become sacred rituals of our democratic practice in this dispensation since 1999.

“That the polls were intensely contested is in itself positive evidence that democracy is well and alive in our land. It is only natural that even as those who won and experienced victory in the various elections are elated and fulfilled, those who lost are disenchanted and disappointed. But the beauty of democracy is that those who win today can lose tomorrow and those who lose today will have an opportunity to compete and win in the next round of elections.

READ ALSO:

“Those who cannot endure and accept the pain of defeat in elections do not deserve the joy of victory when it is their turn to triumph. Above all, those who disagree with the outcome of the elections are taking full advantage of the constitutional provisions to seek redress in court and that is one of the reasons why democracy is still the best form of government invented by man.”

He described Chief Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola as the symbol of democracy day in the country, in whose memory June 12 became a national holiday and democracy is eternal.

“To the winner of June 12, democracy offers the best chance to fight and eliminate poverty. Thirty years ago, he christened his campaign manifesto, ‘Farewell to Poverty’ because he was convinced that there is nothing divine about poverty. It is a man-made problem that can be eliminated with clearly thought out social and economic policies.”

President Tinubu, who pledged to be fair to all Nigerians, said, ” We shall be faithful to truth. Faithful to equity. And faithful to justice. We shall exercise our authority and mandate to govern with fairness, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to always uphold the dignity of all our people.”

Fuel subsidy sacrifice won’t be in vain

President Tinubu said democracy that will yield right dividends to the people.

“It is for this reason that, in my inauguration address on May 29, I gave effect to the decision taken by my predecessor-in-office to remove the fuel subsidy albatross and free up for collective use the much-needed resources, which had hitherto been pocketed by a few rich.

“I admit that the decision will impose extra burden on the masses of our people. I feel your pain. This is one decision we must bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements.

“Painfully, I have asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country. For your trust and belief in us, I assure you that your sacrifice shall not be in vain. The government I lead will repay you through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives.”

Related Topics:Democracy Day Featured judiciary June 12 Tinubu

Up Next

MURIC backs new laws to protect Lagos indigenes

Don't Miss

Nigerian leaders have failed to exploit gains of June 12, says Babangida

metro

Shari’ah Council Defends Kwankwaso, Rejects US “Christian Genocide” Claims

Published

11 minutes ago

February 17, 2026

Trends Admin

Shari’ah Council Defends Kwankwaso, Rejects US “Christian Genocide” Claims

The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has defended Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso while strongly rejecting recent claims from the United States alleging a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria. The council described such narratives as misleading, harmful, and capable of undermining national unity.

In a statement signed by Nafiu Baba Ahmad, Secretary‑General of the SCSN, the council said accusations that Christians are systematically targeted in Nigeria do not reflect the country’s legal framework or security realities. The council also defended Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, against claims linking him to religious persecution, emphasizing that the allegations are politically and culturally distorted.

The SCSN highlighted that insecurity and violent incidents in Nigeria affect all citizens, regardless of religious affiliation. It warned that external narratives framing the country’s security challenges as a religious genocide could misrepresent facts, exacerbate tensions, and negatively impact interfaith coexistence.

READ ALSO:

This position aligns with previous statements from Nigerian government officials who have rejected similar claims, stressing that terrorism, banditry, and communal clashes impact Christians, Muslims, and other groups alike, and that the government remains committed to protecting religious freedom for all citizens under the constitution.

Analysts note that the US claims, including legislative proposals calling for sanctions against Nigerian officials, oversimplify Nigeria’s complex security situation. They argue such narratives risk fueling religious divisions and undermining efforts at peace and national cohesion.

The SCSN reaffirmed its commitment to justice, dialogue, and national harmony, urging Nigerians and the international community to rely on verified data rather than politically motivated claims. The council emphasized that maintaining religious tolerance and unity remains crucial for Nigeria’s stability and development.

Shari’ah Council Defends Kwankwaso, Rejects US “Christian Genocide” Claims

metro

Hundreds of Millions in Goods Destroyed as Protests Against Northerners Erupt in Rivers

Published

20 minutes ago

February 17, 2026

Trends Admin

Residents of Igwuruta in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, staged Aboki Must Go protest

Hundreds of Millions in Goods Destroyed as Protests Against Northerners Erupt in Rivers

Hundreds of millions of naira worth of goods were destroyed in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, following violent protests targeting northerners after the killing of a local resident in Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government Area. The unrest has heightened ethnic tensions and drawn attention to security and community relations in Nigeria’s oil-rich region.

The crisis began after Nchelem Samuel Festus, an indigene of Igwuruta, allegedly stole a motorcycle from a shop owned by northerners. During efforts to recover the motorcycle, he was reportedly stabbed and later died from his injuries. Residents claimed northern commercial motorcyclists were responsible, sparking protests that quickly escalated. Demonstrators also accused northerners of other crimes, including rape and kidnapping, intensifying local tensions.

Protesters blocked the Port Harcourt International Airport Road, demanding an immediate ban on northern motorcycle riders, the closure of scrap dump sites operated by northerners, the arrest of those responsible for Festus’ death, and the vacation of farmlands by cattle herders. They issued a 48-hour ultimatum to security agencies, warning that failure to address their demands could compel the community to act, while claiming their actions would remain within the law.

READ ALSO:

Tensions worsened on Saturday, when a wheelbarrow pusher, Zakara Afaaruwu, allegedly stabbed a trader from Benue State, Higightor Wenem (30), at Oil Mill Market during a dispute over trading space. The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the arrest of the suspect and said the victim’s body had been deposited at the morgue for autopsy. This incident sparked renewed attacks on northern traders in Igwuruta, with several businesses looted and vandalised.

Speaking on the unrest, Mr Musa Saidu, Chairman of the Hausa Community in Rivers State, urged residents not to criminalise northerners over isolated incidents. He called for calm and emphasised that crimes should be addressed by security agencies rather than retaliated against entire communities. Saidu described the destruction of goods worth hundreds of millions of naira, stating that while many traders suffered losses, no fatalities were reported among northerners during the protests.

The Rivers State Police Command, through Police Public Relations Officer Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest of suspects linked to the market stabbing and said that law enforcement had acted to restore order. Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government, Chief Charles Wobodo, imposed a nighttime ban on commercial motorcycle operations from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for one month, effective February 12, 2026, to help prevent further incidents.

Traders and residents recounted harrowing experiences during the unrest. Muhammadu Inuwa Abubakar described attacks in Eleme Junction, where ethnic tensions escalated after reports of a Fulani man stabbing a Tiv man. Police intervention helped prevent further casualties, though some residents were injured. Community leaders are working with security agencies to de-escalate tensions and prevent further violence.

The incidents have reignited discussions about ethnic coexistence, law enforcement effectiveness, and peaceful conflict resolution in Rivers State. Authorities and community leaders continue to urge calm while investigating the killings and restoring order in affected communities.

Hundreds of Millions in Goods Destroyed as Protests Against Northerners Erupt in Rivers

metro

28 Wedding Guests Die in Separate Road, Boat Accidents in Enugu, Kebbi

Published

46 minutes ago

February 17, 2026

Trends Admin

28 Wedding Guests Die in Separate Road, Boat Accidents in Enugu, Kebbi

At least 28 people lost their lives over the weekend in tragic road and water accidents in Enugu State and Kebbi State, as wedding guests were returning home after attending marriage celebrations. The incidents have plunged families and communities into mourning, highlighting persistent transportation risks in Nigeria.

In Enugu State, a fatal road crash claimed 14 lives on Saturday evening. Guests from Umuahia, Abia State, who had attended a traditional marriage and wedding ceremony in Amagunze, Nkanu, Enugu State, were returning home when the Toyota Coaster bus carrying them collided head-on with a trailer on the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway, near the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ozalla, and a few metres from the 4-Corner Junction.

Eyewitnesses said the crash occurred around 6:00–6:45 p.m., leaving eleven passengers dead at the scene, with several others dying later from injuries in hospitals in Enugu and Umuahia. Most of the deceased were traders from Bonny Street Market in Umuahia, who had travelled to support the groom, MacDonald Okechukwu, an indigene of Orlu, Imo State. His wife hails from Amagunze, where both the traditional marriage and wedding ceremony were held. Community leaders described the accident as horrific, with families left devastated by the sudden loss of breadwinners and friends.

READ ALSO:

Meanwhile, in Kebbi State, another tragedy struck when a boat capsized in Gumbi village, Yauri Local Government Area. The passengers, who had accompanied a bride to her husband’s home in Gwarzo village, Ngaski LGA, were returning when the overloaded boat overturned, throwing more than 100 people into the water. Fourteen people, including 13 women and one child, died in the incident.

Governor Nasir Idris, represented at the funeral prayers by Yauri LGA Chairman Abubakar Shu’aibu, condoled with the families of the victims and urged the community to accept the tragedy as the will of God Almighty. “Nothing happens without the knowledge of our Creator. God does what He wants at the time He wants, and nobody has the right to question Him,” he said.

These separate accidents have drawn attention to road and water safety concerns in Nigeria, particularly during social events and festive periods, when large numbers of people travel long distances. Authorities and community leaders have called for increased safety measures, adherence to traffic rules, and proper regulation of water transport to prevent further tragedies.

The victims’ families and communities are now seeking urgent support for survivors and bereaved families, while mourning the loss of their loved ones in these preventable disasters.