Civil Society Organizations across the 19 northern states, operating under the umbrella of the Conference of Northern States Civil Society Networks, have issued a warning to President Bola Tinubu, cautioning him against meddling in the election cases of Kano, Zamfara, and Plateau states, currently pending judgment at the Supreme Court,leadership report.
The Appeal Court decisions ousting Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano and Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang of Plateau states, along with the directive for a rerun in Zamfara, sparked public outrage. During a recent press conference in Kano, the group’s chairman, Ibrahim Waiya, explicitly cautioned Tinubu against interference in the judicial proceedings related to election cases in opposition states.
Waiya emphasized that any attempt to manipulate the Supreme Court’s judgment could jeopardize the nation’s democracy, constituting an offense that might lead to chaos, increased insecurity, and conflicts nationwide. Such actions, he warned, would not be forgiven by the global democratic community.
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Additionally, Waiya urged the Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC) to strictly adhere to professional ethics and legal practices, emphasizing their role as custodians of justice and the rule of law.
Expressing deep concern about the current state of the judiciary in Nigeria, Waiya highlighted the confusion and frustration caused by conflicting judgments from courts of the same jurisdiction, leading to a loss of trust and confidence among citizens. He called on the Judicial Service Commission to institute necessary reforms to restore faith in the judiciary, emphasizing the critical role of the legal system’s integrity and effectiveness in upholding the rule of law.
The chairman also criticized the performance of the Tinubu government, particularly in terms of security, stating that it falls below expectations, especially in the northern region. Despite the appointment of new service chiefs and substantial investments in the security sector, Waiya noted that the expected improvement in the security of lives and property has not materialized.
Waiya highlighted the unprecedented levels of insecurity, including continuous killings, child trafficking, banditry, displacement of communities, and kidnappings, particularly in northern states such as Katsina, Plateau, Sokoto, Niger, Kaduna, and Zamfara. He emphasized that the deteriorating security situation instills fear, hopelessness, and uncertainty among citizens.
While acknowledging the efforts of some governors in addressing insecurity, Waiya called on President Bola Tinubu to hold himself and the security agencies accountable for the ongoing challenges. He suggested the development of key performance indicators with a timeframe of not more than six months for assessing the performance of the security agencies.
