groups from civil society demand that CJN step down

Olukayode Ariwoola, Nigeria’s Chief Justice, has been called upon to resign as a result of his remarks regarding the G5, a group of five governors who are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), according to the Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Transparency and Good Governance (CCSGTGG).

During a recent trip to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the CJN allegedly expressed his pleasure at Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s inclusion in the G5.

Speaking to journalists yesterday in Kaduna, coalition Secretary General Muhammad Bn-Ahmad stated that “the CJN has set a poor precedent” for others and should have the decency to resign, as most honest people do for less obvious reasons.

“Nigeria is a democratic society that permits free expression,” he said. That is now a reality thanks to the constitution, and Nigerians may freely discuss matters of national importance as long as they do so in a responsible manner. However, despite the fact that the constitution grants us the right to speak freely, people in some settings or positions must exercise extreme caution when speaking, especially when discussing ethno-religious affiliations.

“The coalition has decided to, in unity, stand to emphatically consider the statements made by CJN as double standard in what recently occurred in Port Harcourt, particularly over the utterances of His Lordship, Olukayode Ariwoola.”

The group claims that the CJN has unintentionally drowned the country’s judiciary in the murky waters of the type of cutthroat politics some politicians are known for thanks to the tacit support of a section of the political community.