Why Judiciary Must Acquit Itself In The Rivers Political Crisis

Everyone is looking up to the judiciary, where the theatre of the political crisis in Rivers State has moved, to do justice and bring the crisis to its logical end. The judiciary owes the people, the state and humanity a duty to be above board in this sacred mission with a verdict that is firm, altruistic and decisive.
The crisis has festered for too long and it has taken a serious toll on governance and democracy. It has gone beyond just a dispute between two political figures and their political camps to adversely impact governance, democratic practice and development in the state.
The truth is that the people of Rivers State can no longer afford to let the crisis linger any longer without resolution. Many issues that deserve government attention have been left unattended, let alone the huge financial losses and the state have been incurring in the course of this crisis that is now well over ten months. Some of the immediate losses include the instability on the State Executive Council, where commissioners have been resigning and reengaged; the House of Assembly, which has not only been factionalised but has never sat to consider development and people-oriented bills; the attention of the security agencies have been diverted to secure the political space, leaving the people open to criminals and their antics. Just last month when the tenure of the last local government chairmen and councilors elapsed and caretaker committees were set up to replace them, the police moved to seal off all the local government secretariats. Since then none of the local governments has had full operations as the new caretaker committees operate from private apartments. Documents that need to be approved issued and exchanged with respect to official business and public transactions have been put on hold pending the return of full government business. Local government elections that would have taken place have been put off to a much later date, and the councils are being run with undemocratic setups.
It is heartwarming however that the principal actors in the crisis, who have failed to resolve the crisis by themselves, have submitted themselves to the judiciary. Therefore it is expected that they would accept in good faith in the overriding interest of the state and just and logical decisions of the judiciary on this matter.
This is where the joke will be on the judiciary. The peace and stability of Rivers State now depends on its use of wisdom to resolve this crisis. The judiciary must redeem itself as the last bastion of justice and democracy. It must eschew corruption or any other form of outside influence in this matter. Like the judicial icon, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, once said, “If the executive is corrupt, you go to the judiciary for redress. If the legislature is corrupt, you go to the judiciary for remedy. If the judiciary itself is corrupt, where do we go from there?”