Inyali Peter, Calabar
Cross River State Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC in the last governorship election, Mr. Odey Ochicha has congratulated Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen who has just been sworn-in by President Muhammadu Buhari as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN.
In a statement issued in Calabar, Ochica aplauded President Buhari for the appointment noting that the President has shamed his critics and prophets of doom who have constantly accused the APC led federal government of lopsided appointments.
Ochicha said the appointment of Justice Onnoghen has clearly showed that the President appreciate integrity, discipline and hard work.
Describing Onnoghen as a man with the potentials and credentials to sanitize the judiciary, Ochicha charged the new CJN to always uphold the virtues that have helped him grow to the top position in the Judiciary.
According to him, "I want to congratulate my brother, Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen for his appointment as the Acting CJN. I pray that the Senate will speedily confirm his nomination considering how critical his position is to the development of our democracy in Nigeria.
"Also, I want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for this appointment because he has shamed his critics and detractors who have consistently accused the President of nepotism each time he makes appointments.
During the raid of homes of some judges accused of corruption, I read some funny statements from some governors that the President was trying to manoeuvre against appointing the first southerner in many years as CJN. Let all the prophets of doom hide their faces in shame now that it has happened.
"I want to encourage the CNJ to continue to uphold the virtues that endeared him to be trusted with such huge responsibility at this critical time of Nigeria's democracy".
The APC chieftain further tasked Justice Onnoghen to support the federal government fight to rid the judiciary of corrupt judges and corruption in other places in the country.
"When you go through the profile of Justice Onnoghen, you will appreciate the fact that he is one of the few persons in the judiciary today who have the credentials and wherewithal to put an end to the commercialization of justice in Nigeria. This is when to show those great potentials and I charge him to completely support the government's effort to sanitize the judiciary".
Ochicha further noted that, "President Buhari has showed so much confidence in Cross Riverians in terms of appointments like no other President in the history of this country. So I want to beg our people especially those who are still allowing themselves to be used by the reactionary leaders against the President to retract their steps and support this government to succeed as his success is the success of all the Nigerian people".
