GOVERNOR AYODELE FAYOSE ON THE VISIT OF SULTAN SA’AD ABUBAKAR (3) TO EKITI STATE

I welcome our spiritual leader of the Muslim faith in Nigeria, who happens to be the first Sultan to visit Ekiti State and coincidentally in my time and tenure.

We thank you for supporting the investiture of our father and Muslim

spiritual leader in Ekiti State, Alhaji Jamiu Kewulere who is a man

well deserving of the position.
Your presence and visit portray hope for us all, particularly the

Muslim faith. You symbolize unity, truth and hope for a better

Nigeria. With your position as the Sultan, I am sure you are God’s

eye in Nigeria, and should be fearless, just and courageous enough to

defend the truth and the oppressed.
I take the opportunity of your visit to bare my mind on some national

concerns, particularly as it affects the unlawful incarceration of the

former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) .

President Buhari has proved me right by my claims before the election

that Nigeria is in the making of a dictator if he is voted into power.

By choosing which orders of the court to be obeyed, the President has

exhibited his great disdain and disrespect to the judiciary as an

independent arm of government and as the last hope of a common man.

The continuous siege on the residence of the former NSA against a

court order is a clear manifestation of fundamental human right abuse.

Regrettably, honourable men and women that are supposed to speak

against such infractions kept mute. A renowned philosopher, Edmund

Burke once said, “all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is

that good men do nothing.”
The current travail of the former NSA and the continuous siege on his

residence, despite a court order granting him permission to travel is

a sad development and a setback in the history of Nigeria. If the

President flouts court orders with impunity, judicial independence

will be fatally compromised and Nigeria’s embryonic democracy is a

great danger.
Of more importance and concern is the blackmail, intimidation and

subtle harassment of lawyers and judges by the Buhari administration

in an attempt to have innocent men convicted at all cost. The

President has left nobody in doubt that the former NSA cannot get a

fair hearing.
While we must all stand against corruption it must be pursued within

the dictates of the law.
We hereby call on the International community to support the

independent human rights observers who are to monitor former NSA’s

prosecution and trial, President Buhari should honour his vow to

follow due process and the rule of law. The stakes are too high to

remain silent.
Thank you all.