PDP to ACN: Tell Nigerians if Justice Salami belongs to your party

By Lere Olayinka

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest has challenged the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to tell Nigerians whether or not the suspended President Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Isa Ayo Salami is a member of the party (ACN), saying; “the party and its allies'

continuous attack on President Goodluck Jonathan and other notable individuals and institutions in the country over the suspension of Justice Salami is a confirmation that the ACN has interests different from the sanctity and uphold of the rule of law in the country.”

The PDP, which also alleged that ACN leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was already plotting to bring pro-Salami reinstatement motion to the floor of the Senate added that; “a Senator from Katsina State is being persuaded to lead the plot and move the motion, with some other Senators, mostly from the north being wooed into the plot, which is mainly to embarrass President Jonathan and put him under fresh pressure.”

Speaking through its Zonal Publicity Secretary, Hon. Kayode Babade, the PDP said it was funny that the same ACN that kept silent when one of its governors, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State refused to swear-in two people recommended for appointment as judges by the National Judicial Council (NJC) was the one attacking the president for choosing to toe the line of rule of law on the issue of Justice Salami.

“The questions Nigerians must now begin to ask these ACN people are what their interest is in the Justice Salami issue? Why is it that they are the ones defending the suspended judge, organising protests and mobilising media support for him?

“Isn't it now clear that Justice Salami actually sold Ekiti and Osun States to the ACN and the party is now paying him back by standing by him during his travail? More so that the travail was occasioned by the ignoble role he played on the two controversial judgments?

“Perhaps, Justice Salami is actually the ACN Deputy National Chairman

(Judiciary) as now being said by members of the public, and the ACN people should be bold enough to unveil his (Salami) membership status in the party,” Babade said.

While also hailing President Jonathan for standing on the rule of law on the Salami issue, the PDP said; “No responsible president would act on a matter on which more than five cases are still pending, and whoever that is pleased with the position of the president on the matter should also approach the court.”