Saraki's Supreme Court Victory: Prominent Nigerians React

An alliance of over 20 Civil Society Organisations, the Peoples Democratic Party and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, among others, have reacted to the Supreme Court judgment which put to rest the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki on false assets declaration and sundry charges instituted against him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal since 2015.

They described the apex court ruling as a triumph of justice and a pointer to the neutrality of the judiciary in the country.

Applauding the apex court ruling on Friday, the Concerned CSOs Alliance for Democracy and Development, comprising of over 20 groups, said Saraki’s triumph should not be surprising to the discerning.

The National President of CCA4D, Ishaku Abubakar, said in a statement that this was because “the business of governance, for three years now, has been sacrificed on the altar of sinister politicking.”

Abubakar said thankfully, the judiciary had proved to be the beacon of democracy and the last hope of the citizens.

He said, “The Federal Government and its political actors have been on a campaign to smear anyone they perceive as a threat and they have become a coat rack for jingoistic and hostile fly-by comments that disunite the country instead of healing the divides.”

Also hailing Friday’s ruling, the PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said going by the judgment, the Supreme Court “has reinforced the confidence of the citizens in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, particularly under an oppressive regime.”

Similarly, Atiku praised the Supreme Court’s judgment, stating that the judiciary’s position had further affirmed the fact that it was the last hope for all men and “the real bastion of equity and good governance in any society.”

Kwara gov, women, youths, others jubilate as Emir of Ilorin reacts 
Meanwhile, scores of supporters of the Senate President, especially women and youths, on Friday thronged to the streets of Ilorin, Kwara State capital, to celebrate Saraki’s win at the Supreme Court.

The Punch reports that the crowd later gathered at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, where the monarch and many members of the Ilorin emirate community offered special prayers to show gratitude to God over the verdict.

The Emir hailed the Supreme Court’s verdict, while thanking the women and youths for their show of love and affection for Saraki, whom he described as “my beloved son.”

The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, stated that the judgment had vindicated Saraki as a “trustworthy and patriotic Nigerian that would do everything necessary to carry the country to an enviable height.”

The Publicity Secretary of the factional APC in the state, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, also said in a statement that the apex court’s judgment was a victory for democracy and a landmark verdict on “the incorruptible credentials of Saraki.”

In a similar vein, the National Publicity Secretary of the R-APC, Kassim Afegbua, said the judgment was a confirmation of the “long-held notion that the prosecution of the Senate President was politically motivated.”