Tinubu Has started Well, Lagos Human Rights Lawyer, Shittu Says
A Lagos based human rights lawyer, Wahab Shittu (SAN) has commended the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for extending house of fellowship to his opposition, describing the gesture as a step in good direction.
The senior advocate said this as he appeared on a national television programme in Lagos, adding, “Bola Tinubu has started well by extending hands of fellowship to the opposition in his acceptance speech of the February 25 presidential election.
Shittu stated that the country would move forward if the President-elect can appoint his cabinet based on merit and track record of performance.
Recall that Tinubu had said that he would run a government of national competence alongside a government of national unity.
According to Shittu, the nation will get it right if Judiciary and the police are fortified and allowed to do their job without any interference and inducements from any quarter.
He said that the country at this trying moment also deserves to have a Minister of Justice who is not partisan, with a track record of performance that will not act only on body language of the President.
Wahab Shitu noted that no one should be surprised if the current Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike otherwise called Mr Project makes the cabinet list because of his performance in the state.
He was of the view that no one is in doubt of Tinubu putting up a Cabinet that will serve the interest of the country irrespective of tribe or religion they practice since he did same as Lagos State Governor for eight years.
Other areas he want the President-Elect to accord priority to is Foreign Affairs due to battered image of the country, Internal Affairs to effectively monitor our porous borders, Finance and Economy, to avoid a repeat of the money swap policy by the CBN that has landed the nation into monumental crisis.
On those calling for interim government, the human rights lawyer described such call as an aberration and alien to the nation’s democratic practice.
According to him and I quote” Since we have a President-Elect declared by INEC, anyone felt aggrieved with the outcome or result declared have the rights to go to court to prove their case and not to do otherwise. Doing otherwise will amount to working contrary to democratic tendencies”. End of quote.
He said this is not the time to want to intimidate judges through protest adding that the country is blessed with respected jurists led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, President of Court of Appeal and even at the State level.
Wahab Shittu warned that any act of violence or breakdown of law and order should be treated swiftly in accordance with the extant laws in the overall benefits of the nation.
