The Civil Empowerment & Rule of Law Support Initiative has said that the National Anthem of Nigeria should be the song to be used at public events and occasions instead of that that was used to welcome President Tinubu at the National Judicial Institute, NJI, in Abuja.
Bob Etemiku, CERLSI Deputy Executive Director, said that the controversy concerning whether or not over 1000 judges in Nigeria stood up to sing or just stood up but did not sing a different song eulogizing the purported mandate of President Tinubu, instead of the National Anthem of Nigeria, is an ill wind blowing ferociously against the rule of law in Nigeria.
‘Nigeria is a sovereign state standing on the tripod of laws to be held firmly together by the executive, judiciary and the legislative arms of government. Therefore, what transpired at the training workshop for Judges at the National Judicial institute, NJI, in Abuja became a situation where a campaign slogan of one politician supplanted the National Anthem of Nigeria. That singular act and event already portrayed the over 1000 judges in Nigeria as interested parties who cannot be trusted to uphold the rule of law in Nigeria’, Mr. Etemiku said.
Mr Etemiku urged the Secretary to the government of the federation to issue a circular instructing that the National Anthem of Nigeria henceforth must be the theme song to be used to initiate all public proceedings where national issues are to be deliberated.
CERLSI thematic areas include: human rights, the rule of law and governance. Visit us: CERLSI – People power