WARRI- The umbrella body of the Ijaw youths Council (IYC) world-wide has said that the court order of inviting the former President Goodluck Jonathan to appear as witness before an Abuja based court is surprising is an affront to former President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that the Ijaw nation will not sit idle and allow Jonathan to be publicly humiliated in such a despicable manner.
IYC in a angry worded press release signed by its National President Mr. Oweilaemi Roland Pereotubo and copy made available to Daily Watch in Warri, said the invitation is the first in history in the country and the purpose for the invitation is intended to use the instrumentality of the judicial powers to persecute the former President in order to put him to public disrepute.
His words ‘‘The media is awashed with the news that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, presided over by Hon Justice Okon Abang has ordered former President Jonathan through subpoena dus testicum to appear in the Court. Ordinarily the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide would not have reacted to the order as it is customary under our laws for the courts to subpoen anybody, the motive behind the invitation is far from what the laws have prescribed’’
Oweilaemi said the invitation is made with mischief as same is not only made mala fide but also calculated to embarrass the person and office of President Goodluck Jonathan. He reacted that this is the first of its kind in the history of this country and same should not be allowed to pride in. He described it as an affront to the person of former President Jonathan for a court to invite him in such a humiliating manner, especially when it is glaring that the intent and purposes for the subpoena is to use the instrumentality of the judicial powers to persecute the man in order to put him to public disrepute.
‘‘We will not allow that to happen. This is an insult to the Ijaw people. Those who want to ferment strife in the Country should not use the sanctity of the judiciary to prosecute their aims. Jonathan’s acceptance of election defeat should not be taken as cowardice but a reflection of true statesmanship. This present Government owes a duty in all moral fronts to respect the person of President Jonathan for the sacrifices he has made to keep us united. No Former President of this Country has ever be openly humiliated the way and manner this present Government is persecuting Jonathan’s family. Let it not be seen as an offense for Jonathan to peacefully hand over power to President Buhari.
‘‘As for the judge that issued that vexatious order, we appeal to him for the sake of our peaceful co-existence to have a rethink. Judicial decisions should be guided with public policy, public interest and public safety. You do no good to the Country if your decision tears the Country apart. It is constitutional for a judge to be guided by public policy, public interest and public safety in the discharge of his judicial functions’’
IYC President however, called on President Mohammadu Buhari and the comity of Ex-Presidents to intervene in this matter. ‘‘The Ijaw nation will not sit idle by and allow her son to be publicly humiliated in such a despicable manner. This has never happened in this country and we will not allow it to start with our son. Those who want to make history through the gentility of President Jonathan should as well be ready to dance the rhythm of the macabre sung. A word is enough for the wise’’ he groaned.
