By EZEKIEL OBI, Abuja –
The Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar says the judiciary hearing the petitions for the 2023 general election cannot be shielded from public scrutiny, hence, “all eyes on the judiciary”.
Atiku made his position known in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications, Mr Phrank Shaibu, on Tuesday in Abuja .
Atiku’s reaction followed the recent destruction of billboards bearing the phrase “All Eyes on The Judiciary”.
He said the public’s attention was still on the judiciary despite the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria’s (ARCON) efforts to remove all billboards featuring the advertisement around Nigeria.
According to him, even arbiters of justice knew that all eyes were on them because of the historic nature of their assignment.
He faulted the dissolution of the advertising standard panel charged with the duty of ensuring that adverts conform with the laws of the federation as well as the code of advertising ethics of the advertising profession.
Atiku noted that the entire incident reinforced the argument that election cases in court ought to be completed before inauguration of elected officials.
“The basic principle of social justice is about the people. The advertisers of the bill boards only did what the norm is in civilized climes.
“It was the agents working to impress an interest that read meanings to that innocuous advert.
“Otherwise, it is a basic principle that eyes must be on the wheel of justice.
“Eyes must naturally be on the wheel of justice because when justice is delivered, it must be seen to have been just!” he said.
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