Eket (Akwa Ibom) – The Chairman of the Eket branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Akpadiaha Ebitu, on Tuesday advised the Federal Government to resist the temptation to interfere with its institutions.
Ebitu told newsmen in Eket, Akwa Ibom that institutions should be allowed to operate by themselves.
He said that there was a need for the Federal Government to build institutions that would function without interference from any quarters.
“Such institutions should be able to function against the government of the day, opposition party or without getting the permission from the presidency to arrest or not to arrest somebody,’’ he said.
The chairman alleged that some Nigerians were building governments around some individuals instead of institutions, saying that politicians should not interfere with judiciary matters.
He charged political leaders to be exemplary leaders to the citizenry, saying that the practice of rule of law would not only bring progress to the country but also strengthen democracy.
“The government of the day must apply the rule of law, there must be rule of law or otherwise you are driving us to the state of anarchy.
“Where the government of the day will deliberately stop people from their constitutional rights, the citizens will resort to self-help,’’ he said.
Ebitu said that the constitution allowed the courts to grant bail when the offence for which one was arraigned was bailable.
He expressed the confidence that 2016 would bring the change Nigerians desired.
