The Rivers state governor, Siminialayi Fubara, has vowed to defend the course of justice in the state with his last breath.
Fubara spoke at the opening of the 2024/2025 Legal Year and Re-Dedication Service at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul’s, Anglican Communion, Diobu at Garrison Junction in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
The governor said when institutions were deliberately weakened, it was the entire society that would suffer eventually.
He said: “What we are praying for in this country is institutional strength and not individual strength. Institutional strength is the only thing that will bring development in this country.
“If I am a businessman, and I am coming into Nigeria to invest, why will I invest when what I am seeing today is that institutions are weak and individuals are stronger than institutions?
“This state belongs to all of us. It is not about Fubara today. If this institution is destroyed, when another person comes in tomorrow, it is the same thing that will happen.
“We need to stand and defend it, and you are the right people to do it. I am here today to assure you that even if I have my last breath, I will defend the cause of justice in this State.”
The governor said the judiciary remained a sacred temple of justice and should always hold up such assurances for everybody who approached it.
Fubara took a swipe at some legal luminaries, who smeared their consciences to please their paymasters.
He said: “Some of you, you say you are legal luminaries. You know the truth, but you will go on air just to pacify your pay masters to turn the law upside down.
“We all know the law when it comes to issues that have to do with the administration of governance in the State; it is within the jurisdiction of the State High Court.
“It doesn’t matter whether you joined INEC or the Police. It is a State’s matter! I am not a lawyer, but I know that one. And you stand and say you are doing the right thing? God will judge you.”
Fubara said that within the temple of justice, judges were seen to represent God, who must not be afraid to promote equity and dispense justice rightly without fear or favour.
The governor warned that because court judgments had far-reaching implications, great care needed to be taken in making judicial pronouncements.
He said: “Let me say it here so that you will understand: Judges, you are the God that we are seeing. Your position is to stand and defend us. Your position is to look at whoever and tell the person the truth.
“Because if you don’t do it here, you will have a big question to answer. The preacher said it, every evil done in the course of administering justice, you will pay for it dearly.”
Fubara applauded the Rivers State Judiciary, particularly, the High Court Divisions for their sundry support that had contributed to keeping his administration going despite antagonism.
The governor alluded to the fact that some judicial officers in the state had been either threatened, physically assaulted or slammed with frivolous petitions raised against them to coerce them to submit.
Fubara urged them to remain resolute in their commitment to stand on the side of truth, and never compromise justice.
He said: “I want to thank the Rivers State Judiciary, more especially, the High Court of Rivers State, for your support, for keeping this administration afloat up until this hour.
“We know quite alright that a good number of you have been threatened by way of phone calls and even physical assaults. We are also aware that some of you have been threatened professionally through petitions that are fake and frivolous.
“But one thing that you need to understand is that you must be persecuted when you are doing the right thing. And those of you who are doing the right thing that are being fought from all sides, be courageous. Very soon, this whole thing will be over. Nothing lasts forever.”
Fubara assured that the leadership of the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, would record more successes under his administration.
The governor, who promised to ensure that such was possible, also said that he would never call him or any other judge to do anything wrong.
Fubara insisted that should there be such a call, the chief judge should not hesitate to disgrace him publicly, and should also do the same boldly to any other person who would call to do the wrong thing against the law.
Fubara acknowledged the support so far that he had received from some persons who had remained resolute despite the attacks they had received because they refused to allow detractors to sink the state.
He said the journey had not been easy for him and all Rivers people following the happenings, but assured that his administration had remained focused, regardless.
Fubara said: “A lot of the good works that we are doing, the enemy is overshadowing it with bad news.
“But very soon, we are going to go into areas and programmes to showcase what we have been doing, not just for the Judiciary, but other aspects of governance in our dear State.
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“I want to thank and assure you that I will continue to support you (Judiciary). And my prayer, as you start your new legal year, is that God will be with you, God will support you.”
Fubara recalled that in October 2023, the story was different, but today, one year later, everybody was smiling because of the grace of God.
He emphasized that with God by his side, his administration would never be defeated no matter the gang-up.
In his sermon, the Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta North, Rt. Rev. Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, said the country was collapsing under conflicting judgments emanating from courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
Ihunwo said the development had skewed leadership, jeopardised the unity of the country, and affected smooth governance.
He warned that those, who engaged.in such merchandise would be punished by God