Atiku vs Buhari: Keyamo Takes on Prof. Nwabueze over Comment on S’Court Ruling

Atiku vs Buhari: Keyamo Takes on Prof. Nwabueze over Comment on S'Court Ruling

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Festus Keyamo (SAN)

Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has faulted Prof. Ben Nwabueze’s criticism of the Supreme Court’s judgment which upheld the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and nullified Atiku Abubakar’s plea.

Nwabueze had described the judgment of the apex court as faulty and bias.

But Keyamo, in a statement said Nwabueze never spoke as an elder statesman, but as a PDP member and Atiku loyalist which was why he sought to destroy the integrity of the Supreme Court.

“Prof. Nwabueze did not speak from the position of an elder Statesman. His affection and support for the PDP and its Presidential candidate was clearly in display before and after the election. His passionate, tearful embrace of Atiku Abubakar and his famous declaration that he would not die until Atiku Abubakar becomes President in 2019 was one of the high points of the last election.

“His wheel-chair appearance at the Court of Appeal in support of Atiku was also iconic. It was perfectly within his legitimate rights to take this position. After all, other eminent citizens of such age and stature also supported President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC,” he said.

Read full statement below

A REJOINDER TO PROF. BEN NWABUEZE’S PRESS STATEMENT ON THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION IN THE CASE INVOLVING ATIKU V. INEC & BUHARI.

My respect for Professor Ben Nwabueze is immense. His age and achievements in the Nigerian legal field and other walks of life set him out as a distinguished citizen of this country. In addition, one of the generally accepted precepts of the African society is deep respect for elders. This precept, in some traditions, is over stretched to the extent of not replying or correcting an elderly person, even if the elderly person is patently in error. This is why I nearly succumbed to the urge to ignore Professor Ben Nwabueze’s position on the Supreme Court decision in Atiku vs INEC as expressed in his press release made on 31st October, 2019.

However, on deeper reflection, I came to the conclusion that when the issue involved is not personal, but one of national interest, it behooves any concerned and informed Nigerian to set the record straight for the sake of posterity.

 

This is more so because Prof. Nwabueze did not speak from the position of an elder Statesman. His affection and support for the PDP and its Presidential candidate was clearly in display before and after the election. His passionate, tearful embrace of Atiku Abubakar and his famous declaration that he would not die until Atiku Abubakar becomes President in 2019 was one of the high points of the last election. His wheel-chair appearance at the Court of Appeal in support of Atiku was also iconic. It was perfectly within his legitimate rights to take this position. After all, other eminent citizens of such age and stature also supported President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC.