SENATOR SAMUEL ANYANWU TASKS IMO LAWYERS ON POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT, SUPPORTS JUDICIAL AUTONOMY.
A leading PDP governorship aspirant in Imo State, Senator Samuel Anyanwu has challenged lawyers in the State to get more involved in politics in order to address the spate of human rights violations and judicial breaches that is prevalent in the State.
Senator Anyanwu gave the charge while speaking at a dinner he organized for lawyers from the State who attended the 59th NBA Annual General Conference held in Abuja. He lamented the level of abuse of court judgements by the present APC government and its officials in the State, and warned that this unfortunate practice is capable of causing break down of law and order.
"A situation where the executive arm of government and her agencies decide on which court order to obey and the ones to disobey is not only undemocratic but is also a great threat to peace in the State. Judiciary as we know is the last hope of the common man so any time this position is questioned diminishes the much talked about hope" Senator Anyanwu added.
He told lawyers to be more involved in political activities especially in choosing who governs them in order to curb the situation.
He said "As lawyers your opinions are respected in the society. You are opinion moulders. You should therefore use your positions as well as your good number to ensure the emergence of democratic oriented and credible individuals that will govern at all levels of government, otherwise you will be losing your relevance in the society. You must rise up now and begin to mobilize the people to vote for a candidate that has respect for rule of law and not those that brazenly flout court orders especially now that another round of elections are around the corner".
Senator Anyanwu who represents Owerri Senatorial Zone in the Senate regretted a situation where Judges and other Judicial Officers in the State are owed up to three months salary and wondered whether the neutrality of these Judges will not be compromised under such condition.
He however commended the Nigerian Bar Association in the State for their efforts in challenging the impunity of the State government, especially in offering Pro Bono services to pensioners and retired civil servants who have been abused and ridiculed by the present government.
Senator Anyanwu noted that his government when inaugurated will sponsor executive bills that will turn around the welfare architecture of judicial officers in the State for them to function optimally. He said his experiences as a former local government chairman and as a former State Assembly Member put him in a better stead to know the challenges confronting the people of the State.
In their separate responses Barr. Victoria Muruako and Barr. Willie Amadi thanked Senator Anyanwu for the dinner. They said they are not surprised by his show of love. The lawyers agreed that the situation in the State is quite unfortunate and urged Senator Anyanwu to continue with his activities as the lawyers know who are their genuine friends.
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