Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has decried the attack on the judiciary by some political actors, saying it is a threat to the nation’s foundation and development of democratic governance in the country.

Dickson, who doubles as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Governors Forum, noted that the onslaught was aimed at weakening and destroying the independence of the judiciary, which be maintained, should condemned.
A statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei, quoted the governor as making the remarks during the swearing in of two new high court judges at Government House, Yenagoa.

The jurists are Justice Iniekinimi Uzakah, a former Registrar of the High Court, and Justice Abasi Youngman, erstwhile Acting Director, Civil Litigation Department, state Ministry of Justice.

Dickson, who called on Nigerians to give the necessary support and encouragement to that arm of government, harped on the importance of the judiciary to the growth of democracy, adding that that fact cannot be over-emphasized given that judges were the final arbiter in disputes between individuals and organisations under the Nigerian constitution.

He said: “Today I want to use the opportunity to call on the political leaders in our country not to tear down our judiciary, not to tear down the place of the judiciary in their quest for power, domination and control because by so doing, you will be tearing down the foundation of our country.

“The constitution under which all of us have been brought together has created room for all organs of government. The same constitution that vests control of resources, for example on a federation, has also prescribed a role and a place for our judiciary to be an impartial arbiter.”

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