Renowned former Zamfara State lawmaker, Senator Kabiru Marafa, has lauded President Bola Tinubu for refraining from meddling in the Supreme Court’s rulings regarding the 2023 governorship election, citing it as a pivotal move that safeguarded Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, Marafa, who represented Zamfara Central in the National Assembly from 2011 to 2019, commended Tinubu and the justices of the apex court for upholding the will of Nigerian voters, emphasizing that their actions will be vindicated by history.
Marafa underscored the significance of Tinubu’s non-interference in the Supreme Court’s judgment, likening it to a crucial safeguard that prevented a recurrence of the political turmoil witnessed in 1983, when the Second Republic collapsed following the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) seizing states previously held by the opposition.
Furthermore, Marafa expressed appreciation for the Supreme Court justices, hailing their commitment to the aspirations of the Nigerian populace and lauding them for bolstering the nation’s pride through their commendable actions.
He recounted a similar experience during the buildup to the 2019 general election, where he confronted irregularities in the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara. The judiciary’s intervention, according to Marafa, culminated in a landmark judgment that handed over the entire state to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Marafa emphasized the imperative need for the judiciary to remain impartial and equitable, irrespective of whose interests are at stake, if Nigeria’s democracy is to endure.
Moreover, Marafa called upon the eight governors whose election results were affirmed to govern their states with magnanimity and fairness, extending his congratulations to Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara while urging him to govern in a manner that justifies the trust bestowed upon him by the state’s citizens.
In addition, Marafa urged Governor Lawal to collaborate with President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and relevant security agencies to restore peace and security in Zamfara, highlighting the populace’s yearning for tranquility in the region.
The recognition bestowed upon President Tinubu for his non-interference in judicial matters and the chorus of appreciation for the Supreme Court’s steadfastness by Marafa, resonate as a confident validation of the democratic principles upholding Nigeria’s political landscape.
