President Muhammadu Buhari, has withdrawn the statement he made a few days ago, that the rule of law must be subjected to national interest and security.
President Buhari while speaking with the German Chancellor, Angel Merkel, said that his administration will always uphold the sanctity of the rule of law, in governing the country.
Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu, made this known in a statement.
He said: “In his remarks during a bilateral meeting, the President said unity and harmony in every society can only be preserved by observing the rule of law, and ensuring that agreements reached in good faith, are followed through to the mutual benefit of countries.
“President Buhari told Chancellor Merkel and members of her delegation, that the rule of law embodies all the rightful mechanisms for conflict resolution, both within the country, and in dealing with all foreign partners, assuring that his administration remains focused on delivering a peaceful, economically viable, and politically stable polity to all Nigerians”, Shehu said.
Recall, that while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Conference, last Sunday, Buhari claimed that it was a settled law that national security should always come before the rule of law.
“Rule of Law must be subject to the supremacy of the nation’s security and national interest”, the President told the gathering of Lawyers.
President Buhari’s comment was however, condemned by a Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, as well as several Lawyers, including Human Rights Activist, Femi Falana, and other well-meaning Nigerians.
In a statement on Thursday, Soyinka had mocked the President, by saying that Buhari had obviously given a deep thought to his travails under a Military Dictatorship, and concluded that his incarceration at that time, was also in the national interest.
His words: “At his first coming, it was ‘I intend to tamper with Freedom of the Press’, and Buhari did proceed to suit action to the words, sending two Journalists – Irabor and Thompson – to prison, as a reward for their professional integrity.
“Now, a vague, vaporous, but commodious concept dubbed “national interest”, is being trotted out as an alibi for flouting the decisions of the Nigerian Judiciary. President Buhari has obviously given deep thought to his travails under a Military Dictatorship, and concluded that his incarceration was also in the national interest.”
Nonetheless, Garba Shehu, in a statement on Friday, revealed that Buhari said that he would respect the rule of law.
The Presidential Spokesman, noted that the President made this pledge during a bilateral meeting with the German Chancellor, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President, maintained that unity and harmony in every society, could only be preserved by observing the rule of law, and ensuring that agreements reached in good faith, are followed through to the mutual benefit of countries.
Buhari told Merkel, who was accompanied by top government officials, and a business delegation, that the rule of law embodied all the rightful mechanisms for conflict resolution, both within the country, and in dealing with all foreign partners.
He assured that his administration would remain focused on delivering a peaceful, economically viable, and politically stable polity to all Nigerians.
He said that Nigeria remains grateful to the German government, for the fair treatment of migrants.
According to him, Nigeria looks forward to improving its trade figures with Germany, which had taken a strong interest in investing in the country.
The President also lauded Germany, for supporting Nigeria in providing effective services in security, education, and creation of jobs.
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