Judicial Independence, Critical To Democracy – Don

Against the backdrop of the recent happenings affecting the judiciary, a university lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAEU) Dr Iwarimie Uranta, says respect for the judicial arm in important for democracy to thrive.
Dr. Uranta, in an exclusive chat with The Tide at his office last weekend, stressed that current controversies surrounding the suspended Chief Judge of Nigeria was a bad signal for democracy.
He said, “without respect for the judiciary, democracy cannot thrive because it’s the court that gives legal interpretation of issues of constitution”.
The university lecturer, an expert in political theory and Development also picked holes on a recent statement by the president Muhamadu Buhari that National Security and unity are paramount to rule of law. Uranta observed that such statement was worrisome and did not underscore the need for rule of land in a fledgling democracy as that of Nigeria.
He opined that the country was gradually regressing in the area of national security because the necessary atmosphere for cohesion and unity had been undermined.
For democracy to thrive, the expert advocated for a reformed federal character system where all the constituents would back role to play.
“Democracy is expected to grow development”, he suggested “ and the character of the Nigerian state need to be redefined to cover all areas,” Uranta emphasized.
He reasoned that democracy is beyond having democratic institutions such as the executive, and judiciary but in ensuring that all arms have to work independently towards improving the polity and welfare of citizens.