By Dr Festus Goziem Okubor
I have just read the statement of the Gbagi gang titled “Delta 2023@ Supreme Court: Gbagi Blows Hot, Want Judges to Save Delta From Total Collapse”, and I am shocked that a senior citizen and lawyer could utter such a seditious and libelous statement.
My initial reaction was “LIKE TRUMP, LIKE GBAGI: GBAGI NEEDS TO BE SANCTIONED”. But on a second thought, I decided to advise him to watch his utterances on matters before the Supreme Court and even the ones the apex court has dispensed. I will also advise him to emulate his much younger brother, H.E. Rt Hon Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, the Governor of Delta State in decorum and non-intervention in the Judicial process with unguarded statements.
In case he is too carried away to know, Deltans spent the yuletide season in joy and have continued to pour accolades on the performance of the Sheriff phenomenon in the Nigerian governance experience. For the first time, a government is showing exceptional fidelity to the programmes and projects of his preceeding administration, while birthing monumental projects and initiatives in policy simultaneously. He has in a very short-time become the poster boy of smooth power succession in Nigeria. Delta is peaceful and people oriented programmes and projects are being executed all around the state.
I will not, like the Gbagi and Trump gangs, drag Judges into extra-Judicial distractions. I rather invite the Gbagi gang to understand what it means to refrain from making statements, either way, on matters subjudice. It may indeed be contemptuous of the Supreme Court and at his age, the consequences might be devastating. Gbagi should self sensor at this stage or I will be left with no option than ask for him and his lawyers or proxies to be tamed with a Gag order. Gbagi’s statement referred to him as a criminologist and security expert. And he is making such unfounded and uninformed statement? At this moment of doubt about foreign degrees, Gbagi might need to really give us information on his academic antecedents. And it is not too late for a proper education to help correct the many unpardonable errors in his statement.
A word ought to be enough for the wise.