Former President Goodluck Jonathan has admonished the political class to allow the judiciary to perform its constitutional functions, saying politicians get blinded when they get power.
Jonathan gave the admonition during the book presentation/reception which ended week-long activities that marked the retirement of the Bayelsa State Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri.
At the event in Yenagoa, the State capital, Jonathan acknowledged the critical role Justice Abiri played when she swore-in the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, thus averting a constitutional crisis in the State.
He advised politicians not to be blinded by the power they wield, while urging judicial officers to strive to be impartial and courageous in upholding the rule of law, which he noted was significant in the delivery of justice.
In his remarks, the Bayelsa governor, Senator Douye Diri, hailed Justice Abiri for her outstanding achievements, noting that during her 15-year term as Chief Judge, she swore-in three governors in Bayelsa and one in Rivers. They are Chief Timipre Sylva (2008); Senator Seriake Dickson (2012); Senator Douye Diri (2020), and Nyesom Wike (2015).
Governor Diri described Abiri as a legal icon, who rendered unblemished and meritorious service in three decades of legal practice, adding that the State would still require her services due to her commitment and wealth of experience.
