Former President Goodluck Jonathan has asked politicians to desist from judicial blackmail.
Jonathan made this call on Friday, during the book presentation/reception that culminated week-long activities marking the retirement of the Bayelsa State Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, in Yenagoa, the state capital.
He said the judiciary should be allowed to perform its constitutional functions as the society is dynamic.
Jonathan therefore acknowledged the critical role Justice Abiri played when she swore in the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, thus averting a constitutional crisis and advised politicians not to be blinded by the power they wield.
In his words, “I advise politicians that while in office, let us not try to blackmail the judiciary because it is conservative. When we get political power, we get so blinded. Politicians should know that society is changing.
“Today, we are celebrating our retiring Chief Judge because she has served meritoriously. In 2015, she left Bayelsa for Rivers to perform the swearing-in of the Governor, thereby averting anarchy. It appears that the judicial arm is more functional than the executive.”,
