Ironsi, Gowon’s actions destroyed Nigeria —Ex-Judge •Wants Jonathan to revert to 1963 Constitution

Late Head of State, General Aguiyi Ironsi and General Yakubu Gowon, have been accused of being responsible for the sorry state of the country for introducing unitary system of government in place of true federalism. This is just as President Goodlcuk Jonathan, has been charged to revert the country back to the 1963 Constitution couched by its founding fathers. These were opinions opined by a retired judge of the High Court of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Thompson Kasuona Dugbon, in a statement signed and made available on Wednesday, to the Nigerian Tribune, in Warri, Delta State. The octogenarian, who described President Jonathan as God-sent to unite Nigeria, said “what has destroyed this country is the General Ironsi and Gowon’s action of introducing unitary system of government to Nigeria by abrogating the 1963 Nigerian Constitution. “There is the doctrine of precedence known to our law. It is not a new thing, it is well recognised. The law is a respecter of precedents. All that the president should do is to revert to the 1963 Constitution and that is the end of derivation principle, resource control and all talk about five per cent reconstruction, rehabilitation. The spirit of our founding fathers are crying for true federalism,” he said He attributed the causes of corruption in the judiciary to the appointment of green horns and politicians into higher bench as well as the leverage given to governors to recommend their relations for appointment to higher bench. According to him, people less than 50 years of age should not be appointed as judges because they will compromise to corruptly enrich themselves. “Corruption is so deep-rooted in Nigeria that the sacred institution known as the judiciary is now infected with the virus. Very young persons, including politicians are appointed to the higher bench. Some have not even married. When they are appointed, they look for money by all means, including bribes to marry and live a comfortable life,” the former judge stated. He advocated that only experienced and retired judges should be appointed to preside over election tribunals, saying that appointments should be sacredly carried out by Nigeria Judicial Commission (NJC) and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA). Justice Dugbon frowned at a situation where judges have become so ubiquitous in public places and functions to the detriment of the profession, saying that in his days as a judge, such things were unethical and highly prohibited.