By Innocent Anaba

PORT HARCOURT – Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, condemned the do-or-die attitude of political office holders, saying that no office was worth the blood of any Nigerian.

Also, two former Presidents of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and Mr. Onueze Okocha (SAN), called for improved conditions of service for judges to enable them discharge their functions efficiently and without distractions.

Oshiomhole also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the relative progress made so far on electoral matters, saying that the last elections represented a substantial improvement over those of 2007.

Speaking at the on-going Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, annual general conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, he said the political elite seems to have learnt very little lessons as most still thrive on imposing themselves against the wish of the people, but that massive rigging was impossible in 2007.

He said: “Like many other Nigerians, I remain very worried about our ability to conduct genuinely free and transparently fair elections.”

Agbakoba and Okocha stated that the judges would be exposed to distractions if they are not well motivated.

Agbakoba said: “Public confidence in the Judiciary is now low. Our judges are not fully protected. The only time politicians respect judges is when they expect favourable judgment in the tribunal.”