The Appeal Court judgment that re-affirmed Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi as duly
elected, has continued to elicit reactions from various quarters. While many
see it as a welcome development, some, especially, those in the opposition
camp, think otherwise, and would rather want the Supreme Court to reverse the
decision in favour of their preferred candidate, Hon. James Faleke.
To achieve their insidious objective, they have
resorted to the use of certain media platforms to manipulate public opinion,
just as they tried to call the integrity of the governor, the respected
Tribunal judges, and even those of the Court of Appeal to question. Cleverly
disguised as exercising their right to freedom of expression, their hired
writers have continued to descend on the governor in an attempt to make him
look like he is the bad guy.
It is clear from these reports and media interventions,
that the anti-Yahaya Bello campaigners will stop at nothing to stand logic on
its head by constantly pummelling the judiciary for ruling in favour of the
governor, including the deployment of the services of some so called legal
‘experts’ to do a serial interpretation of the Tribunaland Court of Appeal
rulings and discrediting same, as if they alone understood the letters and
spirit of the constitution and the Electoral Acts better than the judges whose
jobs it is to handle such matters.
It is therefore not surprising that these people have
continued to react angrily to the Appeal Court’s judgement, while at the same
time profiling the entire judiciary for public opprobrium if it fails to dance
to their own tune, however unwise such may be. In fact, a few days ago, one of
their hack writers, writing in a weekend edition of a popular newspaper that is
notorious for its anti Yahaya Bello stance, had the audacity to describe the
court rulings on the Kogi elections as `judicial absurdity’. But majority of
Kogi people don’t think so, not only have they applauded the judiciary for the
forthrightness, but have gone ahead to pledge their support to the Governor.
One would have expected that every genuine stake holder
in Kogi state, should by now rally around the young Governor in order to fast
track the much needed development which for decades, has eluded the state due
to the fact thatit had been cornered by the vultures and political scavengers.
Rather, what we are seeing from the opponents are
posturing of bitterness, even after the Governor had magnanimously extended the
olive branch to all who might be aggrieved one way or the other in the whole
affair, to join hands with him to give Kogi a new lease of life
While we prepare for the final leg of the judicial
fireworks at the Supreme Court, it is important to clarify that the issues
before the court are not as complex as Hon Faleke and his few, but noisy
supporters try to present them. The Supreme Court will not and cannot be
expected to search for extraneous reasons outside what the two lower courts had
decided in considering the merit or otherwise of the petition challenging Yahaya
Bello’s election.
Section 141 of
the Electoral Act clearly covers AlhajiYahaya Bello, in the sense that not only
did he participate in the primary of the Kogi state All Progressives’ Congress
governorship primary, he went on to participate in the supplementary election
to conclude the entire process which begun with the primary. In fact, it is Hon
Faleke, that is not protected under the Sec. 141 of the Electoral Act, which is
being erroneously relied upon by his supporters, because he, unlike Yahaya
Bello, did not participate in the primary, but was only nominated as a running
mate by another candidate after the primary election
Rather than continue dissipating energy in pursuit of
shadows, Hon Faleke and his sponsors would be wise to drop their hard line
posture, embrace Gov. Yahaya Bello, as the right choice of the people. The
hands of God have apparently manifested in what has happened, it therefore
behoves on all to embrace the man with open heart so that Kogi can witness
transformation and progress.
It is gratifying that the Courts have lend their
weighty voice to the fact that Gov. Yahaya Bello’s nomination and subsequent
election were within the law and therefore legitimate.
The youth in Kogi and the state labour unions have also
pledged their support to the Governor because they trust him and share in his
vision to transform the state. This vision has already begun to manifest in the
volume, nature and quality of projects that are ongoing in the state right now.
Lokoja, the state capital, is currently witnessing
massive intra-city roads rehabilitation and expansion. Contract for new roads
have been awarded linking Lokoja with a number of rural communities. Across the
state, schools are being renovated and equipped with modern teaching and
learning facilities. Similarly, attention is being payed to health Institutions
like hospitals and medical centres. In a number of rural communities, water
supply systems are being improved upon where they already exist, while efforts
are being made to embark on new water projects for communities that do not have
them.
When Gov. Yahaya Bello came into office, the security
situation in Kogi had seriously deteriorated with armed robbers and kidnappers
operating with impunity. But today, the situation has significantly improved,
thanks to Gov. Yahaya Bello’s determination and resolve to rid the state of
hoodlums and criminals.
Not too long ago, the state government ensured that
outstanding salary arrears of the civil servants were settled, just as it
succeeded in detecting and weeding out more than twenty five thousand ghost
workers from state government pay role, thereby saving the state millions of
Naira that would have gone into private pockets. There is every reason to
believe that the story of Kogi state is already changing from that of despair
and hopelessness to that of hope and prosperity.
THIS VIEW WAS EXPRESSED BY A KOGI STATE BASED ADVOCACY
GROUP
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