For the first time in about many years, our people have successfully moved with extraordinary courage against the forces of political Darkness in Kogi State.Few months ago,when we turned on the Light of freedom to nominate a God fearing son of ours, as the candidate of PDP in Kogi state,we never knew the agents of darkness were perfecting fresh strategies to stop our divine mission. But today,we are humbled by this court judgement which derives from our collective faith in the Almighty God as succinctly expressed in His words in Revelations 19:1 “After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God”. This judgement is a victory of the tenacity of the human spirit against conscienceless power. The triumph of stuborn determination, the belief in the sacredness of the peoples rights and a determination not to abandon the rural voters in Kogi,Adamawa,Bayelsa,Sokoto and Cross River state. We wish to commend the Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria over the recent judgement delivered on the issue of tenure elongation on five State Governors. The decision of the Supreme Court to sack the five governors from office is significant victory for democracy and we welcome this decision because it clearly shows that the nation’s highest court of law continually recognizes the need to stand by true tenets of democracy.
As we join the many good men and women of Nigeria in hailing the Supreme Court decision, again we commend the Justices of the Supreme Court for taking up the tasking duty to reach decisions that will not only make Nigeria’s democracy prosperous but our communities peaceful and free of politically induced violence.
Our people are assured that the decision of the Supreme Court is a good reason to be optimistic that the highest Court of law is truly independent and desirous to deepen democracy in Nigeria despite the many external influences of individuals and organizations to abort the hearing of the matter at the Apex Court. Indeed, this bold decision by the Apex Court has indisputably exposed and identified those who behave callously by engaging in practices of impunity and self aggrandizement to diminish the gains of democracy. We therefore strongly suppose that Nigeria’s democracy would no longer have been democracy if the decision of the Supreme Court had gone the other way.
Without a doubt, the public tempo and views of the majority in Kogi State has shown that the Supreme Court has risen to the occasion by taking meaningful decisions for Nigeria’s democratic interest. This Judgement is not only a huge victory for the electorate but a rebuke to persons who impose candidates with impunity and utmost disregard for democracy especially by denying people the freedom to make a choice.
Our joy on the Supreme Court Judgement certainly rests on our interest in upholding the rights of the Kogi people to select their choice without undue interference. From all logical and progressive perspective, the ruling of the Supreme Court has major positive political and practical consequences. Specifically, in Kogi state, the Supreme Court ruling has rescued democracy from the claws of unpatriotic persons and we consider it a new opportunity for the Kogi people to start enjoying true dividends of democracy through purposeful leadership based on the people’s choice. The mandate you gave to Alhaji Jibrin Isah Echocho remains fresh and valid. So, “tell Zerubbabel, governor of Judah that I will shake the heavens and the earth… I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.”(Haggai 2:21-22)
Now that it is obvious that the judiciary has performed its duty honestly and diligently, we urge the authorities responsible for the implementation of such a landmark judgment to ensure that the orders of the Apex Court are put into action and obeyed by all. Therefore, we strongly support any legitimate move that will uphold the rule of law, sustenance of peace and fuller lives in our communities in Kogi State.
This judgement is a clear message to some persons or authorities that the time for playing games and god with the people’s mandate is over and we strongly believe that all actions relating to many manipulated and unjustifiable elections of the recent burdensome past will stand violated. As such, it is our firm hope that the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Atahiru Jega would be speedily guided to rectify some of the actions the INEC earlier took which this judgement has proved to be wrong on the law, misinformed and dangerous for our democracy.
Our political journey has been one of patience and perseverance, our movement has maintained its character of discipline and respect for the Rule of Law. Men with tyrannical beliefs saw us as weak and therefore used every wrong means to frustrate our well-deserved collective aspiration. But in all and despite our majority political strength, we rejected invitations to anarchy and remained focused, knowing that ours is an irreversible mission of hope to liberate our people from the claws of bad governance and evil. So, we advise the teeming supporters of Alhaji Jibrin Isah Echocho to remain law abiding, with the firm belief that the Supreme Court Judgement must be implemented to its logical conclusion, we also urge the Government and Party leadership to show sincerity and patriotism by taking actions relating to this judgement as we believe that if the right actions are taken in letter and spirit, it will not only be beneficial to the people of Kogi State but also to all men and women of goodwill in Nigeria We urge all our supporters continue to show love to all. No matter how they about how people have betrayed us, there is no room for revenge. So you must be guarded in your emotions, We must not let our hearts rule our heads, otherwise we may say or do things that would project us as being ungrateful to the Master Finisher,God! We ask you all to continue in prayer and fasting for Echocho, using Psalm 138:8 “The LORD will fulfill [his purpose] for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever–do not abandon the works of your hands” as our guide daily because, we are certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.(Phillipians 1:6)
We ask the good people of Kogi State to please keep the Justices of the Supreme Court, all good men and women of Nigeria in your prayers daily.
May the will of the Almighty prevail!
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PHRANK ELEOJO SHAIBU Director,Public Communication & Strategy THE JIBRIN ISAH CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION
