THE JIBRIN ISAH CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION
Kogi State,Nigeria
Press Statement:
CAPTAIN WADA, STOP THIS BLACKMAIL OF THE JUDICIARY, PDP AND EFCC
1. Our attention has been drawn to series of articles, press statements as well as coordinated campaigns in both electronic and print media aimed at tarnishing the reputation of our principal, Alhaji Jibrin Isah (Echocho) orchestrated by one Captain Idris Wada, parading himself as the governor of Kogi State.
2. As a responsible organization, and conscious of the fact that most of the issues been bandied about are before competent courts in the country, we had earlier opted to keep mute, knowing that only fools would continue to hit their heads against the wall even after being told that they have come to the end of the road.
3. However, it has become absolutely necessary for us to speak up, in view of the desperation and brazen impunity with which some of the characters associated with the said Captain Wada have carried on with the mission to “destroy at all cost” the character, person and reputation of Alhaji Jibrin Isah, who remains the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State.
4. Needless to say that it is impossible to ignore last week’s ignoble plea by the same Captain Wada to the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur that the latter should rescue him from Alhaji Jibrin Isah who he claimed was making it impossible for him (Wada) to rule Kogi State.
5. Captain Wada’s plea follows after an evil campaign in the media seeking to compel (at all cost) the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to make Jibrin Isah ‘an accused’ instead of a prosecution witness? The main objective being to have Echocho detained while Captain Wada holds sway as the lord of the manor in Kogi State.
6. There is no doubt that the plea to the PDP National Chairman was meant to enroll him into a satanic and illegal project, since it is public knowledge that judgment is to be delivered by a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, June 29 , 2012. Counsel for Wada and Isah have already submitted addresses and judgement is due. Perhaps, Wada and his cohorts seek to smear the integrity of our able Chairman, Alhaji Tukur and his team who have consistently said that the era of impunity and lack of internal party democracy are over with their election. We must not allow these men with less than positive motives have their way.
7. Most importantly, well meaning Nigerians ought to call the said Wada to order as his comments and actions convey a more sinister intention of seeking to blackmail the judiciary by cleverly obfuscating the duty of the judge who by now must be considering issues raised by counsel of both parties and to decide either way, based on his conviction on the points of law. Is it possible that Captain Wada has foreseen the curtain drawn on his illegal mandate by the forthcoming judgment? Does his plea to the PDP chairman not amount to seeking to truncate a process?
8. Similarly, there is no other conclusion that could be reached by the current effort to compel the EFCC to ‘convert’ Alhaji Jibrin Isah Echocho who was made a prosecution witness since 2008 to an accused except to state unequivocally that this is the handiwork or machination of a drowning man. Why did Captain Wada wait till 2012 before calling on the EFCC to arrest and detain Alhaji Isah? Is there any new evidence been leveled against Echocho while serving as executive director of Afribank to warrant such an obnoxious request? Or is it just a case of simply holding on to any straw to stay afloat?
9. We have repeatedly stated that our mandate is of God and freely given to us by PDP faithful in Kogi State. It is the same mandate that we have put before the judiciary based on the rule of law. We have neither resorted to self help, nor attempted to circumvent the process by arm twisting the judiciary and the EFFCC. Why is it so difficult for Wada and his fellow travelers to follow this time tested route? The other day, they compelled the President of the Customary Court of Appeal to swear in Wada as governor, while there is a subsisting Chief Judge in the state. Now they want the PDP national chairman, the Federal High Court and the EFCC to do their bidding. Is there no end to this blatant greed for power?
10. While we believe in any reconciliatory move by them, we state that there can be no reconciliation devoid of fairness and the rule of law. Threats and the litany of sponsored media propaganda by the Wada’s camp is only a lazy form of grief: a man must accept his fate or be destroyed by it. As we contend with the disdainful oddities of Capt.Wada and his group, we are hopeful that the law will eventually take its full course. For however long the night may take, dawn must surely break.
11. Friday 29th June, seems so far away for our traducers. But we have been waiting for over thirty weeks for justice to be done. Our faith in the judiciary remains unshakeable. No blackmail or intimidation would dissuade us from our avowed path of righteousness. We shall overcome….!
SHAIBU Phrank
Director, Public Communication & Strategy
