As we are keenly looking forward to Supreme Court judgement on Kogi November 11/11/2023 gubernatorial election, the election that produced Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the political class have been called upon to allow the judiciary to carry out its constitutional functions and should not blackmail or intimidate the judges as the society is dynamic.
Members of the Like Minds Alliance Pressure Group in Kogi State made the call in a statement made available to the Press in Lokoja, the State Capital.
The statement explained that the National Coordinator and Founder of the Group, Chief Richard Asaje, noted that the Judiciary now executes quality judgements without external supervision or stifling of funds, calling on Politicians and supporters to stop blackmailing the judiciary.
Chief Asaje advised politicians not to be blinded by the power they wield, end divisive ethnic based-politics and allow the court to do its job based on evidences and facts before it.
“The Supreme Court will be the final court decision on the legal dispute over the election that produced Governor Ododo. The Supreme Court is unique in many ways so let the judiciary do their work
“Opposition parties must stop blackmailing/intimidating the judiciary. What we are seeing is the intimidation of the judiciary and mudslinging being thrown the way of the court even before the judgement gets underway, this should not be encouraged
“Kogites must cease to see elections as a do or die affairs. We know that we are naturally a very boisterous group of people. Just look at us when we have to queue for anything or engage with each other, we are strong willed, determined and competitive even with less things at stake
“We have seen and heard some commentators sympathetic to the oppositions, because they are already casting aspersion on the integrity of the judiciary and the court, setting the groundwork for their eventual loss as they will surely lose because we cannot see where a candidate that doesn’t have 25% votes in Kogi West and Kogi Central is to win Kogi election by the votes from his Senatorial District (East).
“Following the Tribunal and the Appeal court judgement, the star witness of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Candidate in person of Alhaji Muri Ajaka could not proof in court that over voting took place in Kogi Central. The witness said he was not the maker of the information in the BVAS and could not defend his identify and claimed not to be in Kogi State on the election day. The Tribunal and the Appeal court quashed the petitions lacking merit. Is he (AJAKA) now expecting the Supreme Court to manufacture witnesses for him at all cost?”, Chief Asaje stressed.
WHY IS KOGI IN DANGER OF POLITICAL TRIBALISM?
It is obvious that the people from the Eastern Senatorial District are determined to go to any length to defend their tribal Leaders from criticism or wrong doings, regardless of facts. Ajaka and followers never concedes an inch to other tribes. lt is an “us versus them” mentally suspect and morally dangerous while “us” are saints by comparison. People feel as if their identities are under attack when their politics are attacked.
As a first step toward detoxifying ourselves from political tribalism, can we love our political enemies and pray for them (Matthew 5:43-48) and be willing to conform to the politics of the collective? Politics is about how many friends we make, not how many enemies.
Spreading hate in the name of politics is unacceptable, our dysfunctional democracy of recent should help us to understand how other democracies avoid gridlock.
Take the view in that elections, contesting for elective positions are not a matter of do or die as to now resort to blackmailing, protesting/violence, intimidation and moneybags cannot hijack the process and thwart the will of the people especially now that Kogites can testify to the new development in Ododo’s administration. What we must all collectively do is to continue to deepen our critical Institutions. We must all subject ourselves to the sanctity of the judicial system.
Making blatantly partisan comments on the sanctity of our electoral process and our democracy should be discouraged. What we see is a Group of people that are ready to bring the State down once a process does not go their way, no matter how credible that process is.
Governor Ododo got 25% votes in Kogi East, won by a large margin in Kogi West. Here is a cause to tell people to really interrogate the numbers/percentage before we paint the entire election with a violent brush and taint an otherwise very peaceful process.
We cautioned Judicial Officers to strive to be impartial and courageous in upholding the rule of law which is significant in the delivery of justice.
We also urge politicians to bear in mind that only God Almighty gives and retrieves power to and from whom HE pleases. There is no need for do or die to grab power.
Finally, we implore Kogites to always respect constituted authorities, be law abiding and engage in meaningful ventures and contribute their quota to the development of the Confluence State.
We are all Kogites and we have no other State than it, as such, we have to do everything possible to protect our motherland.
Ododo’s victory at the Tribunal and Appeal Court is a victory for democracy and the decisive triumph of the people of Kogi State.
Dear Kogites, in every election will have a winner and losers. Losers should be bold enough to show their sportsman like mattle. Victory in an election is a privilege, the possibility of defeat and loss is an ever present reality. That is one reality that most politicians and their supporters have to accept. Instead of labouring in Court, opposition party should support Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the winner of the 2023 Governorship race in Kogi State for the sustenance of peace, unity and development of the State.