As we are keenly looking forward to Supreme Court judgement on Kogi November 11/11/2023 gubernatorial election, the election that produce Alhaji Usman Ododo, members of the “Like Minds Alliance Pressure Group, Kogi State chapter has called on the political class to allow the judiciary to carry out its constitutional functions and should not blackmail or intimidate the judges, saying society is dynamic.
According to the leadership of the group, Supreme Court will be the final court decision on the legal disputes over the election that produced Governor Ododo, Supreme Court is unique in many ways and is not characteristic of most judging in this country, so let the judiciary justify..
Chief Asaje, the National Leader of the group, in a statement said, that the Judiciary now executes quality projects without external supervision or stifling of funds, stop blackmailing the judiciary, he emphasized.
Continuing, he 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. Opposition parties must stop blackmailing/intimidating 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 opposition’s, cause 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, kogi central is to win kogi election by the votes from his senatorial districts..
Following the Tribunal and the Appeal court judgement, the star witness of the SDP candidate in person pf Alhaji Muri Ajaka could not proof in court that over voting took place in kogi central. He said he was not the maker of the information in the BVAS , 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..
Why is Kogi in danger of political tribalism?
It’s obvious why the people from the east are determined to go to any length to defend their tribes leader from any criticisms 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, moneybags can’t hijack the process and thwart the will of the people, 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 commentaries 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..
Chief Asaje therefore urge politicians to bear in mind that only God Almighty gives and retrieves power to and from whom HE pleases. So, there is no need for do or die to grab power..
Finally, he implore kogite to always respect constituted authorities, be law abiding and engage in meaningful ventures in order to contribute their quota to the development of the 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/Appeal Court is a victory for democracy and the decisive triumph of the people of kogi state. “ln their determination to preserve good governance in the state..
Dear kogite, in every election will have a winner and losers,losers should be bold enough to show their sportsman like mattle.. Victory in an election remains 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 Usman Ododo , the declared winner for the sustenance of peace,unity and development of the kogi State…
Signed
*Secretary; Like Minds Alliance Pressure Group;Kogi State Chapter*
