society
Kogi guber: SDP, Ajaka under fire over ‘mindless blackmail, attacks against Judiciary’
‘Court cases are won with evidence, not sentiments, propaganda’
Civil Society Organisations, INEC accredited observers in the November 11, 2023 Kogi governorship election as well as indigenous people of the state have raised concerns over what they described as mindless blackmail and “propaganda taken too far” by the Social Democratic Party and its candidate, Muritala Ajaka, aimed at putting undue pressure on the Judiciary.
According to them, the needless attacks on the Judiciary after every judgement, shows crass ignorance on the part of both the SDP and its candidate, “who are not being properly guided by their lawyers for obvious reasons”.
The groups specifically noted that the continuous attacks on critical stakeholders, especially the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Judiciary without evidence should be seriously condemned by well meaning Nigerians as an attack on Nigeria’s democracy and the rule of law, stressing that such attacks should not got without security agencies arresting and investigating people behind it.
At a joint press conference on Monday in Abuja, the Coalition of CSOs, INEC-Accredited Observers in the Nov. 11 Polls, and the Kogi Indigenous People Initiative said it was condemnable that despite an ongoing court process after the election, the SDP had resorted to self-help by deriding and ridiculing the Judiciary in the public space.
They, however, reminded the SDP and its candidate, Ajaka, that court cases are won with facts and evidence, not through propaganda, intimidation and name dropping.
Speaking on behalf of the CSOs, the National Coordinator of the Coalition of Civil Society of Nigeria, Ohalete Wisdom Kelechi, said the INEC and the Judiciary were two critical institutions of government that must be protected from the prejudice of political interests.
He said, “We are concerned that some political interests have continued to stoke embers of hate, further heightening the tension in the land.
“It must be clearly stated that those who have continued to abuse, harass, lampoon, insult and event attempt to induce officers of the judiciary do not mean well for our country.
“When the electoral body and the judiciary come under fierce attacks, coordinated propaganda and mindless blackmail, the pillar of democracy hangs in the balance and good governance will take a back seat.”
Also speaking on behalf of some of the observers accredited by INEC for the election, Mr. Emmanuel Oluwasegun, commended INEC for conducting what many described as the freest and fairest election since the creation of Kogi State.
He said while the SDP performed well in the Senatorial District of its candidate but poorly in the two other senatorial districts making up the state, its key leaders had continued to pollute the political atmosphere over their failure to secure victory.
Oluwasegun said, “It is important to note that there was an election which was credible in all its ramifications. INEC officials were at their best from what we witnessed and from report by foreign observers.
“The SDP won in local governments where its popularity is organic. It was able to mobilise people to vote for the party. The APC utilised its popularity in the state to mobilise the needed support in all the local governments. It did very well in both the West and Central districts, winning overwhelmingly in the district of its candidate. This resulted in about 190,000 votes difference between it and the closest rival.”
“No one is saying political parties cannot go to court to test their luck or seek justice if they think they have a case, but the resort to name calling, character assassination and propaganda against the Judiciary is seriously off the line and must be rebuked. The Judiciary doesn’t yield to intimidation. Prove your case with facts and in line with the Electoral Act,” he said.
Also in his remarks, the leader of the Indigenous People of Kogi State, Oguche Benjamin PhD, who is also from Kogi East, said some politically exposed persons had caused a wide division between the ethnic and religious divides in the state, which had led to avoidable tension, urging them to exercise caution in their utterances.
Dr. Oguche accused the SDP of promoting ethnic divisions, hate and violence against non SDP members in Kogi East LGA. He said several high profile government officials were hounded by SDP sponsored and known Igala military personnel who were sent home on specific assignments to arrest, beat, illegally detain and torture known APC leaders and stakeholders.
He insisted that the violence, intimidation and attacks meted on APC members, which he witnessed, first hand, were “unimaginably unjustifiable and unacceptable”, adding that despite all that, the APC still won the election convincingly.
“The lower tribunal and appeal courts gave the same judgement, in line with what local and international observers saw. Why concocting non-existent figures all in the name of desperation and for propaganda? The law is blind to sentiments or hooliganism. What matters is proving your case in court beyond reasonable doubt and nothing but that,” he said.
The Kogi Indigenes therefore advised the SDP candidate to rebrand his politics away from hate peddling and outdated propaganda if he wants to try his luck at the next governorship election in the state.
“This strategy is outdated and cannot sway the learned community, and definitely not the Judiciary,” they stated.
society
ALLEGATIONS OF MASS RESIGNATION OF NIGERIAN ARMY SOLDIERS DUE TO CORRUPTION IS BASELESS, IRRATIONAL
NAPS CALL ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BAN BB9JA SHOW.
NAPS Senate arm Call on Federal Government to Banned the Immoral Bb9ja Show.
Solidarity Greetings From National Association of Polytechnic Students ( NAPS), the Leadership of National Association of Polytechnic Students ( NAPS) in her campaign against indiscipline, drug abuse and other social vices which stand to deteriorate an individual self-esteem, self-actualization and nation’s integrity. We understood that some social factors significantly influence students and youth in mindset restitution to abnormalities and BB9ja shows stand tall amidst this social vices.
After careful study and observation of what BB9ja show stand for in the entertainment industry, its reveals that its not an academics nor political neither moral oriented show. Since its purpose is far fetch from values uphold and capacity development, the BB9ja show should be concluded as blue film aiming at promoting immoralities in all ramifications.
Africa is known to be values uphold society across the globe and specifically Nigeria. This portray that no rational Nigerian will support the immorality show called BB9ja. It’s obvious that there is *decayedness* in our culture, tradition and moral before the introduction of the immorality show. Yes there is, which is amount to other factors but we should not be on the edge of contributing to continuous degradation of our heritage. A wise men says don’t create problem for solution, rather be part of the solution if you can’t provide one. As history reported the quality of our cultural heritage and uniqueness years back, it most time seems as nightmares to us considering the present Nigeria of our time.
Ditto, there is need for quick intervention by the the Federal Government to place a ban on the show before the youth populace (strength of the nation) and the children become irrational being. We urge the State Government, Local Government, Traditional Rulers not to relent on their efforts to fight immoralities and insanity in our society.
Furthermore, we appreciate all efforts of the government (all levels), traditional rulers, corporate organisations and patriotic citizenry towards restoring sanity and dignity of our dear nation Nigeria.
Conclusively, we call on Federal Government to swift into action in preserving the heritage of our nation by placing a ban on BB9ja show.
Viva Aluta!
Signed:
Comrade Adeniji Boluwaji Temitope
Senate President
National Association of Polytechnic Students ( NAPS)
08069738724
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