In an exciting mood, expressing gratitude to Almighty Allah, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has commended the tribunal sitting in Bauchí for upholding his re-election by the good people of Bauchi State in spite of the indiscriminate demonetisation of the country’s judicial system.
The victorious governor made the expression and commendation during his thanksgiving speech at the Ramat House, Bauchí, shortly after the tribunal affirmed his election as governor of Bauchi State recently. He called on his opponents to sheath their swords and join him to harness the enormous resources of the state to create a modern economy that would benefit everyone within Bauchi State, Nigeria’s pearl of tourism.
“Today, the Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Bauchi re-validated the mandate that you gave to me last March. It was a profound judgement that will continue to resonate within multiple circles as a demonstration of judicial rigour and common sense and an affirmation of the sovereign will of the people over political brinkmanship and an entitlement mentality.
“Our victory today is by the grace of Allah who gives power to whom he wishes and takes it without consulting the holder. We are once again reminded that all power is held in trust on behalf of God.
It is an unambiguous statement that despite the mischief of political merchants who arrogate to themselves kingmaker status and deceive some of our unsuspecting compatriots into believing that they can determine the destiny of others, God still reigns in the affairs of all his creations.
“In the nature of things, many of our supporters would expect me to jubilate over the verdict that has Just confirmed the overwhelming mandate that they freely gave to me at the last governorship election in the state. Naturally, I am relieved and happy that this distraction has been put aside.
“However, how I wish that we got to this point devoid of the acrimony, the bitterness, the resource haemorrhage, the bickering, the time wasted. How I wish that rather than dissipate energy through avoidable litigation, we had all resolved what is a disagreement among brothers through discussion, consultation and unity of purpose. How I wish all of us had submitted to the Supreme will of Allah than succumb to our ego and personal fantasies.
“As a constitutionalism who has stood with the law at critical moments in our country’s history, I will be the first to admit that the framers of our constitution did not err by co opting judicial intervention as part and parcel of the electoral process. It is the epitome of our Doctrine of Separation of Powers that gives confidence to the aggrieved not to resort to self-help. It ensures constitutional and social harmony.
” However, I wish to state, with every sense of responsibility, that unbridled litigation continues to wreak incalculable havoc on our body politics, social consciousness and economic progress. More importantly, it gives a segment of the populace a false sense of indignation just as it unnecessarily polarises society. In all sincerity, I do not think it pays to continue this way.
“Suffocated by the pain of loss, we tend to ignore the fact that we are members of the same family, that our strength lies in our unity; that our progress is defined not much by how well we are able to take care of our personal interests but by the lives we touch; that our wealth is defined not by how much we have added to our possessions but by how many people we are able to lift from poverty to prosperity; that our authority and influence are not defined by the position of power we occupy but by the degree of respect the people are prepared to accord us and that our security is defined not by how much power we wield but by the collective goodwill of the people through the grace of God.
“Now that the tribunal has ruled, it is my candid opinion that it is time to set aside whatever misgivings”,he concluded.
