By Abu Micheal.
It was an unprecedented crowd that welcomed The Kogi State Governor Capt Idris Wada into the state after his Supreme Court Victory at the weekend. As early as 8.00am today People of all works of life from across the 21 local government areas gathered at the Jamata end of the Murtala Mohammed bridge where the state governor was received and given a rousing welcome by party faith fulls and
well wishers.
Ordinarily, the journey from Jamata to lokoja would have taken 15minutes. The trip however took over an hour following the long motorcade and the several stoppages the governor and his entourage had to make at several places including the palace of the Ohimege of Koton-Karfe,Alh Abdulrazaq Isa Gambo Koto,where the governor paid a traditional homage on the monarch and solicited the fatherly prayers of monarch.
Capt Wada told the Royal father that having overcome the accusation made against him,he solicited the Royal Father in joining him to unite those aggrieved in the interest of the state. The governor promised working towards genuine reconciliation and in bringing together all those aggrieved irrespective of party affiliation in the interest of the state.
Reacting,the Ohimege commended the governor’s simplicity and his spirit of forgiveness. The Ohimege called on politicians to emulate the qualities being displayed by the governor.
At the government house lokoja,where it was a gathering of the who is who politically in the state. With a carnival like settings,the state governor called on those who lost at the Supreme Court, challenging his eligibility to contest the December 3 2011 governorship to join hands with him to build the state of the future.
The governor’s speech which was intermittently interrupted with shouts of “Sai Wada,” “Wada You are a leader” “No Shaking” amongst other slogans, also had various and several speakers commending the Supreme court for the clean bill it gave the
state governor.
Those who spoke include: Hon Musa Ahmadu,Ado Okino,representative of the women and Youths,Aloysius Okino,Yabagi Bologi and the deputy,eulogized the leadership qualities of the governor with an appeal on those aggrieved to return to the PDP.
The governor while speaking to the mammoth crowd, described the supreme court judgment as a legal confirmation of the wishes of the people that was freely given to him by the people.
Capt Wada said the legal endorsement by the apex court was a triumph of truth over the many lies of those who do not mean well for the state and that of light over darkness.
The governor added that with his clean bill by the Supreme court, he is now better focused to face the task of delivering gains of democracy to the people.
The governor thanked the people of the state for their show of love and understanding all through the period the case lasted. He called on those who were aggrieved to join hands with him in building the state for the future and said his victory was victory for all the people of the state.
The governor further described the period the case lasted as tortuous,but said he is happy that the several lies and propaganda of the opposition by those who were bent on tarnishing his reputation has been settled finally by the apex court.
Wada said he begrudged no one over the allegation made against him and solicited the cooperation of all to move the state forward.
It would be recalled that the Supreme Court had on Friday upheld the election of Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party as the governor of Kogi State after dismissing an appeal filed by Alhaji Jibrin Isah (alias Echocho).
Isah was the PDP governorship candidate before the party opted to conduct another primary election, from which Wada emerged.
The decision to conduct a fresh governorship primary followed the cancellation of the earlier one which produced Isah, after the Independent National Electoral Commission released another timetable for the governorship poll in Kogi State.
Isah had approached the Supreme Court to nullify Wada’s election after his suit was initially dismissed by an Abuja Federal High Court, and later by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.
Both courts ruled that the grievance for which Isah sought adjudication was an election matter which should have been taken before an election tribunal, according to provisions of 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2010.
In the appeal, Isah asked the apex court to set aside Wada’s election as the governor of Kogi State on December 3, 2011 and also order INEC to conduct a fresh governorship election.
Alternatively, he said Isah should be declared the governor of Kogi State if the Supreme Court holds that the December 3, 2011 governorship election in State Kogi State was in order.
In his remarks,Alh Hassan Salawu,Kogi State PDP Chairman,called on those aggrieved to return to the peoples Democratic Party fold as the party he noted has what it takes to take the state to the promised land. Salawu described the several litigation made against Capt Wada as wicked and baseless,but thanked the apex court for providing justice at last.The PDP Chairman lauded the transformation agenda of Capt Wada and said the party is proud of the governor’s performance within the two years.
The numerous litigation against Governor Wada was really a set back to the development of Kogi State. The people of the State according to Hassan Salawu who were the proverbial grass when two elephants fight were at the receiving end, assured that the people’s interest will remain the interest of the PDP now and in the future by the Capt Wada’s administration.
Now that the several litigation hanging over the neck of Capt Wada seem to have been settled,what is now left as is been discussed by the people is the issues of development which the people say remains paramount on their mind.
Now that the truth is out and the governor is free from all legal encumbrances, for many it might be time to roll out the drums for Celebrations. But it is also to many others, time to bring out the spanners and for the Governor to roll up the sleeves for undiluted service to the people.
