
By George Kushi
At long last the Adamawa State governorship tussle has been resolved by the Supreme court of Nigeria.
The
Apex court in its ruling validified the mandate of the people of
Adamawa State when they voted in Rt Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri as
Governor. All said and done, the amount of pressure and attempts to
truncate the People's mandate has been proved abortive.
Governor
Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has proved himself an indomitable overcomer that
has survived several attempts to put down his political career. He
weathered the storm of being Acting Governor twice .
When
it was visibly clear that he would become Governor he was suppressed
from vying for the office. The story of Fintiri did not end there.
During the Presidential campaign of Dr Goodluck Jonathan, at the mention
of his name, the crowd wass ecstatic. On later occasions when the name
Fintiri is mentioned, the response of the crowd indicated how he has
captured the hearts of Adamawa citizens . It therefore did not come as a
surprise that having endured the vicissitudes of the political clime
that did not seem to favour him that he was returned as the Governorship
candidate more than four years after being sidelined from GOVERNANCE,
the " INDOMITABLE OVERCOMER " by the will of the people became Governor
of Adamawa State.
But
things that should have been kept to rest did not work out that way.
Technicalities and political mumbo Jumbo were put in his path.
It
began with the MRDD a party relatively unknown under the mentorship of
the then administration under erstwhile Governor Bindow became hell bent
on distracting the normal electoral processes that were taking place
to propel him to the Governorship position. The challenge of the
ommission of the MRDD then could be faulted on many grounds . For one,
they pretended not to notice the ommission when the list of Governorship
contestants was published by INEC, instead they waited until the
election was declared inconclusive ( even when Fintiri was leading)
before approaching the court to have the election cancelled. Once again
Fintiri was vindicated following the subsequent litigation at the state
High court where the case was dismissed.
It is
instructive to state that this particular case roused the ire of Adamawa
electorates who visibly voiced their angst in homes , streets, markets,
work places etc...it was an AGONISING MOMENT then.
Not
to let matters rest, a case was file at the Governorship petitions
tribunal after his leading opponent former Governor Umaru Jibrilla
Bindow congratulated him on his electoral victory. What would have been
an end to the electoral process proved yet abortive as the APC took the
case to the tribunal and lost out for lacking in merit.
The
APC threafter took the case to the Appellate Court whereby Ex Governor
Bindow was persuaded to apply and join join in the suit seeking to oust
Governor Fintiri and declare him ( Bindow ) as duly elected . The suit
was again thrown out.
Things
would not rest again as the APC proceeded with the case to the Apex
Court ( Supreme Court of Nigeria). Beside being the supreme court at the
helm of Affairs, the normal JAW JAW that is frequent in Nigerian
politics and legal manipulations , word was abroad that the powers that
be would manipulate the judgement of the supreme court to deny Fintiri's
mandate, but the votes of the people and their prayers could not give
the " manipulators " their desired results.
It is
again pertinent to note here again that the tension created in the minds
of Adamawa voters while awaiting the final judgement of the supreme
court was EXCRUCIATING!! This is because while the Adamawa APC guys
were relishing in the confidence of" grabbing back the power", the PDP
guys were genuinely in prayers and living with a realization of
uncertainty as to ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
It
could be recalled that before the Adamawa ruling, the case in Imo state
in a much debated fashion that continues to hover round Nigerian
political discussions created furor over interpretations.
Only
after 2019 General elections did Nigerians wake up to learn a new
phrase called " inconclusive ". The word inconclusive to many Nigerians
practically means being denied! Having agreed on anything, when you
loose out the result is inconclusive ". So it was inconclusive in Imo
when arose the claim that results from over three hundred units were "
inconclusive " that made it possible for the number four position in an
election to be declared winner.
This
created fear in the hearts of those that voted for Fintiri , while the
hawks of the APC became confident and were even publicly boasting that
the people's mandate will be snatched by a manipulated judiciary to hand
over and " underserved victory" to the people that have been rejected
by popular votes and wish of the people. This ofcourse did not happen.
The judiciary has proved that all said and done, it could stand up to its duties.
And
now that the mandate of Governor Fintiri has been affirmed by the
highest court of the law in Nigeria, he is saddled with the task of
delivering what he promised the people and this is no easy task .
His
pronouncement at the victory Rally which held in the state capital of
checking the fraudulent activities that preceded him will not endear him
to the people that soiled their hands in defrauding Adamawa citizens of
what rightfully belongs to them. This is one aspect our Governor must
pay attention to.
The
Governor should be wary of people that would appear to be friends while
in reality they mean him and the people of Adamawa no good.
The
travails of Governor Fintiri might not have been over, his traducers
will not rest and the people of Adamawa must continue to watch carefully
how attempts would be made to hinder his government from achieving what
was promised the people.
What
transcends in the public domain might be unknown to him but his
grassroot connection that has kept him will not be forgotten. He is set
to work and will deliver on promise made to the people.
For
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, he knows that the act of governance is
not easy. He has been there, at the bottom up to the top.
Governor Fintiri knows what the people are , how they can change behave and under what pressure they would bend.
Adamawa
has suffered a lot. Her resources has been plundered over the years.
It is high time the opposition, the fence sitters and traducers alike
join hands in helping the FRESH AIR Governor to take the battered state
out of the DOLDRUMS!!!
(George Kushi is the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State)
TO PARTAKE IN THE ONGOING DANGOTE BAG OF GOODIES PROMO,CONTACT THE MARKETING MANAGER (Alhaji Jubril Abubakar) 0N ☎️O7OI-66O-7O6O.
ReplyDeleteCement-N1,3OO PER BAG
Rice- N1O,OOO PER 5OKG BAG.FOR BUYERS ABOVE 1OO BAGS AND TRAILER LOAD OF 6OO AND 9OO BAGS.ALSO GET YOUR FOREIGN USED EXCAVATOR,DREDGER,TIPPER TRUCK & CONCRETE MIXER DELIVERED TO YOUR SITE AT THE BEST PRICES.Delivery takes 2 days after booking.Please share and tell others about this opportunity.