When most of us who witnessed the injustice in the Primaries of
the All Progressives Congress APC in Rivers state last October and channeled
our grievances to President Muhammadu Buhari, we did it because we had the
conviction that as a humane and understanding leader, he will look into
the issues critically with a bid to addressing it for the general good and progress of the party.
Mr. President true to his character, yesterday the 27th
of November 2018 did the much awaited needful when contrary to the position of
the party's National Executive Council, encouraged aggrieved aspirants to seek
legal redress in the course of addressing their grievances. It should be noted
that that the NWC of the party had penultimate week said it will sanction aggrieved
aspirants who were in court against the outcome of the primaries in their
states. Notable states where angst against the process of the primaries that
has threatened to divide the party include but not limited to Imo, Rivers,
Zamfara and Ogun.
Of all these states, some have gone to court as in the
case of Rivers State, Zamfara and Imo
states but the one that seem most interesting of the states that are in
litigation is that of Rivers State and if judging by the pronouncement of the
President which lucidly espoused the underlying principles of the party which
is embedded at promoting democracy through respect of democratic institutions, one
can deduce that the party has no other option but to respect the October judgment
of the Supreme Court of Nigeria that
voided the congress that took place in the state.
The Supreme Court had while delivering its judgment,
voided the congresses that took place in the state in May. The products of the
congress which formed the delegates that voted in the indirect primaries that
took place early October were voided by the apex court's Judgment. Incidentally, some
persons in the party who have chosen to play god have opted to disrespect the
highest court in the land. This is where the problem lies and it has continued
to give the party a very negative perception.
Of all the litigants in the suits challenging the outcome
of the APC ward, LGA and state primaries, the case in Rivers state is the most significant because it should have been concluded by now due to the famous October Supreme
Court judgment but what we see is a case where somebody is declared an
untouchable because he flaunts the fact that he is close to the president and
such closeness forecloses any respect for rule of law. I don't think this is
the intendment of Mr. President when he encouraged aggrieved party members to
go to court. I do not also think the president will apply the principle of
selective amnesia in respecting the outcome of the law courts. The court has
spoken in the case in Rivers state and it behoves the party to do the right
thing by respecting that judgment no matter who it affects. This is democracy
and rule of law is what guides it. Any attempt to disrespect it will amount to
its greatest threat. Will the APC fall for this? I really do hope it won't.
The problem with the party today is that some people are
so desperate for power that they can do anything to keep it at all cost and the
fact that such people see themselves as above God and mankind makes it the more
dangerous. But they fail to understand the power of the people. The case in
Rivers state must be addressed for the party to regain its glory in the state
and the country at large which has been battered by the respect for rule of
law.
Sen. Magnus Abe should be handed the ticket because he
has fought for it and his fight has been supported by the apparatus of
democracy which is the law court that painstakingly studied the matter and has ruled
on his behalf by nullifying the process that produced the delegates that voted
for Tonye Cole. What else does the party want?
Nwokoma Messiah contributed this piece from Abuja.
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