Following the victory of Senator Douye Diri at the Supreme Court on Thursday, presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 election, and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar quickly congratulated the new Bayelsa State Governor.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Supreme Court sacked, along with his Deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo, the Governor-elect of Bayelsa State, David Lyon, whom unconfirmed reports say was already rehearsing for his botched swearing in ceremony of Friday.
To make sense of Atiku’s speech following Diri’s victory, one would want to first consider that the same Supreme Court threw out Atiku’s case contesting the outcome of the 2019 presidential election that returned President Muhammadu Buhari for second term.
Recall that the Supreme Court also uncharacteristically declared, winner, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hope Uzodinma, the third runner up in the Governorship election that was held in Imo.
The Supreme Court judgement of Uzodinma, especially drew criticisms, even from Atiku, who has advised the apex court to be consistent in its judgments, and find the resolve to always deliver just judgments no matter whose ox is gored.
“The Lords Justices have given us another opportunity to show Nigerians that power belongs to the people,” Atiku said, adding, “I urge the Supreme Court to show consistency in its judgments and find the resolve to always deliver just-judgments no matter whose ox is gored. The people of Nigeria are behind the apex court in whatever they do to free themselves from the dominance of dictatorial forces”.
In the congratulatory message to Diri, Atiku called on the people of the State to make peace with the recent past and embrace the future together, united in the mission to transform the state into a haven of peace and prosperity.
He also revealed that Diri had visited him before the elections and received his blessings and counsel, stressing that he wad fully satisfied that Diri has what it takes to make Bayelsa the ‘glory of all lands’.
Read full congratulatory message below:
I received the verdict of the Supreme Court, declaring the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Bayelsa state gubernatorial elections, Senator Douye Diri, as the duly elected Governor of the state, with gladness.
Senator Douye Diri had cause to visit with me before the elections and received my blessings and counsel. I am fully satisfied that he has what it takes to make Bayelsa the ‘glory of all lands’. His intellect, personality and character, are a credit to Bayelsa and the PDP.
I congratulate Senator Douye Diri and his running mate, Mr. Lawrence Ewhrujakpor. I also felicitate with the Peoples Democratic Party. The Lords Justices have given us another opportunity to show Nigerians that power belongs to the people, and we must make good use of this opportunity.
I call on all the people of Bayelsa to make peace with the recent past and embrace the future together, united in the mission to transform the state into a haven of peace and prosperity.
Finally, I urge the Supreme Court to show consistency in its judgments and find the resolve to always deliver just-judgments no matter whose ox is gored. The people of Nigeria are behind the apex court in whatever they do to free themselves from the dominance of dictatorial forces.