Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Almighty for his triumph in the governorship election petitions tribunal, reaffirming his position as the governor for a second term. His elation was evident as he addressed the public at the Ramat House in Bauchi following the tribunal’s confirmation of his status as the duly elected governor.
Governor Mohammed articulated his belief that the tribunal’s verdict was not just a routine legal decision but a significant and profound affirmation of the mandate bestowed upon him by the people of Bauchi during the March election. He noted that the resonance of this judgment would extend far and wide, showcasing the principles of judicial diligence and practical wisdom.
In his address, the governor emphasized the tribunal’s decision as a validation of the people’s sovereign will, effectively countering political maneuvering and entitlement attitudes. This landmark judgment, according to Governor Mohammed, symbolizes the essence of democracy, ensuring that the voice of the people prevails above all else.
According to him, his victory today is by the grace of Allah who gives power to whom he wishes and takes it without consulting the holder, and is a reminder 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.
“Like 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 hemorrhage, 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 rather than succumbed to our ego and personal fantasies,” he said.
Mohammed said that as a constitutionalist who has stood with the law at critical moments in the country’s history, he will be the first to admit that the framers of the Nigerian constitution did not err by co-opting judicial intervention as part and parcel of the electoral process adding that the epitome of the country’s Doctrine of Separation of Powers gives confidence to the aggrieved not to resort to self-help which 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 can take care of our 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 can 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 we may have and move on. The task ahead of us is enormous, requiring unity of purpose, a pooling of resources, integration of talents, and leveraging the unique attributes of each of the contestants, as we seek to create a better society for our people.
“Against the above background, I solemnly invite my worthy opponents, each of whom is an unqualified success in his own right, to sheath their swords, and to join me in the collective quest 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,” he stated.
The Governor expressed gratitude to his legal team, led by Chief Chis Uche, SAN, whom he says deserves special mention for always standing by him, the leadership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, led by the state chairman, Alhaji Hamza Akuyam, and all the members who traversed all nooks and crannies of the state, withstanding in the process some of the strongest threats and high-handedness equally deserve his gratitude.
