By Shaibu Phrank
1. Our attention has been drawn to series of articles, press statements as well as coordinated campaigns in both electronic and print media aimed at tarnishing the reputation of our principal, Alhaji Jibrin Isah (Echocho) orchestrated by some desperate politicians who are doomed to fail.
2. As a responsible organization, and conscious of the fact that most of the issues been bandied about are before competent courts in the country, we had earlier opted to keep mute, knowing that only fools would continue to hit their heads against the wall even after being told that they have come to the end of the road.
3. However, it has become absolutely necessary for us to speak up, in view of the desperation and brazen impunity with which some of the characters associated with the said agents of our political opponents have carried on with the mission to “destroy at all cost” the character, person and reputation of Alhaji Jibrin Isah, who remains the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State.
4. Needless to say that it is impossible to ignore last week’s ignoble plea by Captain Wada to the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur that the latter should rescue him from Alhaji Jibrin Isah who he claimed was making it impossible for him (Wada) to rule Kogi State.
5. There is no doubt that the plea to the PDP National Chairman was meant to enroll him into a satanic and illegal project, since it is public knowledge that judgment is to be delivered by a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, June 29 , 2012. Counsel for all the parties have already submitted addresses and judgement is due. Perhaps, our opponent and his cohorts seek to smear the integrity of our able Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and the NWC who have consistently said that the era of impunity and lack of internal party democracy are over with their election. We must not allow these men with less than positive motives have their way.
6. Most importantly, well meaning Nigerians ought to call the said this desperadoes to order as their comments and actions convey a more sinister intention of seeking to blackmail the judiciary by cleverly obfuscating the duty of the judge who by now must be considering issues raised by counsel of both parties and to decide either way, based on his conviction on the points of law. Is it possible that they have foreseen the curtain drawn on their illegal sojourn by the forthcoming judgment? Does his plea to the our chairman not amount to seeking to truncate a process?
7. Similarly, there is no other conclusion that could be reached by the current effort by a faceless group to compel the EFCC to ‘convert’ Alhaji Jibrin Isah Echocho who was made a prosecution witness since 2009 to an accused except to state unequivocally that this is the handiwork or machination of a drowning man. Why did they wait till 2012. Is there any new evidence been leveled against Echocho while serving as executive director of Afribank to warrant such an obnoxious request? Or is it just a case of simply holding on to any straw to stay afloat?
8. We have repeatedly stated that our mandate is of God and freely given to us by PDP faithful in Kogi State. It is the same mandate that we have put before the judiciary based on the rule of law. We have neither resorted to self help, nor attempted to circumvent the process by arm twisting the judiciary . Why is it so difficult for these men and their fellow travelers to follow this time tested route? The other day, they compelled the President of a Customary Court of Appeal to swear in a governor, while there is a subsisting Chief Judge in Kogi state. Now they want our PDP national chairman, a man of integrity and honour to do their bidding. Is there no end to this blatant greed for power?
9. While we believe in any reconciliatory move by them, because the PDP remains our party, we state that there can be no reconciliation devoid of fairness and the rule of law. Threats and the litany of sponsored media propaganda by these desperadoes is only a lazy form of grief: a man must accept his fate or be destroyed by it. As we contend with the disdainful oddities of this group, we are hopeful that the law will eventually take its full course. For however long the night may take, dawn must surely break.
10. Friday 29th June, seems so far away for our traducers. But we have been waiting for over thirty weeks for justice to be done. Our faith in the judiciary remains unshakeable. No blackmail or intimidation would dissuade us from our avowed path of righteousness. We shall overcome….!
SHAIBU Phrank
Director, Public Communication & Strategy
Jibrin Isah Campaign Organization