The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nasarawa State Chapter has accused some first-class traditional rulers in the state of leading a delegation to lobby the Vice President, Kashim Shetima, to influence judgement at the ongoing governorship tribunal sitting in Lafia.
The party’s State Chairman, Chief Francis Orogu, made the allegation on Saturday in Lafia while addressing journalists.
Mr. Orogu said that while it was no longer news that some notable traditional rulers from the state visited the Vice President Kashim Shetima, they were aware of the main purpose of the visit.
“We are aware of the position traditional rulers in the state have taken before, during and after the last elections. They have vowed that they will use their position to ensure nobody else win the seat of the governor if not Abdullahi Sule.
“We are not also surprised that they are desperate and have organized themselves to visit the Vice President to lobby him so that he can influence the decision of the Governorship Tribunal in favor of governor Sule.
“We live in a digital age where information travel fast, nothing done in secrete is hidden any longer. The traditional rulers in their address said they visited to thank the Vice President for appointing their own from the state. Is it the Vice President that appointed the ministers? He asked.
Adding: “Our greatest shock is that three of the traditional rulers who are involved in this mission are former Chief Judges. But why should they allow themselves to be used to frustrate or temper with judicial proceeding against the will of the citizens’ votes in the last elections.
“We are aware too that these traditional rulers who are former Justices have their influences in the judicial world. But we believe God Almighty has the final say too.”
Mr. Orogu also alleged that governor Sule and his group allegedly supported Abubakar Atiku in the last Presidential elections against the All Progressives Congress (APC) but expressed disappointment that same Sule and his group were celebrating the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Shetima.
The State PDP chairman cautioned the Vice President as father to all not to allow his honorable office to be used to frustrate court proceedings, but allow justice to reign without tempering or interfering with decision of the court on election matter.
“These same traditional rulers could not persuade their subjects to vote the APC both at the Presidential elections and that was why the APC lost to Peter Obi of Labor Party in the state because they have allowed politics infiltrated into the traditional institution where politicians now control and dictate what they want and not what the traditional stool stand to achieve.
He therefore appealed to traditional rulers in the state to restrict themselves to their core mandates of ensuring peaceful coexistence and security of their communities instead of engaging in politics of rancor and sentiment.
Orogu added that his party and the governorship candidate of his party, Dr. David Ombugadu, have strong confidence in the judiciary against all odds.
SOURCE: The Guardian
