It’s a victory for all Nigerians - Jonathan

By Clement Oko Nnachi, Abakaliki,Akin Durodola,Yinka Oladoyinbo,Akure - 27.02.2008

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan has described the decision of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja today as a victory to all Nigerians, irrespective of their party affiliations.

Jonathan, who spoke to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the judgment was not a victory for himself and President Umaru Yar’Adua alone.

“The judgment today is not a question of whether the President and myself have won the election.

The most important thing is that Nigerians have won. “We should now expect peace, stability and good governance in the country.

It is for all of us. The victory is for all,’’ the vice- president said.

He called on other political parties to work with the administration to advance the cause of Nigeria and Nigerians both locally and internationally.

The Ebonyi State government, in conjunction with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, organized a solidarity rally, the duo describing the judgment as a victory for democracy anchored on the rule of law.

Addressing a large Crowd, that gathered at the Abakaliki Township Stadium, shortly after the tribunal verdict was delivered, the state governor, Chief Martin Elechi, said with the judgment, the Nigeria Judiciary system, had proved that Nigeria was a country mature enough to lead the rest of Africa.

Elechi outlined the lessons of the judgment to include abstinence from rumour mongering, and media trials, stating that the PDP won the presidential election, having had a firm grip on the mindset of Nigerian, as well as the massive campaign machinery, adopted by the party.

Various speakers who spoke in solidarity with the tribunal judgment included the leader of the conference of Nigeria political parties, in Ebonyi State, Chief Agwu Chima, the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Augustine.

Nwankwagu, a former Senator and one of the founding fathers of the state, Chief Offia Nwali, the party Chairman in the State, Mr. Dave. Umahi, among others.

OYO State governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, said that the victory of President Umaru Yar’Adua at the Election Petition Tribunal had further affirmed his confidence in the judiciary.

Akala, reacting immediately the judgment was delivered through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Abraham Ojo, said that the landmark judgment was “a proof and eloquent testimony that judicial battle cannot be fought on the pages of newspapers but with facts and evidences as proved by legal counsels in the court.”

The governor, who was said to have suspended all other engagements and activities and was glued to his television set for the period of the judgment on Tuesday said “it is a lesson to all litigants and leading counsel to refrain from taking legal issue before court of competent jurisdiction to the court of public opinion.”

He congratulated President Yar’Adua on the victory and commended the judiciary for the landmark judgment.

“The judgement has shown that our judges are impartial, thoroughbred, intelligent and are not influenced by comments, analyses and orchestrated by public opinion. It has affirmed our confident in the judiciary that issues before it are treated without sentiment,” he said.

Akala said that in his own case, he was very optimistic, adding that “I don’t have any problem, the judiciary knows better.

“By the grace of God, in my own case before the tribunal, I will be vindicated.

The verdict was lauded by the governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as a victory for democracy and the rule of law.

Prince Oyinlola, who is currently out of the country, congratulated President Umaru YarAdua and Vice President Goodluck Jonathan on the “well deserved victory” and declared that the judgment of the tribunal had deepened democracy and made all lovers of Nigeria proud.

His reaction was contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secrertary, Mr. Lasisi Olagunju.

“The verdict has shown that propaganda cannot give justice to a party that does not merit it. It has shown that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria.

“The judiciary deserves commendation for the deep, comprehensive and well considered judgment. The live television coverage of the court session was an innovation that also made it possible for the ordinary person in the country to have direct access to the facts of the cases as argued by the various parties,” he said.

Governor of Ekiti state, Mr Segun Oni, has said that the tribunal judgment on Tuesday is an indication that Nigeria has a responsible and focused judiciary.

Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and head of the state Public Communications Bureau, Mr. Moses Jolayemi, Oni said: “It is obvious from the verdict of today that we have a judiciary that is focused and responsible, not given to hearsay, concoctions and empty propaganda.

It is a clear indication that we have a judiciary that cannot be railroaded into spontaneity on account of misinformation and falsification of truth.”

He congratulate the entire people of Nigeria and democracy lovers all over the world on the historic victory.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sikiru Tae Lawal, led thousands of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP supporters to dance round the streets of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital in celebration of the victory of the president and his vice.

Dr. Lawal, according to his Special Assistant on Public Communications, Mr. Joseph Ogunsemi, stormed out of his office immediately after the judgment in Abuja to celebrate the news with PDP loyalists and political appointees, who spontaneously decided to dance round the streets of Ado-Ekiti.

Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, on Tuesday described the judgment of the presidential election petition tribunal as a landmark.

He said the judgment was painstakingly delivered, adding that it had further shown that democracy was working in the country.

According to a statement by his Chief of Staff (COS), Mr. Femi Agagu, the governor said the judgment had further reinforced the fact that President Umaru Yar’Adua was the popular choice of the people.

Besides, Agagu noted that the development had also confirmed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was the party of the moment.

GOVERNOR Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has congratulated President Umaru Yar’Adua and Vice President Goodluck Jonathan on the verdict of the tribunal.

In a statement issued in Enugu, Chime said through the judgement, the judiciary had once again shown that it was the bastion of democracy in our country.

Governor Chime said the verdict of the tribunal was a confirmation of the mandate given to President Yar’Adua by Nigerians, noting that the people’s will had prevailed.

He enjoined all Nigerians in general and the petitioners in particular to join hands with the President Yar’Adua and his government in realizing his vision of Nigeria as one of the most developed economies by 2020.