By Alex Okunbor
LAGOS DECEMBER 23RD (URHOBOTODAY)-Sadly, it has become akin to electoral rascality and mischief that the APC now wishes to viciously subvert and snatch away the hard-earned mandate of beloved Deltans. Or else,how do one describe the current shenanigans of the APC as the Appeal Court judgment on Delta State Gubernatorial Election draws so nigh?
As usual, Latimore through a communique issued by his group,the DUC,impugned the publicized historic Presidential visit to India that had Gov Okowa of Delta State on the entourage. We graciously can choose to ignore the pain of Latimore and his cronies that the President justifiably included Gov Okowa -a PDP Governor – on his Team billed to discuss very critical bilateral economic and political issues with India .
What we may not ignore is this his latest unnecessary vituperations which only echoes this hard truth . Latimore and his select partymen detest anything cross -party collaboration which our dear Country Nigeria needs at this time in our turbulent political terrain. Perhaps, had Gov Okowa been engaged in some political tussle with President Buhari then,Latimore would have widely circulated it in his characteristic unpatriotic manner. However, Latimore may need to know that inasmuch as some Nigerians vouch for the integrity of the President and attest to the cordiality between him and Gov Okowa, what the issue here is that not many Nigerians trust most of the President’ s partymen who surround him these days in the corridor of power like blood-starved leeches.
For the records, the irresponsible activities carried out by Latimore’ s partymen in Kogi and Bayelsa States(which embarrassed President Buhari and received widespread condemnation from international elections observers), remain fresh in our collective memories. Furthermore, Latimore needs to understand that any time he mentions Sahara Reporters as the primary source of their information,he literally removes every pint of credibility that would have attended his usual incredible submissions. Now, who does not recognize the laughable style of Sahara Reporters as a Tabloid that will never publish anything negative about the APC Government at any levels?Obviously, to this incurably jaundiced Tabloid, APC can only be a party populated by saints who do no wrong politically, economically and otherwise. Well, may Latimore equally know that no matter how long he hides under the wings of legal technicalities and resorts to constant media harassment of the Justice Gumi- led Elections Tribunal,they will not obliterate the simple truth that Chief Emerhor was a mere political neophyte and lightweight during the Gubernatorial Election of 2015.
Right now,Chief Emerhor may have gathered some political clout and relevance through his romance with the political high and mighty but truth be told that a man who did not campaign anywhere else save in Urhoboland,could not have secured the mandate of a State made up of three united Senatorial Districts. Deltans are known to have voted Gov Okowa, an incurable pan-Delta apologist instead of Chief Emerhor whose unbridled stock- in- trade during the Elections was his divisive tendencies that he unsuccessfully fostered among his own people through the then polarized Urhobo Political Union. Latimore, this is our simple advice : just as you alluded to,rather than constantly malign the respected Tribunal Justices and thereby constituting some nuisance on the cyberspace,do report these Justices ( probably through petitions) to the Nigerian Judicial Council which is the Body charged with issues pertaining to judicial officers. Lastly,it is our utmost desire never to act subjudice as Latimore would do.
However it is curious that the Appeal Court sitting billed to hold in Edo State ( not Delta State) has been moved to Abuja for reasons( as hinted by Latimore) known only to the APC power blocs. Initially, the ‘saintly ‘ APC had alleged unbelievably that top APC Government officials in Edo State acted as conveyors of Gov Okowa’ s bribe to the removed Appeal Court Judges. It remains somewhat alien to commonsense why Governor Okowa will use his unrepentant political opponents to pursue his Cause. Even at that, we had asked then and ask now: would Officials of the loquacious Edo State Government do such being unmindful of the attendant consequences? Moreover, why will bribery allegations only always be mentioned in PDP- related cases? Again, if the allegations were true,why has there been no mention of it again and why have those affected Edo State officials not been investigated ;instead,they have been allowed to continue their stay in office as if nothing happened- yet PDP stalwarts are being chased all over the place in the name of selectively fighting corruption Indeed,whatever APC wishes to do in their ‘ militarized ‘ quest to ‘ Take- Over Delta State’ and perhaps, the whole of the Niger- Delta Region,let it be noted that somehow, the Delta State electorate -which owns the mandate freely given to Gov Okowa -will defend it. In the meantime,President Buhari owes Nigerians the duty to avert this looming rape of Democracy scheduled to happen on Thursday in Abuja by his misguided and power-drunk party men. Beware of hungry Drooling Wolf In Sheeps Clothing, Symbolizing Fraud, Evil And Deceit .