Supreme Court rulling; Udom Emmanuel’s victory sparks joy in A/Ibom
By: Patrick Effiong, Uyo.
Unspeakable joy filled the atmosphere in Akwa Ibom state, especially Uyo, the state capital as Supreme Court of Appeal in Abuja on Wednesday, affirmed the choice of Mr. Udom Emmanuel as the governor of the state.
As at the time of filling this report, the socio-economic activities in the area have been put on a standstill as fans and associates of the Governor, elders, youths and faithful of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, poured into streets in a carnival floats chanting songs of victory that at last, their wishes have been granted in-spite of all odds by the opposing party, All Progressive Congress (APC).
Normal traffic on all major roads and streets within Uyo metropolis, especially along Barracks Road where government house is located, Oron Road and the adjoining streets were put on hold for several hours while security operatives and Federal Road Safety officials had a busy task trying to control the situation.
Governor Emmanuel in the past seven months battled to sustain his victory during April 11, 2015 governorship election following petitions filled by his major opposition in APC, Obong Umana Okon challenging both the conducts and results of the said election by INEC as inappropriate, hence it should be nullify ab-initio by the courts.
Contrary to the popular way of consoling anyone who suffers defeat in most contests that “No victor, no vanquish”, the spontaneous reactions that greeted the apex court judgment by both sides in the gubernatorial tussle in the state which before then had created tension, have pointed to the opposite.
While the losers, Obong Umana and his APC supporters have gone apparently weak, disappointed and unspoken hours after the final blow which hit the atmosphere at about 10 pm of Wednesday, the winning party, Governor Emmanuel spoke with overwhelming joy and authority while addressing his supporters, besides receiving basket of congratulations from people within and outside the state for the winning the battle generally noted in the state as crucial.
In a state-wide radio and television broadcast to the people of the state, Governor Emmanuel described the judiciary as still being the last hope for a common man as well as keeping watches over the evolution and the deepening of the culture and traditions the country’s nascent democracy.
Governor Emmanuel who extended olive branch to the oppositions’ party, called on them to close ranks and join hands with him to move the state forward and ensure development that is sustainable, impactful and expansive.
Noting peace as a foundation for development in any given society, he called on people of the state to conduct themselves within the ambit of the law, assuring that with his affirmation of his victory at April gubernatorial poll, the people of the state can be rest assured of good governance that would affect the society.
“I call on our people to remain law abiding and shun acts and tendencies that would cause public disaffection. The other side had a right to aspire to power, even though we don’t agree with their approaches and mechanics.
“Politics should not be used as a wedge issue to divide brothers and sisters, politics should be an instrument that creates disharmony among otherwise homogeneous people, and we should resist the impulse to stoke ethnic fire among otherwise happy brothers and sisters. As I have always stated: political foes of today may be political allies tomorrow – we should be guided by this ennobling ideal”, Governor Emmanuel stated.
He thanked the leadership of his party for their support, the legal team for their performance, the entire people of the state, and above God who divine mercies and love, that victory came.
