By David Okpashi (Nasarawa State Correspondent, in Lafia)
The opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State has strongly warned it's members and supporters against responding to what it described as "media trial" allegedly being undertaken by the governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The party in a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Hamza, and made available to Journalists in Lafia on Saturday, said as a law abiding party that has respect for the rule of law and the sanctity of the judiciary, we will not want to join issues with the rulling APC on issues before the court.
"It has come to our attention that the governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. AA Sule and his media handlers have continued to spin the outcome of the tribunal ruling in the State Governorship Election in order to whip up judicial sentiments ahead of his Appeal in Court.
"We have noticed that the Nasarawa State APC and some political appointees of governor AA Sule have scaled up media appearances on national television through the purchase of airtime, press conferences, posts on social media and press releases in an attempt to analyse and extrapolate the outcome of the judgment in order to arrive at a goal conceived in their minds and wishes", the statement declared.
"Let us remind them that at a recently held meeting with the State Director of SSS, the two party chairmen- (PDP/APC) were advised to guide their supporters against the use of foul language and insults. Since then, our party, the PDP, has been moderating the voices of its supporters and members by toning down our responses and replies in order not to overheat the polity in the state.
While the PDP chose to respect admonition by the DSS, APC, Engr. Sule and his minions have chosen to exhibit their frustrations by hurling insults instead of advancing logical and sound ideas in public discourse. They have failed, so far, to desist from discussing matters pending before the courts and have instead chosen media platforms as their tribunal which is tantamount to exhibiting subjudicial tendencies. Their new tactics come with insult as full package, which has been added to it.
"We humbly wish to remind them that this practice not only negates the integrity of legal proceedings, but also undermines the principles of justice and peace in an attempt to intimidate and cow the courts. In a democracy, the courts play a critical role in adjudicating legal disputes and ensuring that justice is served. Matters pending in court are subject to the rules and procedures of the legal system". the statement added
According to the statement, "It is no hidden fact that certain public or media commentary on pending cases in court can potentially influence opinions, especially when they are set up on the foundation of lies and insults, a fact we pointed out as a responsible party.
"In this regard, and as he usually does, our incoming governor, Dr. David Ombugadu, in consultation with the party and its leaders, has further advised all our members and supporters to desist from joining issues with the APC in Nasarawa State. Instead, they should stay focused and not allow themselves to be preyed into any form of distraction while assuring that their mandate freely and widely given to him is still safe and secured under the rule of law.
"Simiarly, It is instructive to refer to some excerpts in the recent judgement of the Supreme Court in the appeal by former VP Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the LP, challenging the declaration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, during which His Lordship, Justice Inyang Okoro lamented the spate of media trial organised and sponsored by some politicians such as the Nasarawa APC and Engr Sule are doing at the moment.
“It is very unbecoming these days that while a matter is pending in court, litigants engage in press conferences, analysing the case and reaching a conclusion.
“Based on these, some of their followers send threatening messages to judges and justices. Matters in court are said to be subjudice. Consequently, parties and their counsel must refrain from media trial and judgment.
“Need not say more on this, and a word is enough for the wise. This issue has nothing positive to offer the appellants. It is clear that at this time, those harsh words should be reserved for those who cherish them. We therefore advise Engr. A. A. Sule and his cohorts, to desist from flouting the spirit of understanding, earlier agreed to by both parties in an interface with the State Director of the DSS.
"It is also in this same spirit that we have noticed how the Nasarawa State APC and some political appointees of AA Sule, like one Peter Ahemba whose TIV people have been displaced and many are currently in makeshift IDP squatter camps across the state due to bad governance, improper utilization of monthly three hundred million (300, 000,000 ) security vote and bad governance, to openly display the mind- set and arogance of his pay masters on national television in order to arrive in their conceited effort to undermine the judiciary while stoking the passion of our people and supporters at all cost.
"Further more, our party wishes to restate that should this act by the APC and its leaders persist, we shall be left with no other option than to do the needful". NNL.
