From Fred Itua, Abuja
The member representing Pankshin/Kanam/Kanke federal constituency of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to count him and the judiciary out of their self-inflicted troubles.
The Media Office of the reps member in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said PDP members in Plateau state were delusional and a confused lot for blaming their tribunal losses on their principal and President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem.
The statement described as unfortunate and unwarranted attempts by some PDP’s “emergency groups to vilify the lawmaker, who is the chairman, House of Reps Committee on Navy, and whoever is opposed to the party, including the judiciary, for judgments not in their favour.
“We note with dismay attempts to drag the name of our principal, Rt Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, into the political tsunami that has befallen their party in Plateau State. Desperation can lead to an unending search for scapegoats. This is understandable but would not be condoned.
“It is also a pity that their futile efforts at blackmail and mud raking is now hinged on a catchphrase which our principal has used since 2015, “we know whom they know, but they don’t know whom we know!
“For the avoidance of doubt, the catchphrase is an affirmation of our principal’s belief and trust in God as the giver of power to whom He pleases, no matter the earthly forces against such a person. This catchwords gave birth to his campaign slogan, “In God we Trust.”
The media office warned that attempts to undermine the integrity of the judiciary when judgments were not in their favour is dangerous to the dispensation of justice.
“The PDP and its hired hands in Plateau state must desist from casting aspersion on the person and Office of the President of the Court of Appeal as any effort to throw mud at her will be stoutly resisted by all well-meaning Nigerians.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the President of the Court of Appeal is not a member of the panel handling the appeals from Plateau State and there is nowhere it can be imagined that she lobbied their justices to give the sound verdicts that have been given on the appeals before them.
“It will be interesting for the PDP and its social media hounds to tell Nigerians which justices they ‘bribed’ at the lower courts when the judgments were in their favour.”
The statement further noted that when the party abused due process and disregarded lawful orders of different courts on the conduct of its sham primaries, did they expect the courts to do otherwise?
“For the PDP in Plateau to now act surprised at its fate and desperately look for whom to blame for their woes is the height of hypocrisy, and a disgrace to decency and due process.
“While we rejoice with utmost decorum, and relish our victory at the Appeal Court, and anticipating a possible victory at the Supreme Court for our gubernatorial candidate, we want to categorically remind the PDP and its hirelings that Nigerian Courts are courts of law, not courts of sentiments and emotions. Their shenanigans cannot intimidate the court to act against the law and laid down precedents.
