From Daniel Abel, Lafia
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nasarawa State has accused the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) of flouting an advice from the Department of Security Service, DSS on the use of foul language to avoid heating up the polity in the state.
The opposition PDP had urged its supporters to ignore the alleged media trial Governor Abdullahi Sule had resortedto and adopt the principle of no comment to ensure peace and unity in the state.
The PDP therefore urged the APC to be wary of spreading religious, ethnic sentiments and desist from flouting the spirit of understanding, earlier agreed to by both parties in an interface with the Department of State Services (DSS).
The PDP State Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Hamza who made the call in a statement issued on Saturday and made available to journalists in Lafia, said as a law-abiding party with respect for the rule of law and the sanctity of the judiciary, they would not want to join issues with the ruling APC on the matter before the court.
According to the statement, recently a meeting was convened by the State Director of DSS with the two party chairmen- (PDP/APC) who were advised to guide and guard their supporters against the use of foul language and insults.
The statement explained however that, the PDP had been moderating the voices of its supporters and members by toning down responses and replies in order not to overheat the state and its polity.
It said while the PDP had respected the admonition by the DSS, the ruling APC, Gov. Sule and his supporters have chosen to exhibit their frustrations by hurling insults instead of advancing logical and sound ideas in public discourse.
“It has come to our attention that the outgoing governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. AA Sule and his 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.
“Also, we have noticed that the Nasarawa State APC, and some political appointees of 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.
“They have failed so far to desist from discussing matters pending before the courts and have instead chosen media platforms as their tribunal tantamount to exhibiting sub-judicial tendencies. Their new tactics come with insult as full package, which has been added to it.
“Need we remind them that this practice not only negates the integrity of legal proceedings, but they also undermine 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, which are designed to protect the rights of all parties involved and maintain the impartiality of that sacred estate which upholds that all are entitled to justice.
“Similarly, it is instructive to refer to some excerpts in the recent judgement of the Supreme Court in the appeal by former Vice President, 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 organized and sponsored by some politicians such as the Nasarawa APC and Engr Sule 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 conclusions.
“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 utilisation of monthly three hundred million (N300,000,000 ) security vote to openly display the mindset and arrogance 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.”
The statement therefore advised all its members and supporters to desist from joining issues with the APC in the state but stay focused and not allow themselves to be swayed into any form of distraction.