The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, Board of Trustees, Walid Jibrin, has warned politicians not to use religion as a tool to incite the people of Nasarawa state.
The PDP chieftain noted that the election that brought Governor Abdullahi Sule for a second term was “marred by irregularities.”
He said this has been confirmed by the tribunal judgement which declared David Ombugadu as the winner of the March governorship election in Nasarawa state.
He said the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal’s verdict against Governor Sule, marked a resounding victory for truth and democracy in the state.
Jibrin, who is the Sarkin Fulani of Nasarawa, disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, and also expressed hope that in the event of an appeal against the Tribunal verdict, the outcome would still be in favour of the people of Nasarawa.
He said: “I am a devout Muslim and an elder of over 70 years. I am shocked by Sule’s attempt to blame his defeat on religion rather than the overwhelming facts before God and all Nigerians which show clearly that he didn’t win the last governorship election in Nasarawa.”
Jibrin expressed disappointment that Governor Sule, in the wake of the tribunal verdict, declined to accept the decision and chose to invoke religion as an excuse for not stepping down from office.
Recall that Gov Sule while speaking at a peace summit in Abuja said: “A lot of you must have read the tribunal ruling in our state when two of the judges, who are Christians, decided that a Christian won the election and one Muslim judge decided that it is the Muslim who won the election.”
Jibrin said Nigerians should be wary of the politics of religion as it is capable of destroying the country.
“If we are not careful with the politics of religion, the whole country will be destroyed,” he said.
Jibrin said the sad attempt to divide the judiciary on religious lines will destroy the only institution that remains the last hope of the common man.
He stressed that Ombugadu, the PDP’s governorship candidate in the state, who has been officially declared as the winner of the election by the tribunal, would foster development in the state and bridge religious differences.
He said: “In the governorship election Governor, Sule suffered crippling defeat as voters overwhelmingly rejected him and voted massively for the PDP governorship candidate Ombugadu.
“Similarly, in Sule’s senatorial zone, he suffered crushing defeat after four years in office. The situation in the Southern Zone was even worse for the governor who was defeated flatly in Lafia the state capital and in Doma Local Govt where His Deputy Dr Akabe hails from!
“Obi Local Government also rejected him and voted massively for Ombugadu of the PDP. These are the most populous LGAs in the Southern zone.
“In the West Senatorial zone, only Keffi gave Sule any real winking votes. He was defeated in Kokona where the state Chairman of APC hails from and in Karu which has the highest number of registered voters in our state, Governor Sule was overwhelmingly defeated as voters rejected him in favour of Dr David Ombugadu of the PDP.
“Now every Nigerian that followed the election online knows that by Sunday morning Dr Ombugadu from all the uploads on the INEC IREV platform had already won the governorship election by a comfortable margin.
“This is because by Sunday 19th March 99.67 percent of all polling unit results had been uploaded, including the results of all polling units in Gayam, and Ciroma Wards in Lafia town where INEC later shamelessly manipulated by adding magic votes at the Local Government collation centre just to declare the loser As winner to the shock of all Nigerians!
“When Sule was declared protests by women and youths erupted all over the state. The PDP showed maturity by rejecting the fraudulent declaration and following the due process of Law to reclaim Dr Ombugadu’s mandate.
“It is therefore very shocking that instead of accepting the widely anticipated verdict of the Tribunal Governor Sule had decided to plead religion as the reason why he won’t leave office for Dr. David Ombugadu of the PDP who is the true winner of the 18 Match 2023 governorship election in Nasarawa state!
“Since the creation of Nasarawa State the Governor has always been a Muslim and there was no any Religious fight in the whole of Nasarawa State.
“May I point out clearly that Dr. David Ombugadu is a candidate of both Muslims and Christians in the state? Dr. Ombugadu has never shown any sign of any campaign against Muslims even though he is Christian.
“After all, His Deputy is a true Muslim from the North Central Zone of the state. As the Governor of Nasarawa state, Dr. Ombugadu will be very fair to all citizens no matter Christian or Muslim. During his campaign, Dr Ombugadu had similarly donated vehicles to JNI and NASFAT. Also, he donated several to the building of many Mosques in Nasarawa state. Water boreholes to Mosques, markets, and churches for all.
“In the whole of Nigeria, Christian has emerged as president of the country e.g. General Yakubu Gowon, Chief Enerst Shonikan, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and Chief Jonathan. May I point out that those so-called groups of Muslims who are against the election of Dr David Ombugadu to become the Governor of Nasarawa are never well people and do not understand Islamic Religion very well and never receive the total support of Nasarawa state citizens?
“Above all; my Good People of Nasarawa State God has already chosen that Dr. Ombugadu will be the Governor of Nasarawa State at this. Both Muslims and Christians should therefore support the will of God in giving total support to David Ombugadu as the Governor of Nasarawa state.
“The sad attempt to divide the Judiciary into religious lines will destroy the only institution that remains the last hope of the common man
“The judgment of the two jurists was based on fact and Gov Sule should speak to the facts rather them pleading with Islam to divide public opinion in order to hand on to power after he had been clearly rejected by the majority of voters in Nasarawa state. If we’re not careful with the politics of religion the whole country will be destroyed.”