My fellow Deltans and Well-Meaning Nigerians.
STATEMENT ON THE SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT ON OUR QUEST TO ENSURE WHOEVER REMAINS AS GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE AT THE END OF THE 2023 ELECTION CYCLE IS THE RESULT OF AN EXCELLENT PROCESS.
As the sun sets on our arduous journey through the judicial landscape of Nigeria following the gubernatorial elections of March 18th, 2023, it is with a heart full of undiminished hope and unwavering conviction in the justice of our cause that I address you today.
IN THE BEGINNING
I am one of 10 children born to parents who were Baptist educationists, who brought us up with a strict sense of good and evil and this sense was refined by values instilled at my alma mater – Government College, Ughelli, strengthened in my career as an investment banker and reinforced when I became born again in my later years and was ordained a Deacon.
My political journey was birthed by a prophecy that instilled a vision in me on a fateful Easter night in 1999…
…a vision that was not born out of a quest for power, but out of a sincere desire to see a Delta where development and prosperity is not just a promise, but a tangible reality for every Deltan…
…a vision I initially resisted because even though I came from a family where my late father had been a member of the Midwest House of Assembly in the ‘60s and my late elder brother had been a member of the Bendel House of Assembly in 1983, I never thought the prophecy was about politics because I did not like the nature of Nigerian politics…
…a vision I committed to pursuing with diligence from the Local Government level with the mantra of change between 2000 and 2003 till the powers that be in the state stopped me.
In my “Millenium Vision” declaration, I talked about how “I have watched the suffering pain and around me caused by poverty, unemployment and lack of development in our Local Government and it is my belief that history will never forgive us if we choose to continue business as usual …and are not ready to fight and die for that change”. Almost 2 decades later, nothing has changed across the state, despite an estimated sum of over 5 trillion naira that have accrued to the government coffers in the period.
THE 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS
H.E. Peter Obi’s emergence as a presidential candidate of the Labour Party, backed by the Obidient movement, with its wave of a passionate and fervent hope for transformation, resonated deeply with my own aspirations for our beloved state. I saw beacons of change, indeed, kindred spirits in the murky waters of our nation’s politics and like many of you, I was captivated by the possibility of what we could achieve together and was convinced it was time to rid the state of the twin scourges of the PDAPC, I nicknamed Otapiapia and Sniper that had held our state captive for close to 24 years, so I launched my campaign for a better Delta where righteousness, harmony and prosperity reigns on the platform of the Labour Party.
And boy, look at how much we achieved together:
* In the presidential elections, the candidate of a fringe party derisively referred to as “4 people tweeting in a room”, defeated the candidate of the party that has ruled the state for 24 years and has never been beaten in any election in the state by almost 3 times as many votes despite the sitting governor being on the ticket as Vice Presidential candidate.
* In the governorship elections, despite being considered an “unknown candidate” leading a fringe party, we scored what we believe is the majority of actual votes cast without engaging in thuggery, rigging, vote buying and manipulation. This assertion is based on the widely agreed upon view that less than 25% of actual voters turned up for the Governorship election compared to the Presidential election.
This was also despite the attacks on my personality with vicious rumors – from being considered an unserious candidate for my refusal to engage in the reckless spending that has marred our political landscape, to being labelled a fraud, to being called a mole in the Labour Party and a stooge for the sitting Governor who supposedly bought my form. Yet, I remained steadfast, running a campaign focused on character, competence, capacity, and commitment to deliver.
OUR JUDICIAL JOURNEY
After the elections, I embarked on this journey to challenge the outcome because I believe that “if you must be called your excellency, the process by which you arrive in office must be excellent”. This belief fueled my resolve to challenge what was arguably the most flawed elections in our state’s history, rife with violence, vote buying, and the pervasive manipulation of the people’s will.
Apart from our belief that we scored the majority of actual votes cast, our grounds for challenging the election included the non-qualification of the candidate pronounced as winner based on the extant laws of our land.
When our case was prematurely dismissed, we did not falter. We fought tirelessly to have our voices heard, and though the path was fraught with obstacles, attacks and sabotage, our appeal was victorious – a testament to our tenacity and the strength of our convictions. We were subsequently granted a mere four days to present our case.
Despite numerous attempts to sway us from our path through direct and indirect offers and inducements, we remained steadfast, fueled by the unwavering support of those who shared our dream for a better Delta. For the people of Delta this is a win. Know that you have someone that will fight to the end for you and not compromise even when the opportunity to do so arises.
On Friday, the Supreme Court spoke, and while we respect its decision, we do so with heavy hearts. The gavel has been struck, and the final word has been uttered. So, as the court pleases.
CONGRATULATIONS
In the spirit of sportsmanship and democracy, I extend my congratulations to Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori. To you, I say: THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE ARE ON YOU. Now that the “distraction” of the court cases is over, we trust you will serve with honor and work tirelessly for the betterment of all Deltans to make your promised M.O.R.E Agenda a concrete reality rather than an unfulfilled promise. Rest assured, we will remain vigilant and active in our role as the opposition, ensuring accountability at every turn. Remember say Supreme Court nor dey for performance matter ooo.
APPRECIATIONS
To our leaders – H.E. Peter Obi, H.E. Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed and Prof Pat Utomi who accepted to lead the struggle for a New Nigeria and stay steadfast despite compelling incentives to do otherwise…
…to the Obidient Movement whose passion and zeal encouraged me to take the bold step to once again challenge the status quo…
… to the Labor Party (both in Delta and at the National level) who gave us a platform, stood by and fought with us to the end…
…to the people of Delta who believed in our vision…
…to our supporters and Campaign Team, who worked day and night to deliver on that vision…
…to our legal team who believed in our cause and even provided some pro bono services…
…to our friends and family who supported us with their precious resources, love, and encouragement,
…to my loyal and committed running mate, Prof Julie Nwabogo Umukoro and her husband – Prof Matthew Umukoro, who stood steadfast with me to the very end despite all inducements, and…
…to my loving wife, Margaret Etonde Obukome, and our children, who stood like pillars of strength beside us…
We are eternally grateful.
May the Almighty God we serve, reward all your labour abundantly, and may you never lack as long as you live.
Lastly, but most importantly, we give thanks to God Almighty who gave us the vision, enabled us with the grace and resources to come this far and protected and kept us safe all through the journey. While reflecting on the journey before going to the Supreme Court on Friday, we reviewed our Google Map Insights and to our amazement we found that in our quest for a better Delta and a new Nigeria we travelled almost 70,000KM by road and 137,000KM through the skies over the last 21 months.
We look back and see how far we have come. We look back and see how far God has brought us and we give Him all the praise, all the glory, all the honor and all the adoration.
Though today marks the end of this chapter, let it be known that the journey to a better Delta is far from over. We will continue to strive, to fight, and to serve, for our cause is just and our spirit indomitable.
God is still God. He never fails and is never late so Delta most surely, shall be free from Otapiapia and Sniper.
A better Delta most surely is PO-ssible
God bless you all…
…God bless Delta State, and…
…God bless Nigeria!!!
Kawhariebie Ken Pela
21st January 2024
