The Plateau Youths Liberation Movement (PYLM), a non-partisan, non-tribal and non-religious body comprising members from all 17 Local Government Areas of Plateau state, has raised concerns about the current state of the region due to recent Appeal Court judgements regarding elections held within the state.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Joshua Jefhta, PYLM said that the state is sitting on a “cake of gunpowder”.The group expressed worries about the reported rise in tension and apprehensiveness throughout the state that has been caused by these judicial decisions.
Citing former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s stance on this issue, PYLM stated that such proceedings where a handful of people have such power are abnormal and unacceptable. They concurred with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s view of the ruling party, APC.
“We totally agree with the recent comment of former President OlusegunObasanjo, where he said it is “abnormal and totally unacceptable for a fewelections”.persons called judges to overturn the decisions of millions of voters during elections
“We equally agree with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, for saying thatthe ruling APC has turned the Nigerian judiciary into a “cash and carry” onewhere politicians who don’t participate in primaries are named as candidateswhile actual winners of elections are sacked for “flimsy reasons”. they said.
The group, in an urgent call to President Bola Tinubu, implored him to use his ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra to intervene in the situation and preserve the democratic rule of law, which they fear is threatened.
“This is why we are calling on President Bola Tinubu, to use his ‘Renewed Hope’mantra, which simply means hope for every Nigerian irrespective of politicalinclination to address these concerns
We want the president, being the father of all, irrespective of political party towade into the matter to safe democracy and ensure rule of law prevails at alltimes”
PYLM also requested the National Judicial Council and other key players in the judicial system to act, to secure justice and prevent unelected leaders from being forced upon the people.
They called for an investigation into inflammatory utterances of Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, the member representing Pankshin/Kanke/kanam federal constituency, accusing him of suggesting a corruption problem within the judiciary.
They also urged Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, to stop spreading false information about the state of affairs in Plateau state, saying he has no personal or living experience in the region.
“Mr Onanuga is not from Plateau, doesn’t live in Plateau and never lived inPlateau; he doesn’t understand the political intrigues going on in the state. Westrongly advice him to concentrate on the job the president had given himinstead of being a “Meddlesome Interloper” in the case of Plateau.
“As a seasoned journalist,we expect him to know that the case of Zamfara andPlateau are not the same. From our investigation, in Zamfara, the fight was between two APC groups-one led by former Gov.Yari and the other led bySen.Marafa.The two groups both contested the party’s primaries. It means Marafa was constitutionally qualified to challenge Yari in Court.”
The group rounded off by requesting politicians to accept election verdicts gracefully, stating that power, indeed, comes from God.
