After waiting under the hot sun for several hours
happily dancing away, the people’s governor finally
arrived from Abuja. The air sparkled with joy as
people lined up from the Airport to the Stadium
screaming on top of their voices and waving at
their governor as he passed through the major
route with his entourage. As soon as the initial
preliminaries at the stadium concluded, the
governor finally gave his well-articulated victory
speech. It sounded more like a father talking to his
children. Read the speech below in the governor’s
own words.
“My dear fellow citizens of Taraba State, February
11th, 2016 is such a historic day in my life and in
the life of this administration because it marks an
elevated level of victory for the Judiciary, the great
victory for the rule of law, the profound victory for
the electoral process, a resounding victory for the
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and an
unprecedented victory for democracy in Taraba
State in particular and Nigeria at large. You will
recall that we went to the polls for the
Gubernatorial election on April 11th, 2015.
When the results of the people’s decision started
trickling in, my opponent of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) protested the unfolding results in
selected areas. The Electoral Commission Officials
canceled some votes and declared my election
inconclusive, what had already been concluded by
the people and by God.
On April 25th, 2015 we went back to the polls for
the run-off election in 165 polling units of Donga
Local Government Area, and selected polling units
in Bali, Karim Lamido, Takum, Ussa, Wukari, Yorro
and Zing Local Government Areas that were
protested by my opponent.
Again the people’s decision was further affirmed
with even higher votes and on April 27th, 2015 I
was declared the Governor-elect by INEC and I was
duly sworn in here on the 29th May, 2015.
Inspite of this convincing victory, my opponent of
the APC filed a petition at the special election
tribunal protesting the outcome of the double
mandate given to me by Tarabans. That the
predominant citizens of Taraba State conferred on
me through the ballot box was not sufficient for
her.
The tribunal having gone through the petition and
the entire evidence incidental to the petition after
d rilling hundreds of witnesses and gaining
inferences and insight to the validity or
otherwise of the petition filed by my
opponent came to the disagreeable conclusion on
November 7th, 2015 that my election was null and
void. This disgraceful declaration released was a
travesty of the justice of this country.
Incidentally, the Judiciary has put in place an
internal system of check and balances.
Therefore I appealed the judgment of the special
election tribunal and delightfully, on the 31st of
December 2015, the last day of last year, the
Appeal Court set aside this judgment of the
tribunal and upheld my election based on
provisions of the Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, and electoral laws of the
country.
This credible judgment was further appealed by
my opponent of the APC at the Supreme Court and
on the 11th of February, 2016 the Supreme Court,
the Apex Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
dismissed the Appeal for lack of merit and
undeniably affirmed my election as the Executive
Governor of Taraba State.
On that day justice won; on that day democracy
won, on that day the people of Taraba State won.
Therefore 11th of February, 2016 is seemingly the
true beginning of this administration. It is the true
beginning because from May 29th 2015, when this
petition was filed all energies and attention
have been channeled towards reaffirming the
legitimacy that the people of Taraba State
conferred on me.
During this
period, I
have been
amazed by
the
misinformation, half-truths, and negative
propaganda by those who are desperate for
power, and I have been consciously restrained by
the strenuous but convincing judicial process that
must be followed to give positive attestation to this
mandate. This misinformation, half-truths, and
negative propaganda have been demystified and I
Darius Dickson Ishaku and the Electorates of
Taraba State have been vindicated by the
Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
On this note, I commend the Judiciary for being
true to its creed as the beacon of Hope and the
sanctuary of justice and equity for humanity. I also
commend:
1. All the electorates,
2. All the stakeholders and all workers and
personnel of the Independent National Electoral
Commission(INEC),
3. The National Youth Service Corp (NYSC),
4. Civil Society Organizations,
5. Independent Election Observers,
6. Security Operatives and
7. Volunteers that sacrificed their time resources
and welfare to bring this struggle to its desirable
conclusion.
Most importantly, I wish to thank all citizens of
Taraba State who had been praying fervently
for me in the quiet corners of their room. The
Lord God almighty has answered your prayers. All
Glory adoration we return to God who is the
creator of heaven and earth, who out of his own
will and timing has brought me today to be your
Governor.
Now that the election matters at the courts have
been put behind us, the time has come for us to
get down to the business of good governance. The
time has come to deliver appropriate public
goods and services to the citizens; the time has
come to roll up the implementation strategy of the
Rescue Agenda so that we can actualize the
desired growth and development in Taraba State.
At this juncture, I call on all citizens to eschew
violence and any form of public disorderliness.
I encourage all citizens to embrace tolerance,
peace, and love for your neighbor and fellow man.
And I challenge all citizens to demonstrate
steadfast patriotism, uncommon sacrifice, and
resolute commitment in the days ahead because
the works that we have to do are enormous.
Particularly I wish to graciously invite my former
opponent and all the other people in the
opposition party to turn a new leaf and join me
and the rescue team to make Taraba great, to
make Taraba an enviable place and not a theater
for war.
As a Minister representing Taraba State on the
Federal Executive Council, there are several inputs,
privileges, and opportunities that she can harness
and deploy for the growth and development of her
state.
We can develop this synergy along with our
members in the national assembly
notwithstanding what political party platform
that they got there . What is important is Taraba
and what should be uppermost in our minds is to
explore, harness and direct policies, programs and
resources towards enhancing the welfare and the
wellbeing of the people of Taraba State. This must
be uppermost in our minds because if the people
do not benefit, we have wasted our time, and
wasted the votes they have given us, that should be
uppermost in our minds.
Join me and the RESCUE TEAM to transform the
livelihood of citizens and the landscape of Taraba
State.
This is a clarion call to:
All patriotic indigenes of Taraba State
All faithful friends and all well wishers,
All willing development partners and
All willing and genuine investors.
Come and join us to make Taraba great.
Thank you, thank you very much and thank
you very much indeed!!!

Culled from Taraba voices