A group under the aegis of Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed Vanguard (BAM-V) has called on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its gubernatorial candidate in the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Bauchi state, Ambassador Saddique Baba Abubakar, to accept the verdict of the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which uphold the victory of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed in the poll in good faith.
The group in a press release signed by its director-general, Comrade Mohammed Jibo Abubakar, made available to journalists in Abuja, congratulated His Excellency Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, Kauran Bauchi, on his well deserved victory at the tribunal and called on the APC, its candidate and all well-meaning people of Bauchi state to join hand with the governor Mohammed-led administration in the state with a view to taking the state to greater heights of development.
The group, a coalition of various youth groups for democracy and good governance, asserted that the last Wednesday tribunal judgment is not only victory to governor Mohammed having affirmed his victory at the poll but also substantial justice to the people of Bauchi state who freely gave the governor their mandate through the ballot on March 18, 2023.
It noted that the tribunal’s judgment confirms the judiciary as the last hope of the common man and also confirms the reward for hard work which the people of Bauchi state gave Governor Mohammed through the poll for his good performance in his first term in office as the Executive Governor of the state.
“Though we acknowledge the fact that the APC and its gubernatorial candidate have the constitutional rights to appeal the verdict of the tribunal, we, however, called on them to accept the verdict in good faith and in the spirit of sportsmanship and join hands with the Governor Bala Mohammed administration to take Bauchi state to greater heights.
“Bauchi state has lagged behind in development for too long before Governor Bala Mohammed came onboard on May 29, 2019. During his first tenure, the governor was able to change the narratives with the level of unprecedented development he brought to the state, making Bauchi state a pride for all. The state as of today can stand shoulder to shoulder with its peers in terms of development in all sectors, including education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, good governance, among others.
“The fact that the people of the state acknowledged this fact made them voted massively for the Governor in the March 18 Governorship poll in order for him to continue with his giant strides and further improve the fortunes of the state. There is, therefore, the need for the opposition to not only join hands with the Governor to further develop Bauchi State but also contribute meaningful to the development of the state,” Jibo stated.
The BAM-V DG, who doubles as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State, then called on the opposition in the state to encourage their supporters to maintain the peace being enjoyed in Bauchi State, stating that, “We further appeal that everyone should not make utterances capable of fomenting trouble across the state.”
The group then congratulated Governor Mohammed for the victory at the tribunal, which it described as a confirmation that his victory at the poll was not just a fluke but God-given mandate. The group asserted that the Governor has truly worked hard through his outstanding performance and good governance to deserve a second term in office.
“Your Excellency, your victory again at the tribunal does not come to us at BAM-V National Headquarters as a surprise. It is only a confirmation the people’s mandate as given to you by the good people of Bauchi State as a reward for your astuteness, sagacity, acceptability and good governance as clearly shown in the level of development you have brought to the state since your assumption of office on May 29, 2019 as the Executive Governor of Bauchi State.
“We urge His Excellency to extend hands of fellowship to all opposition members in Bauchi state and be magnanimous in victory. As much as we have a very strong and undiluted belief in him as a hardworking governor, we advise that His Excellency should know that the reward for hardworking is more hard work. We never doubt his ability and capability to work more in his second term more than his first term in office,” the statement concluded
