Governor of Abia State Alex Otti, along with other governors, won their petitions before the Supreme Court today because President Bola Ahmed Tinubu allowed the judiciary to carry out its duty independently.
Even so, he claimed that because the rule of law was upheld, some individuals who had intended to set fire to several locations today sheathed their swords.
Speaking to the media following the Supreme Court’s reaffirmation of his triumph on Friday, Governor Otti said that certain of the decisions rendered today might have been different had the President chosen to meddle in the affairs of the Nigerian court.
Otti praised the Nigerian judiciary for being resolute and refusing to allow desperate politicians to subdue the will of the average person, while attributing his triumph to God and the Abia electorate.
I express my gratitude to Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for his unwavering commitment to the principle of the judiciary’s independence.
Perhaps some of the decisions and conclusions rendered today would have been different if he hadn’t done so.
In light of that, I would like to urge him to keep on. I think that the country is doing better now because of his non-interference in the judiciary.
“The rule of law has prevailed in a few places where people were preparing to burn down places today—they have sheathed their swords,” Governor Otti said.
He extended an olive branch to those who took him to court, asking them to lay down their swords and offer their ideas for the positive development of Abia now that the battle is over. He also thanked all the governorship candidates, especially those who did not go to court, for their support and anointed men of God for their prayers.
Division in Abia State is not permitted going forward. We are all in the same boat, and it is big enough to accommodate everyone, so anyone who cares about the welfare of our state is welcome to come along,” he said.