Founder of One Love Foundation, Chief Dr Patrick Osagie Eholor has dismissed fears about Mr Peter Obi losing his mandate at tribunal, arguing that Nigerians should not expect things to continue the way they always have done.
Eholor in his argument, stated that Nigerian youths are very intelligent and knowledgeable in terms of technology and won’t sit back and allow anyone manipulate the results again.
Eholor, who granted an interview to Jungle-Journalist.Com earlier today, spoke also on Seun Kuti’s travails as well the Edo State governor and some of his activities.
Excerpts:
What’s your take on Seun Kuti and his current travails?
I don’t think his father or uncle Ransome woujd have been happy with the police. Because they police can really provoke you, so you have to be very mature as not to fall into their trap.
He has been detained and we hope that he is released.
PDP, APC and Labour Party are in court arguing who won the election. What do you think?
We know what happened in the election, how MC Oluomo was intimidating non indigenes in Lagos in Lagos, how Festus Keyamo has been lying and insulting good men and women, we know the roles of Bayo Onanuga, etc.
We also know the election wasn’t free and fair and INEC, Yakubu Mahmood failed us.
They told us they could not transmit the results, but they could transmit the Senate and HoR results. Wike was very disgraceful.
Today, the judiciary is on trial and we know there are men and women of good faith, and whom we trust will ensure that Nigerians have victory, as judiciary is the last hope for the common man.
There will not be vaccum in power and that’s why those saying Tinubu won’t be sworn in are wrong.
Even though our elections have been seen in the past as cash and carry, this one is going to be different because there are about five judges who will be deciding and so, what our fate does not lie with one man. I want to then Appeal to Nigerians to be patient, knowing that the judiciary remains the hope of the common man.
Some people are also saying that nobody has ever been sworn in and removed by election tribunal, but I am saying that was then, this is now. Things are changing.
Our Democracy is evolving and the world is watching us. Our children are also very good with technology and that is why I am advocating that the Presidential tribunal be broadcast live so that the 100 million Nigerians whose mandate has been stolen can watch and see.
The Governor of Edo State recently wrote to you commending the roles you played to ensure that the Benin High Court was reopened. Can you speak more on this?
The High Court 1 and High Court 2 were shut down due to flooding, but the governor realised that justice delayed is justice denied. There are women who were raped, people on trial, those who are seeking justice for wrongful accusation, and all these people could not get justice due to the shutdown.
I wrote the governor, appealing that the court be relocated and he replied that there is a process ongoing to that effect, which of course, has been carried out. I wrote to thank him for reopening the courts.
When you are a leader, you must be a listening leader or else, your government will only be in the vaccum. Governance is for the people and the leader must carry the people along.
The Governor must realize that when we seek comfort for them, they must seek comfort for the people. The Governor has been borrowing money, and Edo is 3rd or 4th among the largest debtor states in the country. These debts are being left for our chiidren to pay, and I challenge him, to tell us what he is doing about this. I took him to Court, and a lawyer said I have no locus standi. I have appealed it, and we are presently at the Appeal Court. If it doesn’t favour us, we go to Supreme court.
The Governor doesn’t have the time to do the right thing for the people. Even the Sapele road, I have led several protests there in terms of roads. You go to Upper Sakponba, it’s impassable, St Saviour, Ikpoba Hill, all are the same. Even where you have the Legislative Quarters at Ihama. After an hour rain, that road cannot be passed by anybody.