Rt. Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, a member of the House of Representatives who represents Plateau State’s Pankshin/Kanam/Kanke Federal Constituency, has encouraged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop blaming him or the courts for what he called the party’s “self-inflicted troubles.”
In a statement issued Wednesday night by his media office, Gagdi said PDP members in Plateau state were “A delusional and a confused lot for blaming their tribunal losses on their principal and President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem.”
The statement described as unfortunate and unwarranted attempts by some PDP’s emergency groups to vilify the lawmaker, who chairs the House of Committee on Navy, and whoever is opposed to the party, including the judiciary, for judgments not in their favour.
It read, “We note with dismay, attempts to drag the name of our principal, Gagdi, into the political tsunami that has befallen their party in Plateau State.
“Desperation can lead to an unending search for scapegoats. This is understandable but would not be condoned.
“It is also a pity that their futile efforts at blackmail and mud-raking are now hinged on a catchphrase which our principal has used since 2015.
“We know whom they know, but they don’t know whom we know!
“To avoid doubt, the catchphrase is an affirmation of our principal’s belief and trust in God as the giver of power to whom he pleases, no matter the earthly forces against such a person.”
The statement pointed out the dangers of undermining the judiciary, saying “The PDP and its hired hands in Plateau State must desist from casting aspersion on the person and Office of the President of the Court of Appeal as all well-meaning Nigerians will stoutly resist any effort to throw mud at her.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the President of the Court of Appeal is not a member of the panel handling the appeals from Plateau State. There is nowhere it can be imagined that she lobbied their justices to give the sound verdicts that have been given on the appeals before them.
“It will be interesting for the PDP and its social media hounds to tell Nigerians which justices they ‘bribed’ at the lower courts when the judgments were in their favour.
It added, “For the PDP in Plateau to now act surprised at its fate and desperately look for whom to blame for their woes is the height of hypocrisy and a disgrace to decency and due process.
“While we rejoice with utmost decorum, relish our victory at the Appeal Court, and anticipate a possible victory at the Supreme Court for our gubernatorial candidate, we want to categorically remind the PDP and its hirelings that Nigerian Courts are courts of law, not courts of sentiments and emotions.
“Their shenanigans cannot intimidate the court to act against the law and laid down precedents.”
