18/08/2021
MY ORDEAL AT THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT, THE ELECTION PETITION TRIBUNAL AND APPEAL COURT, AND HOW GOD ALWAYS GRANTED ME VICTORY.
Today, Tuesday 10th August 2021 will not go down history without being marked and celebrated. It is one of the most important days in my political adventure. It is a day that will remain memorable. This is because, after indicating my interest to serve my people in the capacity of a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, God saw me through some b***y traps that were set for me at the Election Petition Tribunal and other ways I least expected.
The first case was a pre-election matter on which judgement was delivered on the 4th of Dec. at the Federal High Court, Yenagoa. Men of the underworld struck on the day before, which was slated for adoption of final written addresses from parties. On that day, unknown armed thugs invaded the court room with dangerous weapons, including guns. Members of my legal team, some of my staff and Staff of the court were viciously attacked with the aim of intimidating them. Due to the mercies of God, no one died nor sustained fatal injuries.
The judgement on the petition filed against me was in my favor. As a result, I went into that election and came back with an overwhelming victory of over 121,000 votes against the 19,000 votes of my closest rival of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Abel Ebifemowei.
And I thought that from that moment, haven been sworn-in into the Senate on the 15th of Dec 2020, all was over and was settling down to serve my people but that overwhelming victory was challenged in the Election Petition Tribunal by seven political parties, out of which six withdrew their petitions except the APC whose candidate I defeated even in his own ward. And it became a tortoise race; causing confusion, unnecessary distraction and wastage of resources that lasted close to six months in the Tribunal. At the end of the day, the Tribunal gave judgement in my favor and threw out all their petitions.
On that day, I declared: "No Victor. No Vanquished" and made it clear in my Press Release that Chief Abel Ebifemowei is my leader; someone whom I have served politically and have learnt so many political lessons from. I also noted on that same day that if we continue on this fight for too long, we shall be called many names because it's a contest between a boy and his master and therefore sent emissaries to my Leader for an end to litigations, considering the fact that the tenure was less than two years. But to my rude shock, I was told that there was an appeal against the judgement of the Tribunal, sparking off another round of needless distractions.
Curiously, the first thing my opponent did was to petition the Judiciary that all the Justices at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, sitting on the matter were not trustworthy enough to sit over the case. As a result, the President of the Court of Appeal had to reconstitute a fresh panel that was comprised of Justices from three different Geo-Political Zones of this country who sat over the matter, but despite the many detours that we were taken through, the competent Justices of the Appeal Court upheld the judgement of the Lower Court (Tribunal) and thereby , authenticating my victory, and my legitimate privilege and authority to represent my people in the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Today, I want to first of all return all the glory to God who I have always trusted as a Righteous Judge. He has, indeed proven Himself faithful. He's the father of the fatherless; the husband of the widow. I trusted in him; believing that HIS WILL 2020 came from Him and He is a God that has the capacity to protect and preserve whatsoever He wills to any man, as long as that man identifies that he received it from Him . Therefore, I give glory, honor and adoration to the God of Bishop David Oyedepo, the God of the Winners family, Worldwide. What if it were otherwise, they would have made mockery of my God.
I want to thank our Lordships, the Justices that sat as a Panel over this matter and did due diligence to it. It is a clear indication that indeed, the Judiciary is the last hope of the common man. It is my prayer that God will continue to keep them, guide them, provide for them and keep them incorruptible so that they will not pervert judgment and remain the hope of the hopeless. I duff my hat for the Judiciary of this country.
I want to equally express my deep appreciation to my Governor, the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri; my Leader and my elder brother for being by me from the beginning of this ambition even until today; counseling me, advising me, showing me, instructing me, commanding me on what to do and what to avoid. Today, I am very proud to have a Governor that is committed to our party and the growth of the younger ones in politics. My appreciation also goes to Distinguished Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, our Miracle Deputy Governor of for all the technical inputs. My deep sense of gratitude goes to my political mentor, Father, Distinguished Senator Henry Seriake Dickson for who he is to me that only heaven can explain.
I want to use this opportunity to extend my gratitude to the entire PDP family of the Bayelsa State chapter who have always stood by me through all the trying times. I look back and it is almost eight months that we have been on this journey. They entrusted me with the party's ticket and mandate, and stood with me even when I was in the trenches of legal battles. Praying for me and encouraging me. And today, collectively, we have won.
I want to equally express deep sense of appreciation to my spiritual family. I am thanking all the pastors and Christian leaders in all locations of the earth that stood in the gap for this oppression to be averted. You are, indeed wonderful. Especially, Apostle James Inepere, Pastor Moses Fulorunsho, Pastor Abiola Samson, Pastor Victor Bamigboye, the entire Living Faith Church Azikoro Branch and its Pastorate.
I want to equally express gratitude to the leadership, women and youth groups of the HIS WILL Political Family.
My heartfelt appreciation will not be complete without thanking my legal team, ably led by Reuben Egwuaba Esq who did a thorough and diligent job.
Finally, I want to express my great sense of appreciation and gratitude to my wife and my children, and my immediate and extended family. They gave me total support all through this period without any form of pressure. You never showed any sign of fear or agitation. Always smiling, always praying, always encouraging and peaceful. I love you so much
To the political class, I want to encourage everyone to close up ranks. Now, it is all over. The period is short. And it is my desire to assure my respected constituents as I vowed earlier; that even if it is one hundred Naira or one million Naira that is due any of my constituents at the National level, and I am privileged to bring to you, I shall ensure to do the same, either big or small.
May I at juncture crave the indulgence of every one citizen and resident of Bayelsa State, especially those from the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District that I represent to support the Miracle Governor in order for him to focus on the business of governance and the delivery of democratic dividends to our state.
May God Bless you all.
DISTINGUISHED SENATOR CLEOPAS MOSES Z.
BAYELSA CENTRAL
(PRINCIPAL, HIS WILL POLITICAL FAMILY, WORLDWIDE)
