Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima ,yesterday congratulated his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr Kayode Fayemi, saying Ekiti people deserve an intelligent man like Fayemi as their governor and nothing short of that.
Shettima was reacting to a judgement delivered by the Supreme Court which struck out an appeal filed by former Governor Segun Oni of the PDP, seeking to reverse the October 15, 2010 judgement of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin, which sacked him from office over the 2007 elections.
Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court on Friday, held that the apex court lacked the jurisdiction to hear Oni's appeal, since the appeal emanated from the decision of the Court of Appeal, in the 2007 governorship election dispute whereas the appeal court has the final say over election cases as provided by Section 246(3) of the Constitution.
"I heartily congratulate my friend, brother and fellow progressive, Governor Kayode Fayemi. He is one of the most intelligent and eloquent leaders in Nigeria today; he is a technocrat that is humble, largehearted, friendly, gentle, patriotic, dogged and distinguished.
The people of Ekiti State surely deserve a highly competent man like him as their governor, especially with their very apt slogan as 'the fountain of knowledge' in Nigeria. Ekiti people do not deserve anything less. I urge the people to support the good man God has bestowed on them as a leader that is very determined to selflessly transform the state for the benefit of citizens.
I also congratulate fellow governors, stakeholders and other supporters in the APC family and indeed all democrats in Nigeria for this victory that toughens our abiding commitment to the recovery and progress of Nigeria for the benefit of all Nigerians,". Shettima said in a release by his Special Adviser on Communications, Isa Gusau.
The governor hailed the apex court for, "once again, displaying patriotism, professionalism, reverence for the primacy of the constitution in the discharge of their critical duties while at the same time growing the confidence Nigerians have since reposed in highly respected judiciary".
Former governor Oni had appealed against the decision of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin, which nullified his 2007 election, leading to his replacement by Fayemi in 2010.
He had, among others, demanded an order of the Supreme Court to set aside the 2010 judgement; an order directing a fresh panel of the Court of Appeal to hear the appeal against the result of the 2007 election, held in Ekiti.
National Mirror