Adekunle Aliyu
12 July 2008
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"Fellow citizens of Enugu State. It is my pleasure to address you, once again, in response to an important development that concerns the governance of our dear State.
As you already know, the Appeal Court in its judgment earlier today, upheld that sacred mandate which you freely and graciously gave to me to chart a new beginning for our State.
I am completely flattered by the enduring expressions of solidarity which you, our good people of Enugu State, have shown since the commencement of the legal battles which ultimately culminated in today's verdict.
To me, your prayers, co-operation and sacrifices were practical demonstrations of your willingness to share in our triumphs and travails. I am eternally grateful for this rare show of support.
Today, I enjoin all of you to appreciate this victory as yet God's intervention for the purpose of sustaining our collective aspirations to rebuild our State and restore our dignity as a people. In truth really, there is nothing to celebrate because there are no winners and losers.
Rather, I see today's judgment as the end of one phase and the beginning of another journey to prosper our State and release our people from the grip of poverty.
In the spirit of "no victor, no vanquished," I extend my hand of fellowship to all our brothers who were not happy with the outcome of last year's election, and urge you to dismantle the narrow notion of defeat in order for us all to expand the frontiers of collaboration.
I invite all and sundry to join our Government in its efforts to make Enugu State the pride of the nation.
Therefore, I urge you, our people, to remain law-abiding and to accept this verdict calmly and in total obedience to the rule of law. I ask all of you to carry on with your lives and businesses as usual. No matter our party affiliations and political preferences, let this judgment unite and not divide us.
On our part as a Government, the judgment only reinforces our commitment to pursue the execution of our Four-Point Agenda for the purposes of rendering services and making life better and more meaningful for us all.
Like I reassured you after the judgment of the Election Tribunal on January 18, this year, "we will not return to the dark and low times of the past. We have moved on and there is no looking back."
My fellow citizens, I believe you are all witnesses to our modest efforts and intentions as a Government since we assumed duties on May 29, 2007.
I enjoin you to come on board and make that resolve today to take our State to the next level. Let us put the interest of our State first and above all other considerations.
This way, posterity shall be kind enough to engrave your names in gold as part and parcel of the team that recreated our new Enugu State.
Though our Administration disavows violence, let me warn that we will not, at this point in time, condone any acts capable of disrupting the peace we presently enjoy. Any violator or offender, no matter his status, will face the full wrath of the law.
And to you, the good people of Enugu State, I say that the time has come for us to cast aside the pains of the past and embrace the promises of the future.
The challenges are enormous but with your support, we shall, God willing, accomplish our common dreams and design the destiny befitting of our heritage.
May God continue to bless Enugu State. I thank you all."
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