TheCable

Caleb Mutfwang, governor of Plateau, says President Bola Tinubu is a “sound democrat” for not interfering in the gubernatorial election dispute in the state.

The governor spoke on Friday while on a “thank you” visit to Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.

Last week, the apex court affirmed Mutfwang as the duly elected governor of Plateau on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The supreme court faulted the court of appeal for voiding Mutfwang’s election.

Speaking with journalists after the visit, Mutfwang said the president’s “non-interference” in the governorship dispute has solidified Nigeria’s democracy.

The governor said the president was under “tremendous pressure” to influence the outcome of the supreme court judgment in the governorship election in the state.

“I came to see the president purposely to say a very big thank you to Mr President for keeping democracy alive in Nigeria,” Mutfwang said.

“As you all know, I went through a very protracted legal battle and I have said it openly and I am repeating that the Nigerian president is a powerful president.

“If he does not exercise restraint in the exercise of his power, he can intrude into the judicial arena and the judiciary will not be allowed to perform its function.

“In my own case and several others, I am sure we can attest to the fact that Mr. President allowed the judiciary to perform its functions as it should thereby guaranteeing its independence.

“I, therefore, must come to thank him for exercising that restraint because those who wanted to pervert justice also brought tremendous pressure on him to see how he could interfere, but I must put it that Mr President choosing not to interfere is a credit to his statesmanship.

“A credit to his credentials as a sound democrat, and this is the only way we can ensure that our institutions mature to the point where they can guarantee not only the survival of democracy but also ensure that institutions should be able to survive, develop and outlive individuals.”

Mutfwang said he also informed the president about the security situation in the state.

“Of course, you know Mr President will not meet me and not ask about the security situation on the Plateau. I also give them an update,” he said.

“Things are relatively calm at the moment. The security agencies are in the pursuit of the perpetrators of this dastardly act that we experienced during the Christmas period and we are doing our best together with the federal government and international donor partners to be able to mitigate the pain of those families who lost their loved ones, and also those who are internally displaced.”

The governor said his administration is doing everything possible to “prevent further occurrence” of “needless bloodshed” in the state.