I will resist the temptation to go into the legal jargons that has so far shaped the Imo governorship election matter at the nation’ apex court, the Supreme Court.
Those who know the law better than I do, say it is not proper to comment on matters that are before the temple of justice. I am bound to respect this argument.
But because of the political implication of the legal dispute that will be settled, insha Allah, on January 24, 2014 according to the learned Justices at the Supreme Court, I think it is pertinent that the contending political gladiators in the case begin to go on fasting or consult whatever spiritual oracles they have before the court rules if Ikedi Ohakim will be allowed to join the matter.
Because the long and short aspect of the gist is that there will be a winner or loser in the matter on that day. Period! No matter the interpretations given to the case, there must be a victor and loser at the end of the legal fireworks.
However, I have been overwhelmed with several legal interpretations that has been rendered on the issue even by those who do not understand what the law is all about. Even those who have not flipped through the pages of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or the Electoral Act for the first time in their lives, have drawn conclusions and gave their own“judgement” on the matter.
The local press in the State was also caught in this web. They also joined the craze in reporting the matter upside down as they gave different headlines and interpretations to a matter that was clear and simple. I observed also that some interpretations proffered on the matter were skewed out of context as some went ahead to ignore the crux of the matter and focused on issues that are totally out of tandem with the case.
I have also seen emergency lawyers. Everyone is now a lawyer in the State. From the keke rider to the vendor seller, everyone has his or her own legal knowledge of the issue at stake.
I also took note that last Thursday when the matter came up at the nation’s apex court and because we have been erroneously inundated with stories that either Rochas , Ohakim or Araraume will cry or smile on that day, the blood pressure of those involved and their followers involved in the matter must have risen. I took time to take note of the body language of the protagonists involved in the case.
The Rochas camp displayed so much confidence. And to send a signal that it was not afraid of whatever the Supreme Court decides, I was told that the day the matter came up at the nation’s apex court, Governor Okorocha was in far away Kano State with his political soulmates in the All Progressive Congress, APC, that went to woo or lobby that State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to dump the PDP for the APC. Most government officials even relocated to Abuja for the matter.
The PDP camp, also radiated signs of strong character when the party’s bigwigs talked tough and boasted that they are one step close to retaking Government House, Owerrri. And I wondered how a joiner issue in a case will determine who goes in and who ceases to be Imo governor or not. Haba!
However, I must admit the dimension the case has taken is interesting. The dimension the case took was what stunned yours sincerely. Senator Araraume’s Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and Governor Rochas Okorocha’s APGA reportedly withdrew from the matter. The ACN said it had to back out because the party has ceased to exist as it has merged with other political parties to form the APC.
What I am yet to confirm if the rug was not pulled off the feet of the distinguished senator since the founders of the ACN are now political allies with Rochas Okorocha’s APGA that came together to form the APC. The distinguished senator has not come out to say if he had knowledge of the defunct ACN’s move or not in the matter.
But whatever the situation is, the ACN is the originator of the matter and sought to be joined by the PDP which had Dr. Ikedi Ohakim as its candidate in the 2011 governorship election in Imo State. Now, the k-leg in the matter is the reported withdrawal of APGA. But those who know the law say it is of no effect. And this is understandable. Okorocha hurt the party so bad by dumping it after it provided him with the platform to get to Government House, Owerri in 2011. So, APGA’S withdrawal is expected from the case. Some of the bigwigs of the party say it is time to extract their pound of flesh from the Imo governor.
This is the much I can say on that matter as what is my utmost concern is the political scenario that will evolve in the State after judgment has been rendered on it on Januaray24, 2014. We may see another merry go-round. Another round of legal cross fire as the Appeal Court may have to continue with the matter.
In recent times, we have seen clearly that governorship elections in Imo State has continued to polarise the political class in the State. It has always put our politicians on collision course. One can recall how the last administration had to battle with 19 court cases and luckily came out of it unscathed and unhurt. While the winners popped champagne to celebrate victory, the losers sulked and regrouped and began to fight from the political front.
We will recall that after Ohakim defeated Araraume at the courts, he and his followers congregated under the Alliance For Good Governance that later jumped into the now defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and began to launch political salvos at the administration. That war of wits lingered on till the April 2011 governorship elections. Infact, the present political dilemma we find ourselves is the offshoot of that crisis.
Now, the scenario we have now is almost similar with what was obtained then. If the Supreme Court finally rule on the joiner issue on January 24, next year, will that signal the end of the hostilities between contending political forces in the State? Will there be no political spill-over?.
And I think before judgment day comes, contending forces in the matter ought to fasten their seat belt and plan and accept whatever the Courts decide and be ready to go back to the Appeal Court. Can the winner of the case in the long run afford to extend a handshake to the loser. Can the loser reciprocate the handshake by extending a hand of friendship? Can the winner and the loser bury their differences and resolve to work on one page in the interest of the State?
We have seen too much political strife on the political landscape of the State. Too much political katakata.
Sometimes, I wonder when our politicians will learn the art of give and take. When a loser of an election in the State can afford to resist the urge of going to the law courts after crumbling at the polls. I wonder when our leaders can afford to gloss over their differences than resort to expending so much resources, time and energy on intricate court cases over the outcome of an election.
The earlier our leaders begin to imbibe this attitude the better for us all. If the entire State will be shut down and relocated to Abuja, as the case was last Thursday, then there is need to change the perception and psyche of our politicians.
What should be paramount in the minds of well meaning Imolites is for the case to be resolved as soon as possible, so that we can move on to other matters that are of serious concern to the people of the State.
That politicians in the State are fighting dirty is not their concern. It is not their problem. What is their problem is their welfare and well being. Food on their table and cash on their pockets. And whoever that has the capacity to achieve this purpose is whom we crave for to govern our dear State.
