Ralph Achalonu

Within the last twenty years, Imo State has been grappling and even grooving in the dark on how to reset its governance system. The peculiarities of the Nigerian democracy is compounded by leadership recruitment process. Such that Imo State has regrettably become a victim in bounds.

In 2019, Imo voters had hoped that the governorship election would provide for them a platform to squarely address the democratic deficit of past administrations and their sordid experiences. It was an occasion that the voters had longed for to deploy their democratic rights as given by the universal adult suffrage to every man and woman to cast his or her vote.

While the Imo voters kept to their faith, and voter Hon. Emeka Ihedioha into office as roadmap to reset Imo for good governance and development, the Nigerian state, this time, the Supreme Court as a democratic institution had a different thought. On 14th January, 2020 in the peak of Coronavirus pandemic, the Supreme Court nullified the legitimate mandate of Imo voters and took their votes and gave to Sen. Hope Uzodinma, a candidate that came fourth. A candidate whose party and his candidature had already been nullified by the same Supreme Court in the case of Uche Nwosu vs APP & Others.

It is this miscarriage of justice propelled by the Nigerian state and powerful forces in Abuja and the nation's ruling party that has landed Imo in unimaginable political crisis. By the very decision of the Court which denied Imo voters of their democratic rights, the Supreme Court had given political power to an occupant without the legitimacy. In a democracy, legitimacy is very sacrosanct.

While this writer do not in any way intend to question or disparage the Supreme Court, it is shocking that for nearly a year now, the appeal for the enforcement of the judgement in the case of Uche Nwosu vs APP & Others/SC.1384/2019 have been laying fallow for so long. This seeming delay and the inability of the Supreme Court to take action is responsible for the deplorable condition Imo is facing at present.

Of a truth, Uzodinma is fighting a two prong wars. One is to curry favour from Abuja; the other is exert himself and force legitimacy from the people. Democratic legitimacy cannot be gotten through fiat or brute force. It's derived democratically, specifically, through elections and the ballot box.

It is pathetic that Imo people have to go through this sad experience. Uzodinma's quest to brutally gain legitimacy has resulted in political crisis, whereby, governance and development in the state hs taken a back seat. Even at that, Uzodinma's penchant to resort to self-help without exploring all the democratically recognized institutions of law and other has escalated the crisis in the state.

On the other hand, Sen. Rochas Okorocha's resolve to dare the state government is indirectly an attempt to exert power and prove that the government in Imo lacks legitimacy. The issue of legitimacy is at the core of the ongoing crisis in the state. These squabbles are all the footprints of the crisis of legitimacy in Imo State.

Further, the current crisis has left Imo state lagging behind in many respects. Because of the leadership gap and the legitimacy question, the Okigwe Zone, today do not have a Senator on the floor of the Nigerian Senate. Imo State now suffers from an avalanche of crisis from political, leadership, government and worst still, development..

That notwithstanding, Imo citizens will never lose faith on the Supreme Court as a democratic institution. We have the hope that if the Supreme Court expeditiously re-examine its judgement on the Uche Nwosu vs APP & Others matters, just will surely be done. Imo State deserves a more democratic atmosphere and rancor-free politics, this prospect of sane leadership and good governance will never be feasible. Let the Supreme Court acts now.

Achalonu, is a public affairs analyst, he wrote from Owerri, Imo State capital.

I am fascinated by the Igbo culture.


Post an interesting culture or history from your village or community in Igbo land. Lets see the most interesting.

Mine is- In my community Nkporo in Ohafia LGA of Abia state we practise the namesake culture called Ogbom.

When a child is born, he or she is named after a grand parent, a relative or a friend. This is mandatory. That's why we have similar names like Nnenna, Kalu, Ahudiya, Jenny etc.

The present Imo state adminstration need to put a stop to dishing out false information and recklessness in governance and at this moment take up the responsibility of Making Imo state a better state rather than gallivanting and celebrating mediocre.

There have been misleading informations Purported by the current Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodinma through the Commissioner of information Hon. Declan Emelumba. Hon. Declan claimed that the present adminstration witnessed 100% + IGR increase within 2 months in office.
These claims are false and we urge imolites not to fall for any sweet talks from this government to discredit the works of Ihedioha in Imo state.
The gross IGR as at 31st December, 2019 was approximately 1.2 billion Naira and the gross revenue for the month was subject to 20% statutory deductions.
It could be that the N620M referred to by Emelumba, may have been the half January Internally Generated Revenue of the state as at 14th Jan 2020 when the new govt came into office and not as December 2019 IGR of the state.

In the time of Ihedioha, he took up the mantle of leadership with the promise of delivering Imo state from backwardness and increase IGR through building a favourable environment for business to thrive which yielded positive and recommendable results. Within Ihedioha’s seven months in office, such strategy and measures skyrocketed the IGR of Imo state to approximately 6.41 billion Naira.
What a wonderful feat achieved by Ihedioha.

The Spotlight Initiative, a new, global, multi-year initiative from the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN), is determined to eliminate all forms of such violence against women and girls (VAWG).

According to the United Nations, “violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today.”

The Initiative aims to bring focused attention to the issue, moving it into the spotlight and placing it at the centre of efforts to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

An initial investment in the order of EUR 500 million has been made, with the EU as the main contributor.

EuropeanUnion2019
UnitedNations
@ministryofwomenaffairs
MinistryofJustice
UNICEF
Channelstv

Today, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, CON, was the special guest of honor and Art Reviewer, at an event organized to create awareness on Sexual and Gender based Violence.

The event sponsored by GUNDUA, an exclusive exhibition to raise awareness on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), was held at Nsibidi The Gallery, located at Ruben Okayo Crescent, Abuja.

The event was Hosted by Chinze Ojobo, President, Female Artists Association Of Nigeria.

Host: Chinze Ojobo, President, Female Artists Association Of Nigeria.
Special Guest of Honour: H.E RT. HON. EMEKA IHEDIOHA
TIME: 4PM (DOORS OPEN)
DATE: THURSDAY 6TH AUGUST

EXCLUSIVE VIEWING OF "NGOST A DOCUMENTARY ON SGBV
(5PM PROMPT)


Special Guest Of Honor & Art Reviewer
*His Excellency Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha.

Special Guests:
Honorable Minister of Women Affairs.

*Executive Secretary, National Human Rights
Commission,
*Minister for state, FCT and more.

STRICTLY BY INVITATION

info@wewenetworkafrique.com
+234 901121 1870
NSIBIDI THE GALLERY, NESTONE,
170 REUBEN OKOYA CRESECENT, WUYE, ABUJA

Former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha was seen casting his vote during the PDP State Congress in Owerri, recently.

Governor Ihedioha was seen shaking hands and in warm embrace with friends and colleagues.

He had a warm handshake with Imo PDP Chairman, Charles Ugwu, shortly after his inauguration at the party's secretariat in Owerri on Monday.
He was also seen with former Deputy Governor, Ebere Udeagu during the PDP State Congress in Owerri.
He was seen assisting PDP BOT member, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, during the PDP State Congress

The erstwhile Governor of Imo State, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, arrived Imo State.

The former Governor arrived the Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri around noon today.

The Airport was agog with cheers from a huge crowd of excited Imolites who defied the rain to welcome him.

#ImoBuNkeAnyi.

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