₦airaland Forum

You are invited to participate in our 'Women in Parliament and Policy Development' Webinar Series.

The meetings, which may migrate offline as allowable within the COVID-19 circumstances, are intended as a monthly exercise that contributes towards concrete measures to advance the cause of women in political decision-making in Nigeria.

The inaugural features Hon. Taiwo Oluga, Chairperson, Committee on Women in Parliament of the House of Representatives; and Serah Makka-Ugbabe, Nigeria Country Director, One Campaign and will engage the topic, '21 years of democracy in Nigeria and the place of women.'

Date: Thursday, June 4, 2020
Time: 12.00noon (WAT).

Please reserve your seat using the form below.
https://www.orderpaper.ng/wippd/

Hurry as space is limited.

On the 2020 Children’s Day, a non-governmental organisation, the Yellow Jerrycan Save A Child Foundation, has decried the neglect and squalor at the Durumi Internally Displaced Peoples, IDPs, camp in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking during a visit to felicitate with children at the camp on the celebration of Children’s Day, founder of the foundation, Ms. Adaora Onyechere, said the situation at the camp was unfortunate and called on the government to address the abject nature of those living there.

“I can’t believe what we just saw. The place reeks of utter neglect and squalor. For the reason that these people are IDPs for no fault of theirs is not enough reason to allow them live like this,” Onyechere said.

“It is absolutely necessary to state that the security and welfare of every citizen is the responsibility of government. And if government has failed in securing the lives and property of some Nigerians such that they have become internally displaced, then government ought to at least ensure their welfare. But that is clearly lacking here.

“Looking around and seeing how the children here are amidst the poverty and decay, one wonders what hope these kids have.

“I appeal to the government, local and federal, to give a facelift to the camp. Let there be running water and a measure of waterproof tents. This is rainy season and it is important to ensure that children and women in particular don’t begin to come down with sicknesses,” the foundation lead stated.

Onyechere, a broadcast journalist, called on the media to continue to highlight stories of marginalized and poor communities, stressing that except the media focuses on such stories, most Nigerians will be left behind in poverty.

According to her, the foundation’s visit to the IDPs’ camp was to create Covid-19 awareness and give the children a sense of belonging and to tell them that they are not forgotten.

According to her, if government had failed in its responsibility to provide for the IDPs’ safety, then it should not neglect their welfare.

Evidently looking for the legitimacy that has eluded him since he stole the mandate given the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Hope Uzodinma and his band of Guy Men now believe the best way to gain legitimacy is to spread falsehood against his predecessor, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, and his seven-month administration that many still remember with great nostalgia.

The PDP is particularly concerned that the mischievous allegation of missing whooping sum of N19.63 billion from the JAAC of the 27 Local Governments *is* a deliberate scheme by the Uzodinma administration to front load looting the resources of the state by shouting in the market place about money that is not yet missing but would be missing by the time they finish their creative accounting scheme.
Besides, this latest desperate attempt at muck raking may also be designed to hoodwink Imolites and distract their attention from the lack of performance and ineptitude of the Uzodimma administration which is being described by our people as a ‘push and start government’.

As the major opposition party in the State, Imo PDP will insist on zero tolerance for government and governance by lies and mendacity. Consequently, the party hereby charges the Supreme Court-imposed governor and his henchmen to halt this drama and focus on the real job of addressing the challenges of Imo people especially at this moment in history that requires intelligent and creative leadership to steer the ship of the state through the impending economic turbulence occasioned by the COVID 19 pandemic which regrettable we fear for the capacity and competence of the Uzodinma administration to rise to the occasion

For the avoidance of any doubt, the PDP restates that the allegation that a whopping N19.63 billion belonging to the 27 LGAs was misappropriated is false, malicious and baseless.

Does this contrived audit report which the government is using to hound the Ihedioha administration have approval of the Imo State House of Assembly?

We further note that this false statement and fictitious claim by the Uzodimma regime makes no sense. It was a blanket reference to the entire fiscal audit year, January to December 2019 without distinguishing details of the period January to May, when Owelle Rochas Okorocha was Governor and the period, June to December when Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha was Governor.


Most of the corporate and individual entities mentioned in the spurious claims by the Uzodimma regime were unknown to the Ihedioha administration. Infact, records available reveal that the majority of them operated under the Okorocha administration. The formal response from Wallhouse (WA) Limited provided a clear evidence that the Uzodimma regime was on a mission of mischievous propaganda and unintelligent blackmail. After taking delivery of earth moving equipment, the Uzodinma government rushed to the media to deny knowledge of the same equipment it has taken into it’s custody.

The regime also told a lie about the money so far disbursed to Wallhouse WA Limited. While it quoted N1.215 billion as money paid to the contractor, the contractor insist that it was paid N945 million, in three tranches as part-payment.

To convince Imolites that his regime is not involved in witchhunt and propaganda aimed at distracting the public from its woeful failure as a government, Governor Uzodinma should tell Imo people the total allocation that accrued to the 27 local governments in the seven months of the Ihedioha administration. Thereafter, he should embark on simple arithmetic of deducting workers’ salaries, pensions as well as other statutory deductions viz: IMSUBEB, NULGE, Local government service commission, Council of Traditional Rulers, office of the Auditor General of local Governments, etc.

A cursary analysis thereafter will only but earn the Ihedioha administration commendations for being able to honour government obligations in addition to embarking on several capital projects well known to our people.

The Uzodimma administration should also account to Ndi Imo how he has been appropriating Imo LGA funds since he became foisted on Ndi Imo by the Supreme Court by diverting the proceeds of JAAC from the designated bank account to another bank account under his direct management and control instead of crediting each LGA with amounts due to it as obtained during the Ihedioha administration which enabled the LGAs manage their funds

For the avoidance of any doubt, the Ihedioha administration was guided by the principles of rule of law and due process. It instituted the system of constituting panels of inquiry to investigate any allegations of impropriety against its predecessor. It never gave room for unnecessary media trials. Incidentally, the Uzodinma regime retained those panels of inquiry and investigations they are conducting therein.

Never in the history of Imo State has such level of patriotism and desire to uplift the plight of Imolites been seen as Ihedioha practically and demonstrably dedicated himself to the service of the people (upper, middle and lower classes). The reward for exemplary good work cannot and should not be cheap blackmail.
We, as a party, call on Imo people to rise up and demand a stop to gutter propaganda as a way of governance.

We have tried as a party to be law abiding in the face of constant provocations and blackmail at unprecedented pedestrian level. Governor, Uzodinma should stop acting as if he was deliberately recruited from outside the state to humiliate and insult the sensibilities of Ndi Imo.

Meeting a Chief Chris Okewulonu one wouldn't fail to notice the ease at which he is resolved at listening and proferring solution to edgy issues.

A well grinded experienced administrator with distinct native alluring traits that has set him apart from leaders in his rank.

One can not fail to identify Chris as an astute harmonizer either in public purview or private conflict resolution.

A party man who with outstanding charisma has brokered so much habitual coordinated unified front that has forged a bond many envy and try to understudy.

The efforts towards building solidarity for the PDP and the closing in of ranks to push the party forward has not be left unnoticed by the people especially in the Okigwe zone.

The Humaness and the dexterity of purpose is one that has given a sense of belonging to every member of the party from the zone towards building a United PDP.

As the PDP congress holds today one would also want the spirit of progression and unity which has been demonstrated by the leaders of PDP so far will stretch into the follwership.
The greatest gift a party can have is to have leaders of thought no matter their zones or their political exuberances.

Imo state citizens are looking to see the activation of an opposition that speaks and listens to heart of the people, especially in view of the verdict that was largely rejected by the people of Imo State which saw Rt Hon. Emeka Ihedioha removed.

As they match forward to the congress it is expected that this begins a new lead into the future of the 2023 elections and the repositioning of the party.

We look towards the formula of gearing towards impactful leadership.

I remain the voice of reason and one who loves our polity to improve along democratic tenent.

Comrade KELECHI IGWE has spoken.

STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY, RT. HON. EMEKA IHEDIOHA, CON, AFTER THE SUPREME COURT DECISION ON THE IMO STATE GOVERNORSHIP APPLICATION FOR SETTING ASIDE OF JUDGEMENT.

MARCH 8, 2020


Dear Ndi Imo and fellow Nigerians,

On Tuesday 3rd March 2020, the Supreme Court of Nigeria gave a ruling rejecting our application to set aside its earlier judgement of 14th January 2020 on the Imo State governorship election. This is certainly not the outcome we wanted or we worked so hard for and I know how disappointed you must feel. While it is disheartening to note that your desire to introduce good governance has been halted, at least for now, it is also gratifying that our modest efforts have not gone unnoticed. I therefore feel a sense of pride and gratitude for the wonderful energy and commitment that we deployed together to secure the mandate that has now been brazenly stolen from us.


Permit me to use this opportunity to thank all those who played one role or another in this historic quest for justice and truth. I must thank members of the diplomatic community for voicing their concerns for the stability of our country. I commend the Chairman and Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for their vanguard role and leadership during this period.


In particular, my special thanks go to all Imo citizens for their uncommon support, solidarity, and collective outrage. Never have a people been so united and committed to a cause. You prayed, fasted, marched, protested and even cried. You sacrificed your time, resources, and endeavour for this just cause. On this matter, the people of Imo State collectively rose to demand for justice and fairness. Imo people rose up in defence of their right to elect leaders of their choice. Our people resoundingly rejected oppression and power grab, defied imposition, injustice and tyranny. I salute Imo people for this display of courage in the face of oppressive state power.

I will forever be in the debt of Nigerians of all walks of life, across ethnic, religious and political divides, senior citizens, journalists, civil societies, ordinary men and women of good conscience, who added their voice to condemn the injustice done in our case. These are people unknown to me personally but who could not bear the illogic of turning number four to number one on the basis of a fraudulently procured result, and appealed to the Supreme Court to save itself and our judiciary.

Whatever may be the personal injury I suffer as a result of the miscarriage of justice, my main concern in this whole tragic episode is not about me. It has always been about the implications this judgement could have for the future of our democracy and the right of the electorate to have their votes count. If institutions that are critical to the entrenchment of rule of law could thwart the wishes of the people in a cynical manner, where lies the future of our democracy? That was why I sought a review of the Supreme Court judgement. Even though justice was not served at the end, the well articulated dissenting judgement delivered by His Lordship, Justice Centus Nweze, has vindicated our stand. I am sure that history and posterity will be kind to him.

To those who are rejoicing about their successful political fraud at the expense of Imo people, as well as their collaborators, let me leave them with the immortal words of the late journalist, Dele Giwa: “No evil deed will go unpunished; any evil done by man to man will be redressed; if not now then certainly later; if not by man, then by God for the victory of evil over good is temporary’. We believe that God will render the ultimate judgment. He has been with us through this peaceful struggle. And our future is in His hands.


In conclusion, I wish to express my appreciation to members of our legal team who pushed the frontiers of electoral jurisprudence to advance our constitutional democracy. I wish also to thank my team of committed colleagues who served in various capacities during our administration. It has been a great privilege to serve the people of Imo State as Governor. I am proud to have been the recipient of their genuine mandate. I will forever cherish the support, solidarity and cooperation given to me during my tenure. My belief in the ultimate triumph and supremacy of the will of the people remains intact. I pray God to bless and reward all those who stood firm on the path of justice and fair play.


On a personal note, I accept trials and difficulties as part of life as they enable one to become wiser and more sympathetic to the plights of others in similar circumstances. But I am firmly resolved NEVER to give up on the struggle for a better Imo State. And for a better governed Nigeria.


May God bless Imo State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Thank you and God bless.



HIS EXCELLENCY,
RT. HONOURABLE EMEKA IHEDIOHA, CON.

STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY, RT. HON. EMEKA IHEDIOHA, CON, AFTER THE SUPREME COURT DECISION ON THE IMO STATE GOVERNORSHIP APPLICATION FOR SETTING ASIDE OF JUDGEMENT.

MARCH 8, 2020


Dear Ndi Imo and fellow Nigerians,

On Tuesday 3rd March 2020, the Supreme Court of Nigeria gave a ruling rejecting our application to set aside its earlier judgement of 14th January 2020 on the Imo State governorship election. This is certainly not the outcome we wanted or we worked so hard for and I know how disappointed you must feel. While it is disheartening to note that your desire to introduce good governance has been halted, at least for now, it is also gratifying that our modest efforts have not gone unnoticed. I therefore feel a sense of pride and gratitude for the wonderful energy and commitment that we deployed together to secure the mandate that has now been brazenly stolen from us.


Permit me to use this opportunity to thank all those who played one role or another in this historic quest for justice and truth. I must thank members of the diplomatic community for voicing their concerns for the stability of our country. I commend the Chairman and Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for their vanguard role and leadership during this period.


In particular, my special thanks go to all Imo citizens for their uncommon support, solidarity, and collective outrage. Never have a people been so united and committed to a cause. You prayed, fasted, marched, protested and even cried. You sacrificed your time, resources, and endeavour for this just cause. On this matter, the people of Imo State collectively rose to demand for justice and fairness. Imo people rose up in defence of their right to elect leaders of their choice. Our people resoundingly rejected oppression and power grab, defied imposition, injustice and tyranny. I salute Imo people for this display of courage in the face of oppressive state power.

I will forever be in the debt of Nigerians of all walks of life, across ethnic, religious and political divides, senior citizens, journalists, civil societies, ordinary men and women of good conscience, who added their voice to condemn the injustice done in our case. These are people unknown to me personally but who could not bear the illogic of turning number four to number one on the basis of a fraudulently procured result, and appealed to the Supreme Court to save itself and our judiciary.

Whatever may be the personal injury I suffer as a result of the miscarriage of justice, my main concern in this whole tragic episode is not about me. It has always been about the implications this judgement could have for the future of our democracy and the right of the electorate to have their votes count. If institutions that are critical to the entrenchment of rule of law could thwart the wishes of the people in a cynical manner, where lies the future of our democracy? That was why I sought a review of the Supreme Court judgement. Even though justice was not served at the end, the well articulated dissenting judgement delivered by His Lordship, Justice Centus Nweze, has vindicated our stand. I am sure that history and posterity will be kind to him.

To those who are rejoicing about their successful political fraud at the expense of Imo people, as well as their collaborators, let me leave them with the immortal words of the late journalist, Dele Giwa: “No evil deed will go unpunished; any evil done by man to man will be redressed; if not now then certainly later; if not by man, then by God for the victory of evil over good is temporary’. We believe that God will render the ultimate judgment. He has been with us through this peaceful struggle. And our future is in His hands.


In conclusion, I wish to express my appreciation to members of our legal team who pushed the frontiers of electoral jurisprudence to advance our constitutional democracy. I wish also to thank my team of committed colleagues who served in various capacities during our administration. It has been a great privilege to serve the people of Imo State as Governor. I am proud to have been the recipient of their genuine mandate. I will forever cherish the support, solidarity and cooperation given to me during my tenure. My belief in the ultimate triumph and supremacy of the will of the people remains intact. I pray God to bless and reward all those who stood firm on the path of justice and fair play.


On a personal note, I accept trials and difficulties as part of life as they enable one to become wiser and more sympathetic to the plights of others in similar circumstances. But I am firmly resolved NEVER to give up on the struggle for a better Imo State. And for a better governed Nigeria.


May God bless Imo State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Thank you and God bless.



HIS EXCELLENCY,
RT. HONOURABLE EMEKA IHEDIOHA, CON.

Adaora Onyechere, United Nations Ambassador for Peace, Social Innovation towards mainstreaming Gender participation in policy making scheduled to speak at The CSW64, commission on the status of women, holding from 09 March, 2020 at the United Nations headquarters, New York.

Theme: The role of Advocacy in mainstreaming women in policy development and implementation in 3rd world countries, Nigeria and it's emerging place.

However due to the outbreak of coronavirus, The United Nations has down scaled its two weeks conference to just Monday the 9th leaving out many CSOs from all over the world.

There will be an update for a later date for the conference as the UN plans to reschedule the major debates and side events.

Ambassador Adaora Onyechere is still scheduled to attend the event as a UN ambassador and Observer.

By: Akinloye NG.

As the ruling on the Imo guber appeal ruling review is now set for 3:00PM today, I will do a quick analysis on what transpired on both sides on the floor of the Supreme Court, before the Supreme Court stood down till later in the evening to give its ruling.

Lawyer to Emeka Ihedioha, Kanu Agabi, in his argument, advanced two claims of the appellant, Hope Uzodinma, claiming he was excluded from 388 polling units but tendered results from only 366 polling units and that with the addition of votes from 388 polling units in favour of him, the new result exceeded the total number of accredited voters by 129,000 votes.

In my last analysis, I pointed out two grounds which are only strong enough to warrant the Supreme Court being a court of records/precedence, to set aside its earlier ruling and give proper records and precedence in declaring Ihedioha as winner.

These two grounds are consequent upon the Supreme Court ruling disqualifying Uche Nwosu in December for double nomination having been validly nominated by both APC and AA, Hope Uzodinma is no more a candidate of any political party in the Imo guber contest, as no party can field two candidates for same position.

The other ground is the mismatch of total valid votes and total accredited voters after adding votes from the magical 388 PUs following claims of being cheated in 366 made by him.

It was a surprise that Chief Agabi advanced only the numerical mismatch which he split into two, leaving out the no-party ground in his address which already made the earlier ruling a constitutional crisis.

He only harped on an arm of the grounds, positing inadequate claims towards the case for a review.

On the other hand, the Counsel to Hope Uzodinma, Mr Damian Dodo, countered that the application to revisit, review or set aside the judgment of the court is an incompetent one lacking in merit.

He further argued that the Supreme Court lacks the jurisdiction to sit on appeal over any judgment already delivered by it except where cases of typographical errors or slips are noticed and went further to say such errors have not been established.

Here, Mr. Damian Dodo erred because Ihedioha's application is calling on the court to revisit, review and set aside the judgment. It is competent and with constitutional merit and therefore not an appeal.

While he is correct to say that the Supreme Court lacks the jurisdiction to sit on appeal over any judgment already delivered by it, he erred by seeing the application before the Supreme Court as an appeal. It is a review which the Supreme Court in its own earlier ruling stated it has jurisdiction over, so as to correct errors of misinterpretation or Judgement obtain in error or fraud

In my last analysis, I cited Oriker Jev & Ors. v. Iyortom & Ors. [2015] NWLR (Pt. 1483) 484, where the Supreme Court had in an earlier ruling mistakenly ordered that INEC conduct rerun election, but upon application for review, the court discovered it gave the said order based on a wrong interpretation of Section 133(2) in conjunction with Section 141 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and subsequently set aside the earlier ruling and ordered INEC to issue the applicant a certificate of return.

There is also a precedence of review in the case of Olorunfemi v. Asho [2000] 2 NWLR (Pt. 643) 143. The Supreme Court in its 18th March, 1999 ruling set aside its earlier judgment delivered on the 8th January, 1999 and ordered that the appeal be heard de-novo by another panel, on the ground that it ought to have considered the Respondent’s cross-appeal first before allowing the Appellant’s appeal.

These are examples of where the Supreme Court once set aside its earlier rulings and they are not typographical errors but misinterpretation and administration of justice in errors like it is evident in the Imo ruling, which gave mandate to Uzodinma who was never a candidate of any political party with votes not in conformity with total accredited voters.

Akinloye NG

By Ogu Bundu Nwadike, M.A

In the face of all the brouhaha and topsy-turvy surrounding the debacle on Imo State at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the people of Imo State have done and doing the only thing that they can do under the circumstances viz pray!

Imo people had prayed, they have prayed and am aware they're still praying in and by faith for Supreme God Almighty to remain Supreme God of the Supreme Court!

Specifically, however, there are some factors that the good people of Imo State hinge their faith and convictions on. They include the following:

1. Imo people came out in large numbers on Saturday, March 9, 2019 and cast their votes for Gov. Emeka Ihedioha.

2. On Monday, March 11, 2019, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in its wisdom and reasons declared Ihedioha winner of the election and governor-elect.

3. Since his inauguaration on May 29, 2019, Gov. Ihedioha hit the ground running, working and restoring Imo State.

4. Gov. Ihedioha assembled some of the best brains in Imo State and appointed them into his administration. The appointees were all round pegs in round holes or square pegs in square holes.

5. Gov. Ihedioha granted full autonomy to the local government system in Imo State. That entailed financial independence.

6. Gov. Ihedioha supported the 27 LGAs in their decisions to build 27 mini-stadiums and 27 Administrative Secretariats, with thousands of classroom desks and chairs for public schools.

7. Gov. Ihedioha was committed and poised to conduct LG elections but certain bottlenecks scuttled it temporarily.

8. Gov. Ihedioha ensured that, in the spirit of LG Autonomy, 100% of LG finances were accessed and controlled by the Interim Management Committees of the 27 LGAs.

9. In the education sector, Gov. Ihedioha restored the technical education and vocational training by commencing the construction of Technical Blocks at the four Government Technical Colleges in Owerri, Ahiazu Mbaise, Isiala Mbano and Okporo Orlu.

10. Gov. Ihedioha ensured the on-job-training and retraining of teachers and head teachers in Imo State.

11. Gov. Ihedioha directed that the teaching of Igbo Language become compulsory in Imo State schools.

12. Gov. Ihedioha restored 100% salaries and pensions from the 70% and 40% that he inherited.

13. Gov. Ihedioha introduced the payment of pensions by bank alerts, after a biometric verification of pensioners that revealed that there were over 8000 ghost pensioners in the State. That saved Imo State over N280 million monthly.

14. Gov. Ihedioha signed Order 005 to introduce the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and eliminated 250 bank accounts that were hitherto being operated by the State. He, thereby, plugged holes for leakages and stealing of public money by unscruplous, evil and wicked officials of past rogue regime.

15. Gov. Ihedioha ensured a clean environment in Imo State, particularly in Owerri city and townships of Orlu and Okigwe. He robustly reinforced Imo ENTRACO and motivated environmental sanitation.

16. Gov. Ihedioha ensured that gutters, drainages, flood channels, lakes and rivers in and around Owerri Municipal city were desilted and opened for a better environment.

17. Gov. Ihedioha invested heavily in youth skills acquisition training and empowerment programmes, with thousands of Imo youths trained in various technology-based skills, fintech, agribusiness and agropreneurship.

18. Gov. Ihedioha opened up a programme of employment of Imo people with 5000 job opportunities being processed for the education sector.

19. Gov. Ihedioha signed into law, ten bills passed by the Imo State House of Assembly (IMHA).

20. Gov. Ihedioha restored the Ahiajoku Festival and its Ahiajoku Lecture Series.

21. Gov. Ihedioha restored state organized sports competitions, with reintroduction of the State Sports Festival.

22. Gov. Ihedioha commenced the comprehensive renovation of dilapidated Dan Anyiam Stadium and Grasshoppers International Stadium, Owerri.

23. Gov. Ihedioha restored the operation of public health centres and hospitals in Imo State.

25. Gov. Ihedioha grew the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Imo State from N250 to N1.18 billion within seven months.

26. Gov. Ihedioha restored the budgetary best practices, with verifiable appropriation processes from the MDAs.

27. Gov. Ihedioha restored the Bureau for Public Procurement and Price Intelligence (BPPPI) to guarantee controls over contract awards etcetera.

28. Gov. Ihedioha created the Bureau for Ease of Doing Business to enhance the economic growth and development of Imo State.

29. Gov. Ihedioha created the Bureau for Diaspora Affairs in the Office of the Governor to assist Imo people in Diaspora so as to be directly involved in the workings runnings of the State.

30. Gov. Ihedioha reinforced the Imo State Investment Promotion Agency (ISIPA) to ensure that Imo people invested in the development of the State.

31. Gov. Ihedioha created the Imo State Power and Rural Electrification Agency (I-POREA) to ensure that no community in Imo State lacked public electricity supply.

32. Gov. Ihedioha paid various counterpart funding for foreign donor agencies to return to Imo State and continue on projects.

33. Gov. Ihedioha paid N500 million counterpart funding to get the World Bank/International Development Association/NEWMAP progamme back on track, leading to the multi billion naira erosion control projects, beginning with the erosion control project at Ezemazu Uruala in Ideato North LGA.

34. Gov. Ihedioha paid N500 million counterpart funding for the Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP) road construction project to be resumed in Imo State with over 45 roads across Imo State valued at about N13.8 billion.

35. Gov. Ihedioha awarded contracts for the construction of 25 key and strategic roads in Imo State.

36. Gov. Ihedioha procured state-of-the-art fire-fighting trucks, machinery and equipment.

37. Gov. Ihedioha restored Ekeukwu Owerri Market and opened up Douglas Road to use after more than two years of closure.

38. Gov. Ihedioha was committed to saving lives of Imo people by considering the reconstruction of the tottering, wobbly flyover bridges and tunnels in Owerri.

39. Gov. Ihedioha restored prayerful, low key Christmas celebration by the Government of Imo State.

40. Gov. Ihedioha began the commissioning of projects in December 2019 with the commissioning of 28-offices Administrative Secretariat of Ahiazu Mbaise LGA.

Certainly, there are many more achievements that time and space won't permit to catalogue here in this short essay. But indeed, Gov. Ihedioha was project oriented. And all his projects were people-oriented and Imo people were feeling the anointing of the projects as it touched them individually and collectively directly.

For all of the above, it's little wonder that Imo people are on their knees, with Bible and chaplets on their hands praying, singing, dancing and crying to God Almighty to remember His miracle of liberation of Imo people on Saturday, March 9, 2019!

The Bible teaches that if anyone has done all that's required for him or her to stand, he or she should stand. That's where Imo people are right now, having cast their votes and prayed for the justice of God to prevail. It's, therefore, over to God! In Jesus'name. Amen!

Pro-democracy groups and concerned civil society orgnisations have appealed to the Supreme Court to rise to the occasion, rekindle hope and demonstrate courage in the interest of justice, by ensuring that the errors reversed and not preserved and justice is not delayed in its review of the Imo State Governorship election appeal

The Supreme Court has slated March 2, 2020 to adjudicate on an application for the review of its January 14, 2020 judgement over the Imo case.

The groups, Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, Coalition for Democracy and, Justice and Unity and other CSOs, in a joint-statement made available by Comrade Ariyo-Dare Atoye, urged the Justices of the apex court to uphold the truth, show fairness, and ensure that justice is regained in the instant case.

The statement read: “We are delighted that the respected justices of the Supreme Court have not been invited to review its own judgement based an allegation of a judgement obtained by fraud in the case of Imo case, but via a window of justice prescribed by the apex court under order 8 rule 16.

“The extremely unique opportunity of order 8 rule 16 made available by the Supreme Court for use in exceptional cases like that of the Imo Appeal, is a validation of the courage of the apex court that only God is infallible and also that the fallibility of the supreme court can be redressed to preserve only justice not error, as the final court.

“We make bold to say that it is more than a national consensus that the Imo judgement was given per incuriam with due respect to the Supreme Court, and since the attention of the apex court has been through a formal application for review drawn to the obvious errors and slips in the matter, it was only a matter of when and not if, for the court to depart from the judgement of January 14, 2020.

“We humbly and passionately appeal to the Supreme Court to review and redress its January 14, 2020 ruling over Imo in the instant case because, an opportunity to depart from the errors made in the decisions may not come in the distant future and these decisions reached would be cited at the lower courts to constrain future elections petitions.

“The January 14, 2020 judgement of the Supreme Court was delivered in error to the extent that: an accidental slip was made in ruling on results from two political parties instead of 70; clerical error was made in calculating results from 388 polling units instead of less 366 polling units tendered by the principal witness (PW54);

“Another clerical error was made in allowing the votes accepted by the Supreme Court to be higher than the number of accredited voters for the election; and also, the apex committed a slip in accidentally omitting the its well settled judgment over spread in declaring a winner.

“Having observed clear cases of errors and slips in the Supreme Court ruling of January 14, 2020, we have decided to equally appeal to the apex court to remember its decision in FRN V. MKO Abiola (1995) 7 NWLR, that: justice must be rooted in confidence and confidence is destroyed when right-minded people go away thinking: The judge is biased.

“We believe that the Supreme Court has the power to overrule itself and do justice to Imo people, because according to the late sage and jurist, Oputa JSC, it is far better for the court to admit an error than to persevere in error,’ and we believe the Supreme Court will do the needful.

“Justice is the ultimate, justice is the beacon of the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court is last hope of every Nigeria, and therefore it is expected that it would neither preserve error over the Imo matter nor persevere in error.

International Coalition for Equity, Fairness and Justice says Citizens faith in Nigeria's Institutions of government at its lowest ebb, calls for caution as this could threaten Nigeria's role as a signatory to UN Human Rights Convention and other International binding Agreements.

International Coalition for Equity, Fairness and Justice says Citizens faith in Nigeria's Institutions of government at its lowest ebb, calls for caution as this could threaten Nigeria's role as a signatory to UN Human Rights Convention and other International binding Agreements.

IMO DEMOCRATIC WATCHDOG

Friday, Feb 28 2020.

We are constrained to alert the people of Imo State and Nigerians on general that Imo State is on the verge of being entrapped into the cocoon of political jobbers whose stock in trade include fraudulent schemes to siphon the Commonwealth of the State.

This is why it is worrisome that Imo State, if the staquo remains, will become a den of fraudsters who wear the garment of officialdom to pepertrate fraudulent activities.

The Imo Democratic Watchdog which has beamed its searchlight on the activities of Governor Hope Uzodinma since his surprise emergence as Imo State Governor by the Supreme Court pronouncenent on January 14, 2020,  has resorted to his usual antics which has remained his trademark.

A leopard they say cannot change its spots.This is why barely 44 days as Governor of the State, Uzodinma has used Imo Concorde hotel as his first case of his fraudulent activities which he intends to unleash on the Commonwealth of the people of the  State.

Recently, in a viral video and photographs personally posted by Governor Uzodinma,  he claimed that he has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with Marriot Hotel international to take over the Imo Concorde Hotel, Owerri.

In the words of Gov. Uzodinma: " Today also, I sighed a memorandum of understanding with Marriot International Incorporated (MII) for the renovation and management of Imo Concorde hotel to meet international standards and hospitality".

But a visit to the website of the Marriot International, shows that the company do have 30 hotel brands in Africa and the Middle East. Imo Concorde hotel, Owerri is not listed  among its brands despite signing an "MOU" with Imo State Government.

From our findings, Marriot International is a World  leader in hotel management.We wonder how such a well respected international  hotel management company could send a "ragtag" delegation to Imo State to seal a deal of such economic importance without documentation, due diligence as seen in the photos released by Uzodinma's media team.

Furthermore, deals of this kind usually take about 6 months to seal. This is because the necessary due diligence will take some time to be completed and an MOU entered after consultation. 

But in the photos released, there were no documents, no pen, no paper to sign an "MOU" as the Governor in his usual scheme, never allowed the so called Representatives of Marriot International to give details of the "MOU" or speak to journalists on the gains of the deal.

We have made further  independent inquiry to Marriot International and we can reveal to the good people of Imo State, that Marriot International has denied visiting the Governor talk more of entering any deal with Governor Hope Uzodinma to take over the management of Imo Concorde hotel, Owerri.

This is a tip of the iceberg of the monumental fraud and deceit Governor Uzodinma intends to unleash on viable economic ventures in Imo State such as ADAPALM, Imo Transport Company, Oguta Lake Resort, Avutu Poultry and others.

We have also uncovered a grand design by Uzodinma and his agents to lure banks in the State to fund these imaginary schemes including the MOU with Marriot International on Imo Concorde hotel

Imo State and it's citizens should recall that Hope Uzodinma, prior to his emergence as Governor of Imo State was on the travel ban list of the Federal Government for fraud and was also on the  radar of anti corruption agencies in the country for defrauding the Federal Government $12 million dollars earmarked for the dredging of Calabar seaport.


Mrs. Doris Anyanwu
Executive Director, 
Imo Democratic Watchdog.

As Winston S. Churchill said: “History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.” So, to the Justices of the Supreme Court, who are the representatives of the Almighty God on the bench and having the constitutional and judicial mandate of the people to dispense justice without fear or favour, we write.

We write to you to be guided at all times by three things: the fear of God that you represent, posterity and the supreme natural law of sowing and reaping. Although, our letter is fired by the fallibility of the bench in delivering the Imo judgement of January 14, 2020 and without accusing your lordships of guilt, but justice remains the need of the common man, everyone and not just the unassailable grounds and demand for redress and restoration of Imo people’s mandate.

Only God is infallible, yet He was gracious enough to give His representative on earth, the Biblical Moses, a second chance to do justice to the people of Israel. Moses had out of anger destroyed the Tablet of Justice, the Ten Commandments because the people of Israel erred. But because Justice and Law are central to human existence, God called Moses to prepare another Tablet of Justice and he did and Justice was entrenched. Justice must never be denied.

Although, the judgement delivered by the Supreme Court in the Imo governorship election petition appeal on January 14, 2020, has no doubt continued to generate national and global outrage and condemnation as a miscarriage of justice, but like the Biblical Moses, the late Jurist and sage, Oputa JSC had in the case of Adegoke Motors Ltd v. Adesanya (1986) 2 NWLR (pt. 109) 250 at 270, and ahead of time, assuaged our concerns that only God is infallible and Justices are capable of erring:

“Justices of this court are human beings capable of erring. It will certainly be short-sighted arrogance not to accept this obvious truth. It is also true that this Court can do inestimable good through its wise decisions. Similarly, the Court can do incalculable harm through its mistakes. When therefore it appears to learned Counsel that any decision of this Court has been given per incuriam, such Counsel should have the boldness and courage to ask that such decision shall be overruled. This Court has the power to overrule itself (and has done so in the past) for it gladly accepts that it is far better to admit an error than to preserve an error.”

The doctrine of justice therefore entails that the Imo matter is not only entertained by the Supreme Court as it has now done, but that the Apex Court should rise above its own mistakes and courageously ensure that the “grave error” of January 14, 2020 is not historically preserved.

Our common man letter to the Supreme Court is therefore premised on one ground and three concerns:

The Ground: That Order 8 Rule 16 of the Supreme Court Rules 2014, is not inconsistent with the application to seek a judicial review of the Imo judgement which was delivered per incuriam with accidental slip and clerical mistakes. That the Supreme Court was misled into awarding judgement that admitted 388 forged results while only 366 forged results were tendered on oath by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (PW 54). This appears to Nigerians that the decision of the Supreme Court was given through lack of care and without judicial diligence.

The Concerns: Firstly, that the Supreme Court can be misled into willfully manufacturing, allocating or dashing out scores or results that were not pleaded on oath and supported with facts. How did the Supreme Court come-by the missing results sheets in about 22 units? Secondly, except there is a review and reversal, the Supreme Court has now empowered the Police as an alternate INEC in declaring election results. What this means is that a top Police officer with vested interest can always collude with politicians to circumvent real INEC. Thirdly, that the results of an election can be higher than the number of accredited voters in an election.

Lastly, the Supreme Court must not dismiss this expected review with the intention to redress or correct the mistakes in a future case. This will amount to judicial criminality and it will put an avoidable irredeemable tag of guilt around the necks of the Justices and impair the Supreme Court for ever. Therefore, we are challenging our Justices, to like the courageous soldiers of Sparta, rise to defend their honour, integrity and future. Defend the bench and let history speak glowingly about justice.

It is our candid submission that the Supreme Court is left with no other option than to review and reverse this anomaly and rescue Apex Court from infamy, even if it means applying Judicial Doctrine of Necessity (borrowing from the intervention of the National Assembly when Nigeria was in a big fix).

To the Supreme Court, we say apply what you said in: Federal Republic of Nigeria V. MKO Abiola (1995) 7 NWLR : “Justice must be rooted in confidence and confidence is destroyed when right-minded people go away thinking: The judge is biased.” However, Justice can only be rooted in confidence if a different panel other than the one that erred, is allowed to adjudicate on the review. We therefore align ourselves with every organization and persons demanding for a separate panel to attend to the review.



Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution

Convener: Ariyo-Dare Atoye

Bruce Fein, former Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States and renowned international lawyer, issued the following statement today on behalf of US Council on Nigeria, addressing the forthcoming Nigerian Supreme Court hearing on the Imo State gubernatorial election:

"Nigeria's democracy is on life support. The Nigerian Supreme Court is the last best hope to save it on Tuesday from death and international alienation.

The United States has banned Nigerian immigrants. It has rebuked Nigeria for persecuting Christians, and a conference is scheduled in spring in Washington DC to address the issue of religious persecution in Nigeria. Nigeria's leadership is under investigation by the International Criminal Court for genocide and crimes against humanity. The Imo State gubernatorial election allegedly stolen by APC leadership with more votes cast than registered voters may be the last straw. The United States and the International community will have their eyes in the Nigerian Supreme Court on Tuesday to learn whether it will stand up for an independent judiciary steadfast against political manipulation”

Who is Jeff Uzor dinma?

Imo has left the 419 days and on the pedestal of good governance...

kahal29:
Since you don't know let me tell you according to

By Jeff Uzor

Apparently a lot of people don't know how courts work including some lawyers. Let me break it down once more.

When you file a motion in court, the trial don't happen right away. There are procedures the motion goes through before it can be heard. It is the same with the apex court. Before the motion for review filed by Ihedioha counsel can move forward, it will first be evaluated on its merits (that means looked over to determine if the apex court can move forward with it or not).

Assuming after the evaluation on Tuesday, it is determined that the motion for review should go on, then the Supreme Court will conduct a review based on prayers been sought.

With all the above being said, I can tell you with a degree of certainty that the motion for review as filed by his counsel shall be dismissed on Tuesday for lack of merit. Whats the reason?

Well, the motion has a lot of flaws. The first flaw , it is almost impossible to get a unanimous judgement reviewed. The only way is if the prayer being sought is clerical in nature. Second litigation ends at the supreme court therefore when asking for a review, certain threshold must be met. The law is made that way so there can be an end to litigation. The motion as filed by Ihedioha counsel if adopted shall create a judicial disaster. Third one of the prayers being sought in the motion as filed is the same INEC ignored when they declared him the duly elected candidate, that is the two third spread. Asking the court to nullify a judgement on a fact you first benefitted creates estoppel in law.

In summary, the chances of his review moving forward after Tuesday is ZERO. Ultimately INEC and his COUNSEL cost him the election.

PRESS STATEMENT

Sunday, 16th February, 2020


Ihedioha vs Uzodinma: Third Force rallies Eminent Leaders of thoughts, Civil Society Leaders for Supreme Court epochal Review on Tuesday


...Commend Supreme Court's decision to review its earlier Ruling.

...Hails the Concern and  Vigilance of the International Community on the matter.

...Admonish Imo people to remain calm.


A group of Eminent Leaders of thoughts and Frontline Leaders in the organised Civil Society as well as the Third Force Movement in Nigeria have commended  the Nigerian Supreme Court for its decision to review its controversial ruling on the Imo State Governorship Elections, which has raised serious questions about the present state of the Nigerian Judiciary


Following intensive Consultations, the group of eminent Persons, in a joint statement issued on Sunday in Abuja and signed by their Spokesperson, Dr. Olusegun Awe Obe said the latest decision of the Apex Court to review its earlier ruling is a sign of maturity and openness by the Judiciary that will go a long way to calm frayed nerves and douse the heightening political tension in south east and the country at large


The group also hailed the International Community and concerned Eminent Nigerians for their diplomatic vigilance and Interventions respectively on the worrisome Supreme Court Judgement on the 2019 Governorship Elections in Imo state, a rulling, which has since foisted strong ripples among Nigerians  over the survival of democracy and peace in South East and Nigeria at large


According to the statement, The group said they plan to further mobilise and rally National leaders of conscience like, Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, Prof Ben Nwabueze, SAN, Former Head of State, Gen Abdusalami Abubarkar, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Bishop Mathew Kukah, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, Solomon Asemota, SAN, Prof Pat Utomi, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, Comrade Shehu Sanni, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Dr Obby Ezekwesili, the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA and the International Community, among others, to help monitor the Judicial review on Imo Governorship Elections coming up on Tuesday at the Supreme Court


It will be recalled that the body, had previously avered that apart from the fact that the total valid votes, which the Supreme Court based its ruling on erroneously exceeded the Total Accredited Voters by INEC in the elections, Senator Hope Uzodinma may also not have fulfilled the Constitutional requirements for a validly elected Governor of having to score at least one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the Local Government Areas in the State.


The group also raised the question of double standard in the supreme Court judgement “If their Lordships have already declared Uche Nwosu as the validly elected  candidate, of APC, it’s then illogical to again declare Hope Uzodinma as the validly elected governor on the platform of same APC, since there’s no provision for independent candidate in the Nigerian constitution, "Since, it’s not possible to build something on nothing, it may amount to approbation and reprobation on the part of the Apex Court to declare Uzodinma whose candidature of the APC has been initially rendered a nullity.” The Leaders opined


The Leaders also asserted that the judgment completely overthrows all known judicial precedence and electoral jurisprudence in Nigeria and that It would appear to be based on extra legal considerations and therefore requires a desired reversal by the supreme Court to prevent the precipitation of a major uprising and anarchy in Imo capable of overwhelming security and stability in the entire South East


The group while making a case about the Supreme Court powers to review or reverse its earlier decision had also stated that, "While delivering the lead judgment in Adegoke Motors Ltd. v. Adesanya (1989] 13 NWLR (Pt.109) 250 at page 275A, Justice Chukwudifo Oputa, also known as the ‘Socrates’ of  the Supreme Court considered the powers of the Supreme Court (as the final Court in the land) to review its earlier decisions and said inter alia:

"We are final not because we are infallible; rather we are infallible because we are final. Justices of this Court are human-beings, capable of erring. It will certainly be short sighted arrogance not to accept this obvious truth. It is also true that this Court can do inestimable good through its wise decisions. Similarly, the Court can do incalculable harm through its mistakes. When therefore it appears to learned counsel that any decision of this Court has been given per incuriam, such counsel should have the boldness and courage to ask that such a decision be over-ruled"

“This Court has the power to over-rule itself (and has done so in the past) for it gladly accepts that it is far better to admit an error than to persevere in error”, the Eminent Leaders quoted


The group in conclusion charged the people of Imo and the entire South East to remain calm and be hopeful as they are quite optimistic that the Supreme Court will do justice to the matter during its epochal review on Tuesday


Signed:

Dr Olusegun Awe Obe, FCAI

Spokesperson, Eminent Leaders'Group initiated by the 'Third Force' Movement, Nigeria

Imo state came into existence in 1976. A state which has 3tiers of administrative structure. Which was actively celebrated in its practice during the Sam Mbakwe tenure.

Imo State is a state blessed with 27 dynamic LGAs yet, just yet, in all of these in all true sense of reveiw, over the years was a lack of consistent, enduring, unbiased sense of responsibility by it's leaders.

Imolites has been on the fulcrum of these until 2019 when Rt Hon. Emeka Ihedioha was voted into power.

The mark of true leadership is responsibility for every action, a vison that accommodates the people first.

In 7 months he took on a charge to rekindle the faith, love in leadership and trust for the administrative processes. There was a new sense of faith, a rebirth of can do spirit and a call for collective effort for all and sundry.

'Imo bu nke anyi nile' a charge that has become our mantra for a new Imo under Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha as Governor. He is a leader of thought and one remarkably passionate about his people first.

Ronald Regan said, "The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest thing but he that gets people to do the greatest things.

Adaora Onyechere

The famously celebrated Valentine's day, one which has been tagged a day to share love didn't end without a humanitarian reaching out to those that matter most - the vulnerable in our society. Ms Adaora Onyechere paid a visit to Durumi Area 1 IDP Camp In Abuja to mark and spend time with the internally displaced persons.

The IDP camp has no fewer than 3,000 persons who live in the shanties with little or no access to basic amenities.

The IDPs from Borno, Adamawa and Yobe have also been living in the camps since 2013 when insurgents ravaged their communities.

Ms Adaora called on the FCT administration to register all pregnant IDPs in government-owned hospitals to enable them attend antenatal clinics toward protecting the unborn child and the mother.

On lack of toilets and water, she said it was also saddening to note that the unavailability of these basics was causing an increase in preventable illnesses and high rate of open defecation in the camps.

She went ahead to share freebies to the IDPs amidst dancing and moments of reflection on the essences of Valentine's day.

The famously celebrated Valentine's day, one which has been tagged a day to share love didn't end without a humanitarian reaching out to those that matter most - the vulnerable in our society. Ms Adaora Onyechere paid a visit to Durumi Area 1 IDP Camp In Abuja to mark and spend time with the internally displaced persons.

The IDP camp has no fewer than 3,000 persons who live in the shanties with little or no access to basic amenities.

The IDPs from Borno, Adamawa and Yobe have also been living in the camps since 2013 when insurgents ravaged their communities.

Ms Adaora called on the FCT administration to register all pregnant IDPs in government-owned hospitals to enable them attend antenatal clinics toward protecting the unborn child and the mother.

On lack of toilets and water, she said it was also saddening to note that the unavailability of these basics was causing an increase in preventable illnesses and high rate of open defecation in the camps.

She went ahead to share freebies to the IDPs amidst dancing and moments of reflection on the essences of Valentine's day.

Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo is asking a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to compel the West African Examination Council (WAEC), to produce a copy of the certificate it purportedly issued to Senator Hope Uzodinma in 1982.

Keyamo said that his move became necessary following the refusal of WAEC to respond to his letter dated May 14, 2013 where he requested for a Certified True Copy of the senator, who represents Imo West Senatorial District in the senate.

The suit, dated July 2, 2013, was filed as an ex parte application on the strength of the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011. It bore the tag, FHC/L/CS/921/2013.

The lawyer alleged that Uzodinma did not graduate from Mgbidi Boys High School in Imo State, where he claimed to have sat for and passed WAEC’s examinations in 1982.

Keyamo stated in an affidavit accompanying the suit, “The said Hope Uzodinma claimed to have graduated from the Mgbidi Boys High School, Imo State in 1982.

“That inquiry and investigation into the names and persons that graduated in that year has revealed that Senator Hope Uzodinma was not a graduate of the school in 1982.”

1. In Ihedioha’s era, IGR was raised from N250M to N1Billion in 6 months.

2. Ihedioha’s Government paid and verified all pensioners in 4 months.

3. Ihedioha’s Government resumed payment of 100% salaries in 4 months.

4. Imo State became the LEAST CORRUPT state within 5 months of Ihedioha’s Government.

6.The Agricultural Sector was revived in 5 months and Rice production commenced in the state.

7. Electricity was restored to the State Secretariat which had no power for 8 years in 5 months.

8. Ihedioha saw that the multiplicity of state bank accounts was reduced from 250 to 1 under a Single Treasury Accounts Stystem in 3 months.

9. The Technical & Vocational Educational system was revived in 5 months.

10. Imo State scored FIRST POSITION in ICT Development in 4 months.

11.Ihedioha’s Government signed up to Open Government Initiative.

12.Steps were taken to improve ease of doing business in the State.

13.Ihedioha’s Government hosted the first ever subnational Diaspora summit.

14.Imo State became attractive to development partners such as DFID, World Bank, Ford Foundation, etc;

15.Ihedioha and his team unlocked over N25bn in world Bank funded projects such as NewMap and Ramp by paying counterpart funds.

16.In Ihedioha’s era sports was revived Imo State.

17.Ihedioha’s government instituted a State Health Insurance Scheme within 5 months.

18.Ihedioha’s government embarked on a massive Road Reconstruction program within Owerri metropolis and also fixed all potholes within the State Capital.

19.Ihedioha trained over 600 Imo youths in Agricultural Entrepreneurship Schemes in Nasarawa State.

20. Ihedioha started the construction of 27 brand new Ultramodern local Government Secretariat across the State many of which are nearing completion.

21. Ihedioha started the construction of 27 brand new stadia across the State, in a bid to curb crime and seeing Sports as a means of empowering the youths.

22.Ihedioha received high powered international delegations from the government of United Kingdom, the High Commissioner, the government of United States, the Deputy Ambassador and other dignitaries to the State.

Posterity they say is the best judge. Ihedioha truly was ready to serve. Well done sir.

National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kastina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masarii reportedly had a close door meeting on Monday in Abuja with the Chief Justice of Nigeria , Justice Tanko Mohammed over the Supreme Court controversial judgment on Imo governorship election

It was authoritatively gathered the meeting was held to enable them strike veritable options on how to resolve the debacle that has arisen from the Supreme Court judgement

The apex court had on Tuesday January 14 awarded Senator Hope Uzodinma unverified 213,000 votes from 388 cancelled polling units and consequently declared him winner of the election even though he was placed fourth by the Independent National Electoral Commission without a House of Assembly seat to his party's credit
The apex court"s additional votes resulted in the recorded total number of votes exceeding the total number of registered voters in the state

The evident subversion of justice inherent in the judgement has touched off country-wide and global protests and condemnations and thus escalating tension across Nigeria

A reliable source at APC headquarters in Abuja who confirmed the Monday's meeting involcing Tinubu, Masari and the CJN disclosed that some leaders of the party are neither comfortable with the injustice that pervaded the judgement nor the ripples it is generating in the polity and therefore pushing for a redress

Although the source could not provide the details of the meeting he however revealed that the Monday meeting was connected to the Supreme Court judgement on Imo and how to forge a way forward

The source further disclosed that the leaders of the ruling party including President Muhammadu Buhari and the members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Working Committee (NWC) are jolted by the large-scale demonstrations that have attended the judgement.

According to the source, the ruling party leaders are further confounded by the level of clerical errors that underlined the judgement that saw the removal of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON as governor of Imo State and are accordingly interested in seeing the judgement revised

In Nigeria legal system, clerical errors are said ro be human mistakes, usually in note taking or errors of calculation of numbers and figures made in the delivery of the Supreme Court judgement in any given matter, which appeal is brought to the apex court for review

Only on Friday, 31st January, 2020, the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and Senator Uzodimma were reportedly invited to a meeting with President Buhari over the same matters arising from the Supreme Court judgement. According to a source at Presidential Villa the Nigerian leader was not pleased with the dusts the judgement has been generating and he berated both Oshiomhole and Uzodimma for the bad image the judgement has created for the Supreme Court, the Nigerian judiciary and the Federal Government.

The source added that the president asked them to return to the Supreme Court to ensure that the right thing is done by redressing the controversial and contentious judgement.

The meeting with the president on Friday, which was followed by Monday meeting that involved Tinubu, Masari and the CJN provided a plausible link to authenticate the Federal Government's inclination towards revisiting the judgement.

There are fresh troubles for embattled Senator Hope Odidika Uzodimma, whose declaration as governor of Imo State by the Supreme  Court has continued to generate outrage across Nigeria and overseas.

This time, a source in the Office of the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, (names withheld) has confided that Senator Uzodimma has stepped on big toes of the President, following the increasing knocks on the controversial judgement by the Supreme Court on January 14, 2020.

According to the insider, the recent visit by the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Senator Hope Uzodinma was at the instance of the president. He had sent for them to explain the anger that have trailed the Supreme Court judgement.

According to the source, President Buhari expressed dismay at the way the judgement has brought the Supreme Court and the country to ridicule. 

He revealed that the President's insistence that the right thing be done, was instrumental to the acceptance of the Supreme Court to honour the request by Nigerians for a review of the judgement.

The source hinted that President Buhari has ordered that the right thing be done and the rightful winner of the election be declared, no matter the beneficiary. 

According to him, the President lambasted Senator Uzodimma for being the cause of the bad image Nigeria is contending with at the moment, the most prominent consequence of which is the listing of Nigeria among countries that will enjoy very limited travel privileges to the United States of America, henceforth. He said President Buhari is quite unhappy that Nigeria is being scandalized by the hugely flawed Supreme Court judgement.

Meanwhile, from another source, who is a member of Senator Uzodimma's inncer circle, said before invitation to see the president, the new Imo governor had been making frantic efforts to find willing top notchers of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to create passage for him to meet with the president.

The source said Senator Uzodimma approached the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but was rebuffed, saying he did not want to get involved with the Supreme Court saga. Senator Uzodimma, according to the source, even sought to see the President with Owelle Rochas Okorocha and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, but they were denied access, citing security reasons.

The source, a legal practitioner,  further said that Senator Uzodimma, after parting with huge amount of money, in hard currency, found support from Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who accompanied the him to President Buhari on Friday, January 31, 2020.

According to the source, on coming out of the close door meeting with the president, it was very clear it was not a successful meeting. Thus much was  confirmed, when Senator Uzodimma, speaking in Igbo language, intoned that, "Mr. President is still angry."

According to this source, who occupies one of the topmost offices in Imo State chapter of the APC, Senator Uzodimma is very desparate to retain his declaration as governor by the Supreme Court. This, the source said, can be confirmed with the type of promises Senator Uzodimma has been making here and there to whoever he feels could make it possible for him to remain as governor.

He gave instance with Senator Uzodimma's promise to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole that he will wholly fund the 2023 APC presidential election if he is retained as Imo governor, while making offers of contracts and monetary gains to the APC National Chairman.

According to this source, Senator Uzodimma was heard pleading with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to assist him get APC Governor's Forum to rally support for him. As if the afore-mentioned desparate efforts by Senator Uzodimma were not enough, he promised Oshiomhole to organize a massive rally in the next days in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, to prove to President Buhari that he has the support of the people of Imo State.

On the whole, it appears that amidst all the strategies and efforts being made by the parties involved in the appeal before the Supreme Court, it is the expected review of the judgement and the circumstances surrounding it, that will determine the actual winner of the 2019 governorship election in Imo State and put the matter to a final conclusive end.

The issue here is not whether the Supreme Court can over rule itself or not...The allegation here is that of "fraud" because what was allegedly delivered (read out of judgment) is not now on the hardcopy of the judgment subsequently given to the parties.

This sad development may not be totally unexpected given the public outcry and uproar, as well as, analysis on the incongruity of the gap between accredited voters and actual scores now allocated by the judgment.

In this view, yes there is a possibility of the review of the judgement.

So we challenge the record of the SC. That is the record of 14th from hardcopy judgment. By law, a person challenging the record (hardcopy judgment) must swear to an affidavit. Obviously to be attached as Exhibits to the affidavit is/are what the applicant says is the correct record (audio or whatever of pronouncement of 14th Jan)

See Horst Sommer v. FHA (1992) LPELR-3103 (SC); Gonzee Nig Ltd v. NERDC (2005) LPELR-1332(SC); Chief of Army Staff v. Isah (2017) LPELR-41979(CA)

The record of the judgment (hardcopy) is different from reality of 14th and with this the subsequent record of the Supreme Court is a product of fraud and manipulation and should be nullified and set aside.

The Supreme Court based its judgment in the above case, solely on the evidence of PW54 DCP Rabiu Hussain.
From the C.TC. of the proceedings of the Tribunal on 31July, 2019 DCP RABIU HUSSAIN testified in the Tribunal as follows:
“In Exhibit NNN1 to NNN18, (subpoena) I was asked to produce 388 Forms EC8As retrieved by the Police Officers. I have some of the FORMS. I don’t have 388 FORMS. The total number I brought is 368 and I cannot lay my hands on 20 FORMS”.
OUR COMMENT:
The record of Court only showed that 366 FORMS EC8As (not 368 and definitely not 388) were admitted in evidence and marked as Exhibits PPP1 to PPP366. These conflicting figures of 366, 368, or 388 Forms make his evidence completely unreliable.
DCP RABIU HUSSAINI CONTINUED:
“I didn’t tabulate the scores in Exhibit PPP1 to PPP166(366?).
I didn’t observe the entries in any of them.
I didn’t go through Exhibits PPP1 to PPP166(366) because Police are not interested in the scores of the parties”.
“I am surprised that the number of forms I tendered are not up to the number I told the Hon. Tribunal”.
“I cannot know whether there are mutilations or tampering in Exhibit PPP1 to PPP366.”
OUR ANALYSIS

The above evidence of PW54, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, did not say what each candidate scored or the figures.

PW54 did not give evidence with regards to 388 polling units. PW54 did not tender results from 388 polling units.

PW54 stated in his testimony that he did not know the contents of Exhibits PPP1 to PPP366, or PPP1 to PPP388 or any of the forms whatever the number.

PW54 did not testify that results from 366, or 368 or 388 polling units were excluded.

QUESTION?

If, from the Certified True Copy of the evidence/testimony of PW54 which the Supreme Court relied upon to give its final judgment, there is no evidence of the votes scored in Exhibits PPP1 to PPP366, or PPP1 to 368 or 388 where did the Supreme Court get the 213,695 votes it added to the scores of Hope Uzodinma?. And from where did the Supreme Court get the evidence that results from 388 polling units were excluded when PW54 testified that he brought only 366 or 368 FORMS EC8As. Since 366 and not 388 FORMS were eventually found to be tendered by DCP Rabiu Hussaini, where did the Supreme Court get the 213,695 votes it added to Hope Uzodinma?. Or did Supreme Court merely copy tge pleadings of Hope Uzodinma and regarded it as evidence? It is trite Law that averment in pleadings or Address of Counsel cannot take the place of evidence?

From the 20 or 22 EC8As forms PW54 admitted that he omitted to tender at the Tribunal from the 388 he was subpoenered to produce, how many votes did it contain for each candidate? What is the spread? These are questions the Supreme Court must answer, since their judgment did not cover these issues and contain unbelievable gaps.

It is obvious that the Supreme Court relied only on the submission of Hope Uzodinma without any reference to the records of proceedings of the Tribunal/Court of Appeal or otherwise, it would have realised that even though Hope Uzodinma claimed 388 polling units, he only dumped 366 discredited polling units results through the Police, yet the Supreme Court unilaterally credited him with figures from the 388 units which figures did not remove the 20 or even 22 polling units that were in fact not tendered before the tribunal .

The Supreme Court judgement was erroneously premised on 388 polling units results when indeed only 366 polling units’ results were admitted in the Tribunal before being expunged on very solid grounds by both the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal. We may never know the impact the exclusion of the results from the 20 or 22 units by the Supreme Court based on its own perverse findings could have had on the scores of each candidate.

Our Submission

It is our candid submission that the Supreme Court is left with no other option than to review and reverse this anomaly, even if it means applying a Judicial Doctrine of Necessity (borrowing from the intervention of the National Assembly, when Nigeria was in a big fix). The confidence of Nigerians in the Judiciary is at the lowest and we believe that the Supreme Court can help to restore it and save the future of the future of elections. This is the time to apply what the Supreme Court in Federal Republic of Nigeria V. MKO Abiola (1995) 7 NWLR, said:

“Justice must be rooted in confidence and confidence is destroyed when right-minded people go away thinking: The Judge is biased.”

By
Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution (CDNDC)
Convener, Ariyo-Dare Atoye
aristotle001us@yahoo.com

Does the Supreme Court posses the powers to review its earlier decision on the judgement earlier given against Imo on January 14th 2020.

Adaora Onyechere says let's review this question from the case below;

Delivering the lead judgment in Adegoke Motors Ltd. v. Adesanya [1989] 13 NWLR (Pt.109) 250 at page 275A *Justice Oputa* also known as the *Socrates* of the Supreme Court considered the powers of the Supreme Court (as the final Court in the land) to review its earlier decisions and said:

*We are final not because we are infallible; rather we are infallible because we are final. Justices of this Court are human-beings, capable of erring. It will certainly be short sighted arrogance not to accept this obvious truth. It is also true that this Court can do inestimable good through its wise decisions. Similarly, the Court can do incalculable harm through its mistakes. When therefore it appears to learned counsel that any decision of this Court has been given per incuriam, such counsel should have the boldness and courage to ask that such a decision be over-ruled. This Court has the power to over-rule itself (and has done so in the past) for it gladly accepts that it is far better to admit an error than to persevere in error*

Chukwudifu Oputa JSC in Adegoke Motors Vs. Adesanya.

The Judiciary as stated above by Chukwudifu Oputa JSC clearly states that and I quote "Justices of thus court are human-beings, capable of erring".
End of quote.

On Jan 14th 2020 The Supreme Court erred in its judgement against His Excellency Rt.Hon Emeka Ihedioha CON KSC and the rights of Imolites.

The counsel should have the boldness and courage to accept that it's far better to admit an error than to preserve in error!!!!!

Does the Supreme Court posses the powers to review its earlier decision on the judgement earlier given against Imo on January 14th 2020.

Adaora Onyechere says let's review this question from the case below;

Delivering the lead judgment in Adegoke Motors Ltd. v. Adesanya [1989] 13 NWLR (Pt.109) 250 at page 275A *Justice Oputa* also known as the *Socrates* of the Supreme Court considered the powers of the Supreme Court (as the final Court in the land) to review its earlier decisions and said:

*We are final not because we are infallible; rather we are infallible because we are final. Justices of this Court are human-beings, capable of erring. It will certainly be short sighted arrogance not to accept this obvious truth. It is also true that this Court can do inestimable good through its wise decisions. Similarly, the Court can do incalculable harm through its mistakes. When therefore it appears to learned counsel that any decision of this Court has been given per incuriam, such counsel should have the boldness and courage to ask that such a decision be over-ruled. This Court has the power to over-rule itself (and has done so in the past) for it gladly accepts that it is far better to admit an error than to persevere in error*

Chukwudifu Oputa JSC in Adegoke Motors Vs. Adesanya.

The Judiciary as stated above by Chukwudifu Oputa JSC clearly states that and I quote "Justices of thus court are human-beings, capable of erring".
End of quote.

On Jan 14th 2020 The Supreme Court erred in its judgement against His Excellency Rt.Hon Emeka Ihedioha CON KSC and the rights of Imolites.

The counsel should have the boldness and courage to accept that it's far better to admit an error than to preserve in error!!!!!

Despite an attack from alleged fraudsters, Lekoil’s shares have clawed back value writes,
On 13, January 2020, shares of Lekoil, an indigenous oil and gas company headquartered in Lagos, but listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange (LSE), were suspended from trading for reasons linked to an announcement the company made on 2, January.

Before the close of business that day however, the shares were cleared to resume trading: A testament to AIM’s satisfaction with steps taken by Lekoil to handle the situation that led to its shares suspension.

As expected, the shares took a beating the next day (14, January) but successfully clawed back some value in the early on 15, January (closing the day with 21.60% price appreciation).

Back to the events of 2, January. At exactly 7.00am on that day (2, January), Lekoil announced, through its website, that it had secured $184million in funding for the appraisal drilling and initial development activities on the Ogo field within OPL 310 based on a facility agreement signed with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar.

The statement indicated that, the facility agreement was arranged by Seawave Invest Limited, an independent consultancy firm which specializes in cross-border transactions based in Accra Ghana.

But 10 days later (12, January) facts emerged that questioned the validity of the deal. As a matter of fact, the QIA approached Lekoil’s legal advisers to draw attention to the lack of merit in the funding arrangement announced by the company.

The Beginning

Lekoil’s journey to the 2, January announcement was a long one. And from the facts available, Lekoil acted like any other company seeking to raise funds for a major project, without diluting its shares.

Lekoil was introduced to a broker, Seawave Invest Limited and seemed to engage in good faith with individuals who presented their credentials as QIA representatives.

During the engagement the Company's Non-Executive Directors, commissioned a third party was to conduct due diligence on Seawave-Invest Limited which seemed to find no proverbial “red flags”.

It also appears that Lekoil sought advice in relation to the transaction from its counsels and advisers.

However, these steps were unable to detect any falsehoods in the true nature of the facility being put together by Seawave Invest Limited. When however, the truth came to light, Lekoil was quick to follow best practice and report finding to relevant authorities.

A commendable response
Lekoil took a number of strategic steps which earned its shares a place on the trading deck the next day. Firstly, it notified AIM of the true state of things given the new revelations.

“The "Facility Agreement" or the "Transaction" seems to have been entered into by the company [Lekoil] with individuals who have constructed a complex facade in order to masquerade as representatives of the QIA,” the company said in a detailed press statement posted on its website and sent to the management of AIM.

Secondly, the statement indicated that there will be a spirited attempt to get to the root of the matter so as to bring the culprits to book. “The Company [Lekoil] will be contacting the relevant authorities across a number of jurisdictions without delay, with regard to what appears to be an attempt to defraud Lekoil,” the published statement added.

Thirdly, the board of Lekoil appointed Mark Simmonds and Tony Hawkins, who are Independent Non-Executive Directors of the Company, to investigate the origination and execution of the botched Facility Agreement, what steps can be taken to retrieve any monies already paid in association with the Transaction and the Company's wider corporate governance practices.

Mr. Simmonds and Mr. Hawkins were appointed to the Board after the signature of the failed botched Facility Agreement and did not have any connection with the origination or execution of the Transaction, making them suitable, in the wider Board's opinion, to lead a fully independent review. They will be assisted by third party forensic investigators and legal counsel, as appropriate.

What degree of exposure?
The failed deal is a reminder of how musky the capital acquisition waters and business in the 21 Century are. In August 20019, Toyota Boshoku Corporation, a major supplier of Toyota auto parts reported that it was fleeced of over $37million by fraudsters. In November of the same year, business email compromise (BEC) attacks costs American media giant, Nikkei $29million. The list of companies hit in similar manner in 2019 is much longer.

“Clever fraudsters have invaded the business space too & it is not only cybercrime. Individuals & Corporates need to be constantly alert & on their toes; the fraudsters are getting smarter. Lekoil has become the latest victim. Lekoil must chin up & bounce back,” Mr. Atedo Peterside the Founder, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc said in a tweet, in response to news about Lekoil and the development that have come to the fore.

But the failure of the Lekoil deal naturally came with costs. There was the loss of $600,000 committed to the firm that brokered the failed deal and those associated with the deal (outside Lekoil). Apart from this, no capital commitment was made based on the anticipated loan drawdowns.

The facility was not secured against any other assets or interest of Lekoil, including in particular, its interest in the producing Otakikpo marginal field. It is also important to note that none of the security documents, as part of the facility have come into effect.

The Future

The events notwithstanding, Lekoil has an attractive portfolio. Its management has vowed to secure the requisite funding to develop its assets. Production from Lekoil’s Otakikpo marginal field remains steady with a gross production of cira 5,700 bopd (2,300 bopd net to LEKOIL) with the potential to increase towards 20,000 bopd (8,000 bopd net to LEKOIL) following the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) which was announced on the 1st of July 2019.

The MOU was executed between the Otakikpo Joint Venture partners, Schlumberger and a Nigerian subsidiary of a major international oil company ("IOC" which has been operating in Nigeria for more than 50 years to cover a project to provide comprehensive infrastructure sharing and a drilling programme around a group of marginal field assets, including Otakikpo, in OML 11.

The development is expected to include drilling of up to five new wells with a total project costs of $170m ($68m net to LEKOIL). The funding for this programme is expected to be provided to the Otakikpo Joint Venture by a consortium made up of the IOC subsidiary and some financial institutions.

The Company remains fully focused to generate value on this asset for all shareholders through organic growth initiative.

Within its portfolio, LEKOIL acquired a 45% interest in the Production Sharing Contract (“PSC”) on OPL 276. The asset has four wells drilled in the licence area which resulted in four discoveries (two oil and two gas) with preliminary resource estimates, based on data from the four wells, of gross recoverable volumes of 29 million barrels of oil and 333 Bcf of gas, with upside of 33 million barrels of oil and 476 Bcf of gas (recoverable).

Consideration for the acquisition of US$5m is to be paid in tranches which are linked to receipt of license extension and Ministerial Consent.

There are indications that Lekoil will overcome the setbacks associated with the failed QIA facilities bid. The size of the company’s assets suggests that it has done a great job of raising and deploying capital in the past. Indeed, there will be many more capital; rasing and deployment efforts in the future.

At exactly 5.24pm on 25, January, Mr. Peterside tweeted “I was on the Board of Lekoil until a few years ago. Focused & honest team led by Lekan Akinyanmi, Founder. Lekoil still have a producing oil field and successfully raised large financing in the past. I look forward to seeing them bounce back. They can,”

‘ There are indications that Lekoil will overcome the setbacks associated with the failed QIA facilities bid. The size of the company’s assets suggests that it has done a great job of raising and deploying capital in the past.

Today, His Excellency Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha receives and reaches out to persons living with disabilities through the office of the SSA on information and advocacy at Ihube in Okigwe LGA. The evenr which was themed “Touching the untouched”, was a reflection of the rebuild Imo project of His Excellencies promises of inclusive and accessible governance.

The event which held at the Ihube, Okigwe LGA, Imo state. The obvious elated persons living with disabilities (PWDs) were undeterred by their seeming peculiarities and warmly welcomed the entourage from the state house led by Adaora Onyechere, the SSA on Advocacy and information.

In her address to the people she reassured them of the governor's intention to carry every class of persons along, emphasizing that advocating and reaching out through welfare, empowerment of these persons are keying into the rebuild imo agenda of His Excellency.

She stated that His Excellency was intentional in creating the commission for women affairs and vulnerable persons to address this plight which is under the able watch of The Honorable commissioner for women affairs and vulnerable persons Hon. Nkeiru Ibekwe.

While Speaking at the event Ms Adaora emphasized on the significance of the event, 'touching the untouched' initiative which is keen on touching lives and putting a smile on the faces of the pwds and vulnerable persons.

She expressed His Excellency's willingness stating, ‘‘We connect and try to bridge the gap between the rich and poor in the society so, a time like this is a period to celebrate these special citizens because it takes a human faced administration to help fellow Imolites. That’s why we have taken it upon ourselves coming to Okigwe and make these citizens feel loved and appreciated in the society.’’

Further highlighting on the mood, She said , ‘‘We are here to celebrate with these special citizens and also give them a sense of belonging because we strongly believe in the adding value to humanity and they shouldn’t be deprived of this because of their situation.”

She further added, ‘‘ It is imperative that these special ones don’t feel left out because of their disabilities and our society shouldn’t relegate them to the background because of their condition.”

She says, His Excellency is encouraged by the faith of imolites in the rebuild imo agenda and can only intensify interventions across board to make Imo state a leading example on the world stage for Nigeria and for the South East.

Amongst these special people were children living autism, cerebral palsy, the elderly kene and women, the visually impaired and others.

Current estimates put the Christian and Muslim population in Nigeria at almost par, though some estimates give a slight edge to Muslims in the country. While the north is predominantly Muslim, the south is predominantly Christian. Yet, these broad categories ignore significant populations of both faiths across both sections of the country. For instance, the Middle Belt and parts of the North East have significant Christian populations, while the Southwest has significant Muslim population. The balance of the faiths has encouraged a balancing act in the choice of political leaders but there are fears that if current projections are right Christians will have a hard time leading this country in future. According to the Pew Research Center, Nigeria’s delicate population balance between Christians and Muslims will tip significantly over the coming years. It predicts that by 2060, some 40 years away, 60.5 percent of the country’s projected population of 283.2 million people will be Muslims, while Christians will make up just about 37 percent. Four years ago in 2015, Muslims made up 50 percent as against 48.1 percent for Christians.

The implication of the large shift in the population is significant in political terms, especially for Nigeria where political leadership at the national level and in several states have been coloured by partisan interests such as religion and ethnicity. In the country’s history there have only been four heads of state/presidents who were Christians and seven Muslim heads of state/presidents. The Christian heads of state and presidents were General Aguiyi Ironsi, General Yakubu Gowon, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr Goodluck Jonathan. The Muslim leaders have been General Murtala Muhammed, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Ibrahim Babangida, General Sani Abacha, General Abdusalam Abubakar, President Umar Musa Yar’Adua and President Muhammadu Buhari. While all of the military heads of state came through coup d’états facilitated by their positions in the military, the political leaders have emerged through an unwritten understanding that power should rotate between the north and south and between Muslim and Christian to breed inclusiveness and cohesion. So far that principle has held at the national level. Given the ethnic and religious mix at the national level and in many states, there has been a deliberate attempt to balance the leadership between the two faiths such that there is a Christian deputy when a Muslim is president and vice versa. This assures most people that at the highest level of decision-making they are represented. This has been the practice over the years but at no time is it more necessary than now when the country is buffeted on all sides by conflicts and cries of partisanship. Yet, the signal from certain quarters raise fears and call us to vigilance.

 In the last general election the Kaduna State Governor Nasir el Rufai went against the grain of this basic understanding to present a Muslim-Muslim ticket, which eventually won the election in a state with a significant Christian population. While the governor called his decision an informed one based on competence, many people saw it as pushing the envelope too much. In the words of Femi Fani-Kayode when governor’s decision was made November last year: “It is wrong, divisive, dangerous, provocative and insulting for Nasir el Rufai to field a Muslim/Muslim ticket in the governorship election in a state like Kaduna in which 50 percent of the people are Christians and in which thousands of Christians were butchered over the last three years.”

Indeed, we have had cases in the past, like the famous ticket of the Social Democratic Party in 1993 which had both Muslims – Chief MKO Abiola and Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe – on the ballot, and which is generally believed to have won the annulled election. But Nigeria has drifted terribly in recent years because of nepotism in government and the reality that political leaders have exploited their leadership positions to apportion favours on partisan parameters, including religion. A clear case in point is in the distribution of the local governments across the country, which has seen less populated dominant Muslim states with more local governments than states in the south with significant Christian population. These were largely enabled by the military governments but they have come to stay as immutable facts of the Nigerian reality, perpetuating a culture of discrimination against Christians.

A second reality of the adverse effect of sectional dominance is the nepotism that has attended the federal administration such that the key security agencies are all headed by Muslims. This has led to cries of sectionalism and, in some cases, pogroms, from minorities and Christians. Over the last few years, criminals working in tandem with herdsmen have terrorized communities across the Christian states, especially in the north, burning churches, razing villages and something akin to religious cleansing. These security challenges have raised fears of exclusion across sections not in power.

President Buhari has already kicked off his second term in office, which will run till 2023, by which time the presidency should go to the south and to the Christian faith. Already, permutations are afoot in both the ruling All Progressives Congress and opposition Peoples Democratic Party on the succession. Christians must insist on their due right, despite the obvious undercurrent to raise the ‘competence’ argument as a smokescreen to continue the tradition of nepotism and sectional dominance. Balancing the presidency and political offices are central to guaranteeing inclusion in Nigeria. The country is too fragile, with widespread insecurity, reports of ethnic and religious cleansing and partisanship to disregard the zoning principle and religious sensibilities. The recently released 2019 Fragile States Index ranks Nigeria as the 14th most fragile state in the world, with a score of 98.5 out of a maximum 120 points, even much worse than Mali. Insecurity and marginalization of ethnic and religious groups have not helped. There are fears that more crises will come if equity takes a flight in the sharing of political offices. Already, the signs are ominous. The National Assembly has just been inaugurated and for the first time since the return to democracy, the heads of the two arms – Senate and House of Representatives – are Muslims.  Fears have rightly been  raised by different political and pressure groups because it  means that for the first time Muslims now occupy three of the four leading political offices at the federal level, with the vice president being the only non-Muslim. Added to the fact that the Chief Justice of Nigeria is also a Muslim and key military and intelligence agencies are led by Muslims, the possibility of further tension and cries of marginalization are not farfetched. This permissiveness must not set the tone for the presidency in 2023. Christians must insist on a shift not just in the geopolitical origin of the next president but on a Christian president.

Zikeyi is the pastor of the Ultimate Power Ministry based in Abraka, Delta State.  He can be reached through zikeyijohn@yahoo.com.