Ihedioha And Uzodinma’s Imo Guber Tussle At The SC: Who’s God Would Answer At Last ?
The Oasis Reporters
January 14, 2020
Nigerians are a largely religious lot. That’s not talking about holiness, which is out of the equation. Nothing is final, not even a medical or political report, until a pastor, an Imam or a traditional diviner gives the final ruling.
So when a former federal House of Representatives deputy speaker, Emeka Ihedioha decided to challenge the political dynasty former governor Rochas Okorocha was trying to institute in Imo State, hopes were high that he’d win the gubernatorial election.
And indeed he won.
But like our opening statement reads, that was not the final say. As soon as the Electoral body INEC, issued him to certificate of returns, Ihedioha went to work, while his main challenger, Hope Uzodinma went to Court.
Uzodinma’s hopes were dashed at the Election Tribunal, dashed again at the Court of Appeal which endorsed the victory of Emeka Ihedioha, and the challenger proceeded to the Supreme Court, for the final say on who really won the gubernatorial election.
Suddenly, there rose tension in Imo State following the announcement by the Supreme Court that it would on Monday (yesterday) deliver judgment on the petitions against the declaration of Emeka Ihedioha, as the governor of the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
While members of the Peoples Democratic Party remained upbeat that the Supreme Court would uphold Ihedioha’s victory, members of the All Progressives Congress and the All Progressives Grand Alliance expressed hope that the judgment would go in favour of their candidate, Hope Uzodinma.
The Director of the Imo State Orientation Agency, Martin Opara, told a Punch newspaper correspondent that there was no cause for alarm.
He expressed optimism that the apex court would uphold the governor’s election.
He said the declaration of Ihedioha as governor was in tandem with the Electoral Act as against the position of the petitioners.
“The governor will win at the Supreme Court as he won at the tribunal and the Court of Appeal, respectively. This is a governor that was voted for by the majority of our people,” Opara said.
However, the Chairman of the APC in the state, Daniel Nwafor, said he was hopeful that the judgment would go in favour of his party, according to a Punch newspapers report.
Meanwhile, from the church pulpit of the Adoration ministries led by Rev. Fr. Mbaka came a ruling, saying that Hope Uzodinma would be the next governor, according to some newspaper and online reports. The Oasis Reporters could not verify those reports.
The tension became more palpable in Imo State, with no visible sign of worry in the Governor Ihedioha camp. Yet at the back to their minds was that Mbaka said Jonathan would lose in 2015, and he lost. Mbaka was allegedly said to have held and raised Gen. Buhari’s hand, and he won.
What betrayed the skillfully hidden sign of worry and tension in the Ihedioha camp was when the Imo State governor suddenly appeared at The Lord’s Chosen Ministries’ international crusade with his political mentor, Peter Obi and others.
Imo State Gov. Ihedioha had gone there to place the Supreme Court case on his Gubernatorial Seat at the Altar of God. After all, Pastor Lazarus Muoka was also a highly sought after pastor of Igbo ethnicity.
The theme of the crusade was however,
“What God has Determined Shall Be Done”, and it was held at the Chosen Revival Ground, Mgbidi, in Imo State .
When Emeka Ihedioha won the Imo State gubernatorial election, the highly rated Peter Obi as South East’s most successful governor since the third republic commenced, rushed in early to present him with 4 charters on page one of his mentorship slate:
1. Don’t fly chartered jets. Don’t waste Imo State funds on chartered Jets. Why pay in millions when you can pay N40,000 only and get to your destination ?
2. Office of the First Lady costs millions to maintain and you can not afford it. Imo State economy is in a mess. Your wife is the first lady of your house and heart, let her continue with her career.
3. Don’t turn Government House into a party house, those that want to drink should go to the bar.
4. Listen to those that criticise you, they are your best advisers. Always find out why they were criticising you.
Your predecessor has left a verified debt of N100 billion . But for free advice on debt management, I will recommend former governor of Cross River State Liyel Imoke”.
An Imo State Transition Committee member, Dr. Jekwu Ozoemene who was one time Access Bank of Zambia Managing Director had earlier in May turned in a gloomy report on the state of Imo State financial situation and it reads in paraphrase:
Industry specialists and experts (enough Professors and Phds in that room to set up a University), some of Imo’s best and brightest, beautiful recommendation after recommendation gathered for an overview of the situation in the state.
The Finance and Funding Sub-Committee made its presentation, urging that brilliant ideas with clear and sustainable funding modalities should be postulated.
Nigeria’s Supreme Court Monday suspended the governorship appeals brought before it as one of the justices fell sick shortly after the court began sitting on Monday.
The seven-man panel was to hear and deliver judgment on appeals filed against Imo, Sokoto, Kano, Plateau, Bauchi and Adamawa States.
The problem started with managing the surging crown trooping into the courtroom.
Efforts of the security officers to curtail the influx of lawyers, party members and families into the courtroom generated so much noise that the panel arose momentarily until the rowdiness was controlled.
In fact, the main entrance to the courtroom was manned by two giant security dogs to scare away those who had no business in the courtroom.
They eventually reconvened and the appeal filed by Abba Kabiru Yusuf of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the victory of Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano State, was mentioned.
But shortly after the counsel to Yusuf, Gboyega Awomolo (SAN) adopted his brief, urging the court to allow the appeal and counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joseph Daudu (SAN) was announcing his appearance, the CJN announced that one of his justices hearing the case was critically ill.
Consequently, the CJN led other six justices out the court to their chambers to enable them to attend to the ailing justices.
But after waiting for about an hour, one of the court registrars announced that hearing on all the appeals has been adjourned till Tuesday.
It is not certain however which of the Justices is sick as the identity was not disclosed.
However, all pending appeals are bound to expire at the end of tomorrow, putting pressure on the panel to hear and deliver judgment on the seven appeals on Tuesday, which is today.
If the verdict is finally given on the Imo state gubernatorial election petition today, one of the two clergies will getting more thumbs up.
Who would it be?
Lazarus Muoka prayed for Ihedioha.
Rev. Fr. Mbaka prophesied in favor of Uzodinma.
Imo State citizens await the Supreme Court verdict that would verify which of the two pastors would receive more accolades.