Yesterday,(Tuesday) a final nail was drilled down the coffin of the last vestige of judicial distraction on the legitimacy of His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma as the duly elected and legitimately affirmed governor of Imo State, when the Nigerian Supreme Court took Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome to the cleaners for deceiving his clients, by bringing a matter, that is both statue barred and ridiculously vexatious to the Supreme Court, apparently to waste the time of the court.
Before yesterday, Governor Hope Uzodimma has had to contend with numerous other challenges to his legitimacy as the governor of Imo State, and on each occasion he has come out victorious, dusting his opponents and their supporters. These series of judicial and political distractions are enough to excuse poor performance in his first term as governor, but it is creditable to posit that the distinguished power player and indubitably benevolent leader, has not only refused to be distracted, but has performed creditably, to contend with Dee Sam Mbakwe of blessed memory, as one of the best governors Imo State has had since its creation. There will be enough time to discuss this, subsequently.
His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, even though he wasn’t a party to the case decided yesterday by the Supreme Court, is the biggest victor in this matter, because it brings a final closure to any argument or confusion about the legitimacy of his governorship in the first term, while he prepares to, in the next 40 days or thereabouts, to renew his oath of office as the overwhelmingly reelected governor of Imo State.
The Justices of the Supreme Court did not just throw away the case because it was statute-barred or on any other technical grounds, but also reaffirmed that the verdict of the apex court on the 14th of January, 2020 was not in error, but correctly given and in tune with justice. Given that this reaffirmation of Governor Uzodimma’s victory in the 2019 election is coming under a different CJN and under a completely different panel of Supreme Court panel, it clears every doubt about its incorruptibility and fairness, except for those who want to remain stuck in malicious envy and denial, this judgement affirms that Governor Uzodimma is the man elected by majority of Imo voters in the 2019 governorship election and variously affirmed by the judiciary.
The essence of the judiciary is to intercede and correct acts of injustice, whether assumed or real. Governor Uzodimma equipped with relevant evidence, approached the courts in 2019 seeking to be declared governor with INEC authorised results from different polling units, but which, as was confirmed by the supreme court, unlawfully excluded from the final compilation of the result of that election. While it was expected that everyone would align to the judgement of the Supreme Court after it was delivered and either work with the governor or channel their efforts towards winning the next election, the governor had the unusual experience of being litigated against, up till one month to the end of his tenure.
While I would have preferred and even advised that this matter was withdrawn before this time, as it obviously had no path to succeeding and was more or less an unnecessary distraction, I am happy that it has been brought to a logical end, and opens an opportunity for everyone, to focus energy and resources on what truly matters, it also makes an eediot of anyone who tries to question the legitimacy of the governor or ever make mention that he was unelected by Imo people. Those who seek to be in opposition, going forward, must play it, more responsibly, forthwith.
The governor will be going into his second term with less distractions and assuredly, with better performance. Because, if he could execute the signature projects and achieve some laudable reforms he achieved in his first term with all the distractions he had to contend with, then, Imolites can be sure that the next four years will be the best we have had since the creation of Imo State in 1976.
IMO HAS WON!
Onwuasoanya is an accomplished analyst and commentator on current issues
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