This is the gist of the latest development in the ever interesting Nigerian political climes (via Odili.net):
“THE Supreme Court on Thursday returned Peter Obi as the authentic governor of Anambra State, voiding the swearing-in of Chief Andy Uba as the governor of the state. The Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment, faulted the conduct of election into the office of governor of Anambra State on April 14, while the tenure of Mr. Obi was yet to expire and, therefore, ordered that Obi should return to his seat immediately. President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, in reaction to the judgment, ordered Chief Uba to vacate the office with immediate effect…
Obi was sworn in as the governor of Anambra State on March 27, 2006 after Dr. Chris Ngige was removed from office as the governor of the state. The Court of Appeal in Awka voided the election of Ngige and declared Obi the winner of the April 19, 2003 election contrary to the claim of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Uba, was a former Assistant to FORMER president Obasanjo. Last November, this blog highlighted the controversial civil case filed against him by the authorities of the United States on allegation of money laundering. Of course I’m elated about this development, it’s a blast of invigorating fresh air…there is just too much offensive fumes around following the April election mess.
There is hope Nigerians, the law courts are living up to expectation. And this Supreme court ruling is perhaps the that divine message being awaited by candidates whose mandates were rudely stolen during the last elections.
Ray Charles’ song “Hit the Road Jack” comes readily to mind:
(Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back no more, no more, no more, no more.)
(Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back no more.)
What you say?
(Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back no more, no more, no more, no more.)
(Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back no more.)…
Hit the road Andrew Obi, and don’t ever come back !!!
How long before the State House of (Ass)embly find a reason to impeach him?
June 15, 2007 at 2:45 am
I agree with Chxta…How long? May be a couple of weeks
June 19, 2007 at 1:03 am
I beg to disagree gents…I want to believe that Obi will serve his term fully - he has been to the supreme courts thrice and came out victorious. This is enough to keep the restless assembly men at ease. They ought to have learnt their lesions.
June 20, 2007 at 12:25 am
I do hope so because that state needs some semblance of stability, and there are those of use who (are from there) WANT to have that. But our rather pathetic recent history (even pre 1999) suggests otherwise.
June 20, 2007 at 12:30 am
Update via Nigerian Vanguard June 20, 2007:
Uba drums support for Obi
Awka—Former Governor Andy Uba of Anambra state yesterday asked members of his party, PDP in the state and all his supporters to support Governor Peter Obi to move Anambra state forward.
Uba who met with PDP members and his supporters at PDP state secretariat, Awka, the first time since he was sacked from office by the supreme court last week, however, assured that he would continue with those projects he initiated during his 17 days governance of Anambra state. Major on the list of the projects, is the Oba Airport which is to be built on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.
Addressing the crowd, Uba said: “You know that nothing has changed. It is just a temporary set back, and we will all have that in mind. It is not targeted against me, because if there is AC or ANPP governor, he could have still gone to court. Not because it is Andy Uba. It is because he was looking for how to extend his tenure.
“Since the Supreme Court has decided, we will all abide by that. Two years and three months is not far. All we need to do is for us to cooperate with him [Obi] to move Anambra forward because that is the issue at stake. Like I said during the campaign, it does not matter whether I win the election or not, the most important thing is that I will support whoever is there. And I will support him [Obi] because our goal is to see that Anambra moves forward because we have suffered enough.
“What we are asking for is for the government to cooperate with us. We are not begging them, it is just for us to have peace in Anambra. That was why when it happend, I told you nothing has happened.
June 20, 2007 at 12:00 pm
The big question is what happened after Peter Obi’s tenure. Is not Peter Obi eligible to re-contest after the expiration of his first term? Since there was no vacancy for the position of the Governor when Uba contested, that raises question of the validity of the process of his election. Anyway, time will tell what happens next.
June 26, 2007 at 8:48 am