I have never met the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, but I know someone from the state, Barrister John Okezie, whom I fondly call defender of the cabal. So, when the headlines had it that Governor Ikpeazu, who has been modestly performing, had been sacked by the Court of Appeal, I quickly called my friend. John didn’t even engage in pleasantries, as he just bawled out “Emma, I believe you have seen the ambush hunters at work? How can a man win his election and then the courts try to steal it? What is democracy turning into?” I wanted to laugh at the use of the term “ambush hunters” but didn’t because of the grave tone at the other end of the phone. And, that, sadly, is what the electoral process is indeed fast becoming. Across the country, all we now see is a sad roll call of inconclusive elections, mandate upheld or withdrawn by tribunals and horrendous re-runs where more lives are wasted. You begin to wonder what the desperation is all about. Why must some people be governors? Is it that without them at Government House, the state would not fare well? Is it that they have been anointed to become governors so they don’t care how that destiny becomes manifest? What is this mad rush to clinch power? Now, even if it is your manifest destiny to rule your people, must that have to happen through bloodshed? And what even qualify you to be a leader if you don’t mind seeing your people hurt? I know you are not a good or great leader the moment you send young people on the streets to die for you. I know you are hireling and fake when you say without you, the world must cease to exist. I easily see through you when all you want is to just reign over your people like Caesar or Pharaoh, not minding how they feel. That is why, hate him or love him, former President Goodluck Jonathan said it right when he said his ambition wasn’t worth the blood of any voter. That is the language of leadership and the spirit of service. Contrast that with the ones who say things like “we would make Nigeria ungovernable if we lose this election” or the legendary “kare jini, biri jini” (bloodied dogs and baboons).
But beyond the desperation of power monger is the current travail of the average voter. As an electorate, you must have watched the candidates and then made your choice, based on your conviction. It could be you like the candidate’s pedigree; or the manifesto; or the personality or any other traits that endear the man (or woman) to you. After this assessment, you patiently await Election Day where you would have a chance to contribute in the process that would install your man (or woman) in Government House of the Assembly. The act of casting that vote must have looked like a divine assignment to you as you proudly display the ink on your thumb or the voter’s card you used. Your vote is your power, you have been severally told. If this scene above were in the 50’s or 60’s, you have no fear about the vote you cast, as you waited with bated breath the result. Back then, I was told, the rigging machine hadn’t been invented yet. And although elections were not flawless, they certainly weren’t this sullied. The decline, it seemed, started in the Second Republic when some of our founding fathers started perfecting the art of rigging and inflating figures. But I wondered at what point the courts came in and today, you might as well just wait for your victory at the court. The election doesn’t matter. The people’s wish doesn’t matter. The popular vote doesn’t count. We now have expert-politicians, who won’t even canvass for votes. No. All they do is allow you do all the running around, win the votes, and then they wait for you at the courts. A certain guy “won” all his elections at the tribunals. He got so used to the racket that he was planning to become governor through the method. It was a simple yet arduous formula, consisting of looking for loopholes at the primaries; questioning figures and logos; getting video evidences and other funny things. By the time he goes to court with his iron clad case, our friend always certainly emerges winner. Forget that he almost didn’t even contest the election; forget that the people don’t even know him; forget that the voters have finished celebrating their own candidate, relaxed now and watching their man (or woman) perform.
And that is the tragedy of the current experience. The litigations are, for one, very distracting. I know of a governor who is totally distracted by his current travails in the courts over his mandate. And you can’t blame him, as he is human. I remember my time in office as commissioner when my boss, the governor, was in court. You are constantly wondering if the court would throw you out any minute. Somehow, it robs one of the confidences needed to bring out the best for the task at hand. It affects even the gait and poise as one goes about unsure of the future. A governor who has been sacked by the tribunal lives on the edge every day. Although he tries to appear normal, the thoughts of eventually losing tugs at his heart. Remember, the courts are not the fields where one’s persuasion and programmes can fetch the votes. All sorts of factors are at play at the courts. After all, their lordships are human beings, who could be influenced by external forces. What is more, they are dealing with interpretations of the law and we are told the law is an ass.
And herein is the crux of the matter. As an unlearned colleague, I’m really confused at all that is going on. You would find two similar cases getting different verdicts. In one state, a governor said he did not emerge through primaries. He was let off the hook on the grounds that it is strictly an internal party affair. In another state, the governor had a primary. He is still battling for his life even though the Court of Appeal has corrected the error of the tribunal. You would find one court reversing itself and making a pronouncement that contradicts an earlier one. So, you begin to wonder if the verdicts are arrived at through the instruments of the law or from other considerations. Even the Chief Justice of Nigeria, a normally quiet man, broke his silence on this matter. He was worried by the staccato of verdicts, which has turn the whole place into a bazaar.
And the judges! They must be a special lot, these ones. In the case of Abia, the ruling party was even scared of them because they all came in from Lagos. At the end, the judges did just exactly what the PDP feared would happen.
But my main concern is not all of these. My worry is that we are wasting valuable time on the post-election cases. The whole dramas are slowing down development with confusion reigning supreme. Somehow, we have to get to the point where all these wahalas are dispensed with before the governors are sworn in. A man wins his election; his constituency sits back to watch him deliver the goodies; then all of a sudden, he is told he is no more the governor by the court. A re-run may then be declared with the voters going, once more, to confirm their earlier decision. In this way, the loser of a re-run, is twice reminded that he (or she) is not wanted. Or, if you are the winner, really wanted.