Professor Maurice Iwu: Vindicated!
Chidi Anyaeche
December 16, 2008
…. Or not. Please read on.
Professor Maurice Iwu has been lampooned both diplomatically and undiplomatically about the conduct of last years elections but the professor has remained steadfast in his belief (rightfully or wrongfully) that the elections were conducted fairly, Nigerian style. He has also stated on numerous occasions that the Electoral Act 2006 conferred on the Nigerian Judiciary the status of the final arbiter on electoral issues and this is a fact. Two organs constitute the election machinery in Nigeria; INEC and the Judiciary. With the later being the lead actor for it is constitutionally empowered to undo the actions of the former. In effect the Nigerian judiciary is the core player with respect to elections in Nigeria and not INEC. And it has showed its might with regards to gubernatorial, senatorial and other elections. Think about Anambra, Rivers and Edo state gubernatorial elections, on all these cases the judiciary had the last say and not INEC. The judiciary´s will was done. And this has been the professor´s stand; if I am wrong that the Judiciary is not the final arbiter in electoral issues in Nigeria, I stand to be corrected.
Last years election was condemned by all and sundry as a sham as far as even Nigerian elections go. And yes it was a sham but there was an array of hope to correct that sham and that array was the Nigerian judiciary and in the case of the presidential elections, the Appeal Court firstly and finally the Supreme Court. Professor Iwu did what he said was his best and left the rest to the judiciary. All the major contestants headed to the judiciary to correct the professors´ sins. Firstly, to the Court of Appeal. At the Court of Appeal, a panel of the best Appeal Court judges Nigeria can produce headed by Rt Honourable Justice James Ogebe ruled in favour of the learned professor: that in effect the presidential elections were in order. Not satisfied with this judgement, the major presidential contestants again headed for the highest court in our dear country, the Supreme Court, still seeking to for justice, still seeking to undermine the professor. Again the best judges Nigeria can produce at present, assembled to hear the case against the people of Nigeria Vs Professor Iwu. A team of seven Supreme Court judges heard the case, deliberated on the case, slept on the case and passed judgement on the case. Four out of the seven very best judges Nigeria can marshal at present ruled in favour of the learned professor. They ruled that the professor conducted a free and fair presidential election in 2007 thereby vindicating the professor. On two separate occasions, at the Appeal Court stage and at the Supreme Court stage, the learned professors´ conduct of the 2007 presidential election has been given kudos; pass mark by the Nigerian judiciary.
On two separate occasions, dear readers. Why then is the learned professor been hounded across the length and breadth of the country and indeed the World whilst his masters, his bosses, his seniors, his mentors; the judiciary that endorsed his actions time after time are left to go free. Professor Iwu was not alone in denying Nigerians a free and fair presidential election in 2007. There was a systematic and institutionalised denial of this divine right, the right by Nigerians to choose who governs them. Professor Iwu and his INEC were mere ploys in this grand design. The major players in this sinful act were the Nigerian judiciary at the Appeal and Supreme Court level.
On two separate occasions the Nigerian judiciary at these levels let Nigerians down. By their actions, they have vindicated Professor Iwu. Let us leave the learned professor alone and cast our searchlight on the players that endorsed his actions, his masters. We know who they are, we know their names. The learned professor is just a fall guy and that is possibly why they chose him for the job. Soon, very soon he will be sacrificed, for he has outlived his usefulness, for he is now perceived as a liability, for he has done their dirty jobs for them whilst our learned brothers and sisters will remain in their jobs, enjoying the spoils of their judgements, waiting for a new professor to do their biddings and ugly runs for them. And we thought we know who our enemies are.
The Nigerian Judiciary any way you look at has vindicated Professor Maurice Iwu.
Professor Maurice Iwu has been lampooned both diplomatically and undiplomatically about the conduct of last years elections but the professor has remained steadfast in his belief (rightfully or wrongfully) that the elections were conducted fairly, Nigerian style. He has also stated on numerous occasions that the Electoral Act 2006 conferred on the Nigerian Judiciary the status of the final arbiter on electoral issues and this is a fact. Two organs constitute the election machinery in Nigeria; INEC and the Judiciary. With the later being the lead actor for it is constitutionally empowered to undo the actions of the former. In effect the Nigerian judiciary is the core player with respect to elections in Nigeria and not INEC. And it has showed its might with regards to gubernatorial, senatorial and other elections. Think about Anambra, Rivers and Edo state gubernatorial elections, on all these cases the judiciary had the last say and not INEC. The judiciary´s will was done. And this has been the professor´s stand; if I am wrong that the Judiciary is not the final arbiter in electoral issues in Nigeria, I stand to be corrected.
Last years election was condemned by all and sundry as a sham as far as even Nigerian elections go. And yes it was a sham but there was an array of hope to correct that sham and that array was the Nigerian judiciary and in the case of the presidential elections, the Appeal Court firstly and finally the Supreme Court. Professor Iwu did what he said was his best and left the rest to the judiciary. All the major contestants headed to the judiciary to correct the professors´ sins. Firstly, to the Court of Appeal. At the Court of Appeal, a panel of the best Appeal Court judges Nigeria can produce headed by Rt Honourable Justice James Ogebe ruled in favour of the learned professor: that in effect the presidential elections were in order. Not satisfied with this judgement, the major presidential contestants again headed for the highest court in our dear country, the Supreme Court, still seeking to for justice, still seeking to undermine the professor. Again the best judges Nigeria can produce at present, assembled to hear the case against the people of Nigeria Vs Professor Iwu. A team of seven Supreme Court judges heard the case, deliberated on the case, slept on the case and passed judgement on the case. Four out of the seven very best judges Nigeria can marshal at present ruled in favour of the learned professor. They ruled that the professor conducted a free and fair presidential election in 2007 thereby vindicating the professor. On two separate occasions, at the Appeal Court stage and at the Supreme Court stage, the learned professors´ conduct of the 2007 presidential election has been given kudos; pass mark by the Nigerian judiciary.
On two separate occasions, dear readers. Why then is the learned professor been hounded across the length and breadth of the country and indeed the World whilst his masters, his bosses, his seniors, his mentors; the judiciary that endorsed his actions time after time are left to go free. Professor Iwu was not alone in denying Nigerians a free and fair presidential election in 2007. There was a systematic and institutionalised denial of this divine right, the right by Nigerians to choose who governs them. Professor Iwu and his INEC were mere ploys in this grand design. The major players in this sinful act were the Nigerian judiciary at the Appeal and Supreme Court level.
On two separate occasions the Nigerian judiciary at these levels let Nigerians down. By their actions, they have vindicated Professor Iwu. Let us leave the learned professor alone and cast our searchlight on the players that endorsed his actions, his masters. We know who they are, we know their names. The learned professor is just a fall guy and that is possibly why they chose him for the job. Soon, very soon he will be sacrificed, for he has outlived his usefulness, for he is now perceived as a liability, for he has done their dirty jobs for them whilst our learned brothers and sisters will remain in their jobs, enjoying the spoils of their judgements, waiting for a new professor to do their biddings and ugly runs for them. And we thought we know who our enemies are.
The Nigerian Judiciary any way you look at has vindicated Professor Maurice Iwu.