BY LEONARD AFUBA

BEFORE the April governorship poll in   Abia State , Chief Ikechi Emenike was in court challenging the candidature of Governor Theodore Orji as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, in the election. Emenike lost the case at the Federal High Court, Abuja and many had expected him to close rank with Orji like other major stakeholders in the State to move the State forward. Before the election, he had a reconciliatory meeting with Governor Orji who happens to be his brother and kinsman. In the meeting, he agreed to work with Orji for the success of the party in the elections.

Many had expected that with the outcome of the meeting coupled with the party’s overwhelming victory in the elections in the State, Emenike would congratulate Orji and remain loyal to his cause of liberating the State from the clutches of darkness. But surprisingly, Emenike acting like a man being prodded from somewhere, returned to the Appeal Court to continue his legal gambling. Well, it is his constitutional right and he is free to go to court, but shouldn’t he think twice by considering the outcome of similar cases that have been decided at the apex court, especially in recent times?

To the best of public knowledge and with due respect to the case pending in court, Governor Orji fulfilled all the conditions required of him before defecting to the PDP. He registered in his ward and got a waiver that was ratified by the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party as stipulated in the party constitution.

Members of the state executive of the party that was dissolved before his defection have been integrated into his government and nobody was complaining or agitating because their dissolution was in accordance with the party guidelines. Besides, the 2010 Electoral Act places the onus of choosing a candidate for election solely on the political parties, not the Court. And PDP leadership has consistently maintained their position that Governor Orji is their candidate for the governorship election in the State. So what else is the bone of contention and what does Emenike want in Abia? Well, it is left for the court to decide.

If truly Emenike is being prodded to distract Governor Orji in his second term in office, it is obvious that with the overwhelming support of the people of the State, he is bound to fail with his cohorts and sponsors. With the way things are now, Orji has taken the State above such level and the people are not ready to go back to the dark ages of soncracy and mamacracy.

Is Emenike trying to prove to the people that he loves the state more than the likes of Onyema Ugochukwu, Senator Adolphous Wabara, Prince Ojo Maduekwe, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, Senator Uche Chukwumerije and others who shelved their ambitions, overlooked their political differences and teamed up with Orji to liberate the state.

Teaming up with Governor Orji is a sacrifice expected from Emenike, if he truly loves the people of the state. Emenike should not make himself a clog in the wheel of progress in the new Abia State enthroned by Orji’s political tenacity and sagacity. The people have had enough of this shadow-chasing for now and there is need for unity and peace to continue to prevail in the state as made possible by the Orji administration. Any attempt to push the state backward would be resisted by the people, no matter who is behind the plot.

It is clear now that those who were grandstanding in the State as if they have political values before the elections have been humbled by the outcome of the elections. They are now hiding their faces in shame and gnashing their teeth because the wishes of the people had prevailed against that of man. For Orji and the people of the State, today is the day the Lord has made for the State to remain liberated and with Orji’s victory in the poll, it is over for the enemies of the State.

Mr. Afuba, a lawyer, wrote from Abuja.