OGU BUNDU NWADIKE, M.A
After the 2019 governorship election, in which Governor Uzodimma’s votes were excluded and his mandate stolen, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Executive Governor of Imo State, took his grievances through the relevant judicial processes.
First was at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, from where he took his grievances to the Court of Appeal, and from there to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The governor displayed strong faith in the judiciary. It was such that had the Supreme Court of Nigeria decided against him, he would have walked away wearing his identity smile.
But as providence would be have it, the Supreme Court of Nigeria in their wisdom ruled in favour of Governor Uzodimma. The rest is history.
It must be reminded that the Imo Governor was a two-term, eight-year Red Chamber National lawmaker par excellence. He’s a man of law and due process and procedures!
Time was in the State when the then governor threw rule of law and due process overboard, and never heed any court injunctions or rulings. He was lawlessly above the law! Lawlessness and impunity were his understanding of executive power.
But since the coming of Governor Uzodimma in 2020, being a product of the law and due process, he is at peace with the judiciary and justice.
It’s on that backdrop that his inauguration of the new Chief Judge of Imo State, and other judges of the Judiciary in the State sourced its significance and importance.
Hon. Justice Chukwuemeka Chikeka is the Chief Judge and Hon. Justice Victor Okorio is the President of the Customary Court of Appeal. They and other judges were approved by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
As officially reported and accessed from the media, Governor Uzodimma, in his brief address to the new judges, inter alia, said:
“Be steadfast and committed in your duties. The time has come to restore the system to a result-oriented system, responsive to the yearnings of the people. Our government assures the judiciary in the State of continued partnership with the executive and legislature arms of government in the delivery of service to the people of Imo State. Endeavour to sustain the hope of the common man in your dispensation of justice.”
There’s no gainsaying that Governor Uzodimma has recovered the judiciary in Imo State and it has been repositioned for the delivery of judgements of justice. To God be the glory!
By God’s grace, Imo State is being rehabilitated, reconstructed and recovered by Governor Uzodimma!