Igbo presidency doesn’t exist – Okorocha – TheNigerialawyer

Imo West Senator, Rochas Okorocha, has cautioned his kinsmen
against the misconception of the term ‘Igbo presidency.’

Mr Okorocha, while addressing journalists after being sworn in
as Senator on Thursday, said such an agenda could not have existed
as it was impossible to hand over power to a region without due
process.

The former governor said he is more concerned about having a
president that will better the lot of Nigerians, irrespective of
ethnic affiliation.

“Power is not given, power is taken,” he said. “The South East
cannot just fold their arms and expect power to be given to them
just because you want power. Power does not go with sentiment some
of the times, it’s on issues on ground.

“Democracy is about the people and the South East alone cannot
make themselves president. So you cannot be talking about Igbo
presidency, it doesn’t exist. We may be talking about Nigeria’s
president of Igbo extraction but that depends on what other
geopolitical zones think about the issue.

“For me, what is important is let power be given to somebody who
has something upstairs who can put food on the table of common man,
irrespective of religion or where you come from.”

He noted that the South East needs to mend fences across the
country in other to remain relevant politically.

“There is need for the Igbos to mend fences. We are neither here
nor there now politically. We are not in the ruling party, neither
are we making impact in the opposition. So, there is need for us to
get married to the rest of the nation politically.”

Mr Okorocha, the immediate past governor of Imo State, was sworn
in on Thursday after recently being issued a certificate of return
by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC had earlier withdrawn the certificate on the argument that
it was issued under duress. But, following a court order, the
commission had to issue the certificate to Mr Okorocha on Tuesday,
hours after the official inauguration of the 9th Senate.

The new legislator said he is focused on achieving three things
at the Senate.

“I am here to do things dear to my heart. One of them is: the
bridge connecting the south east to other ethnic groups seems to be
very faulty, resulting from the politics we have played in the
south east. It will be my pleasure to reconnect this bridge so that
the south east people will move along at the same pace with other
geopolitical zones.

“My second mission (at) the National Assembly is to see the
possibility of making free education a reality so that the children
of the poor can go to school. If I achieve these, I will be glad
that I did, as member of the senate.

“The third one is, I am concerned about the killings and
destruction of lives in the northern part of this country. Whatever
we can do on the floor of the Senate, we will to have the executive
curb this insurgence. I will be here and happy to work with my
colleagues.”

Mr Okorocha thanked INEC and the judiciary for ‘doing the right
thing’ in returning him to the Senate. He expressed surprise at
INEC’s decision to appeal the court ruling that ordered issuance of
the certificate to him.

“It will be very surprising to see that INEC will appeal this
matter because there is no basis for it. Duress means using mild or
excessive force to compel someone to do something he or she does
not want to do.

“How would you have done that in a returning hall where you have
police, SSS and party agents? And in my own person walking with gun
or machete asking them to write result on my behalf. That didn’t
happen. I think there is more to duress than duress itself,” he
said.

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AbdulRahman’s Result: Tribunal Adjourns PDP’s Case Over
WAEC Subpoena

Kwara State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Thursday
adjourned to Friday to enable a representative of the West African
Examinations Council (WAEC) to present his subpoena.

The tribunal had adjourned to Thursday for full hearings to
begin in the petition of the PDP challenging the declaration of
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on the allegation that the governor
had presented a forged certificate.

But Waheed Bamidele Amode, the WAEC branch controller for Kwara
State who appeared on subpoena by the PDP, told the tribunal that
he was yet to receive copies of the subpoena from the Lagos
headquarters of the body.

Amode’s statement led to the PDP counsel Paul Erokoro (SAN)
requesting the tribunal to stand down the case for Amode to present
evidence of the subpoena and that he had been asked to represent
the examination body.

Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Rowland Otaru objected to the application, insisting that it
amounted to needless waste of time by the petitioners.

Otaru said the petitioners had nearly three weeks since the
tribunal adjourned to get the WAEC representative to appear before
the tribunal to prove its case but waited till June 9 to serve the
subpoena.

Otaru suggested that the petitioners ought to call another
witness if it has a case to prove rather than ask for any
adjournment.

Counsel to AbdulRazaq, Kunle Kalejaiye (SAN) and that of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) Akin Olujimi aligned with the INEC’s
position, insisting the application was strange.

The tribunal, however, granted the application, saying the
petitioners were still within their time limit of four days to
argue their case.

Rafiu Ajakaye
Chief Press Secretary to Kwara State Governor