By Emeka Ejere
Lawyers and judges hoping to make a fortune out of post-election litigations in Anambra State may have had their hope dashed as nothing shows their services will be needed.
Three days after INEC announced a result that gave Gov. Willie Obiano, a landslide victory in the November 18 gubernatorial election in the state, there are no indications that any of the losing parties is planning to go to court.
The major rivals have all conceded defeat and congratulated the winner. While Dr. Tony Nwoye of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has decided to leave it to God, Osita Chidioka of the United People’s Party (UPP) has noted that he lost to the highest bidder.
Oseloka Obaze, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who earlier rejected the result citing irregularity, has made a U-turn.
With the major contenders not contemplating seeking judicial interpretation of the election outcome, it is a lot more unlikely that the underdogs will do so.
By this development, Gov. Obiano has written his name in the book of history as the first incumbent, at least in Anambra, to win in all the local government areas of his state.
Also historic is the fact that he is the first person to record such a landslide, at least in recent times, without anybody challenging it in court.
What this means is that Gov. Obiano has the whole four years to deliver good governance (no time to waste on court cases), and he must not let the people down.
The people of Anambra have demonstrated that they love him and want him to continue with his good work.
He must reciprocate the uncommon gesture by departing from the norm of seeing second term as a period of jamboree when performance no longer matters.
Rather, he should make another history by becoming the first governor to maintain the tempo of transformation even in second term.
Adams Oshiomhole, disappointed Edo people in his second term. Godswill Akpabio (now senator) failed Akwa Ibom people in his second term. Theodore Orji, ( now senator) failed Abia people in his first term and was a disaster in his second term.
Even the highly celebrated Babatunde Fashola, (now minister) was not quite impressive in his second term. Obiano must not toe this line.
I sympathise with my lawyer and judge friends, who may not be smiling to the bank this time unlike what has been the practice. But as patriotic Nigerians, they should be happy that at last the country is beginning to get it right.
There is no doubt that a good lawyer can make a good living with or without electoral disputes.