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Tag: #Ori Owan

  • Does Kekere-Ekun Possess The Elixir? BY ORI OWAN

    Does Kekere-Ekun Possess The Elixir? BY ORI OWAN

     

    This afternoon, I was riveted to my television screen as I witnessed the grandeur and ceremony surrounding the official swearing-in of Honourable Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun as the Chief Justice of Nigeria. For clarity, Kekere-Ekun is now entrusted with the authority to lead the Bench in Nigeria.

    Section 230 of the Constitution states, “There shall be a Chief Justice of Nigeria.” Additionally, Section 3 of the Supreme Court Act provides that “a person holding the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria shall vacate that office when he attains the age of seventy years.” The procedures for appointment and eligibility are explicitly defined in Section 231 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As the most senior justice of the Supreme Court, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun is presumed to have fulfilled the constitutional requirements.

    However, in a judiciary desperately in need of reform, the question arises whether Honourable Justice Kekere-Ekun possesses the requisite willpower, legal acumen, and unwavering integrity to restore the judiciary’s damaged image. In his esteemed work, Handbook of Law, Samuel Johnson asserts, “Law is the result of human wisdom adding upon human experience for the benefit of the public,” suggesting that law exists to ensure an orderly society, as opposed to the Hobbesian state where life was “nasty, brutish, and short.”

    The Nigerian judiciary, as the third arm of government, has been hailed as the last hope of the common man, guaranteeing justice and protection of rights and fundamental freedoms. Regrettably, recent experiences in Nigeria have been characterized by contradictions and a judiciary lacking in dignity, integrity, and morality. Instances of conflicting ex parte orders and the procurement of black market judgments have tarnished the judiciary’s reputation.

    The Kano State Governorship appeal of last year, where conflicting decisions were issued by the same court, exemplifies the erosion of trust and respect.

    While courts are manned by human beings and judges are not infallible, Nigeria has a distinguished history of respected jurists such as Chukwudife Oputa, Kayode Eso, and Niki Tobi. Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has demonstrated herself to be a competent and qualified jurist, with a rich intellectual pedigree built over years of dedicated service on the Bench.

    However, as a lawyer, I am compelled to express reservations about fully celebrating Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. This is due to concerns over some of her controversial judgments, particularly the Supreme Court’s 2020 decision in the Imo State Governorship appeal, which controversially declared the fourth-place candidate as the winner. Many Nigerians, including legal scholars, remain perplexed by the mathematical anomaly of that judgment. As late Justice Oputa remarked in Adesanya v. Adegoke, “We are final, not because we are infallible, but we are infallible because we are final.” This judgment, whether it has enriched or challenged our legal jurisprudence, continues to provoke debate.

    As I extend my congratulations to your Lordship on this prestigious appointment to the final Bench, I assert that the success of your tenure will largely depend on the quality of judges and justices with whom you will work. Appointments and nominations must be based on competence, integrity, and fairness. Additionally, the National Judicial Council must fulfill its role in recommending judges for appointment.

    As Justice Ariwoola steps down from this esteemed position, may your Lordship remain mindful of the challenges ahead, which may either etch your legacy into the annals of history or tarnish it.

    O.N Owan, Esq.

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Ori Owan, and does not represent TheLumineNews, its agent or the organization the author works for.

  • Cross River Governorship And The Looming Political Tsunami BY ORI OWAN

    Cross River Governorship And The Looming Political Tsunami BY ORI OWAN

    CROSS RIVER GOVERNORSHIP AND THE LOOMING POLITICAL TSUNAMI

    By Ori Owan, Esq

    The forceful retirement of governor Benedict Bengiuoshuye Ayade of Cross River state, last Saturday, after eight tainted years of unprecedented pillaging and policy flip-flops has finally laid to rest the remnants of incumbency in the state and the consequent end of a dark chapter in our shared history. More so, this massive defeat and decapitation of a chief executive officer is enough to shun his anointed godson, whose complicity is glaring in all the kleptocratic practices that have characterized this administration in the past months of electioneering campaigns.

    Interestingly, his imposing opponent, Distinguished Senator Sandy Onor, armed with the people’s affection and love, glitters like a diamond in the sun. Both young and old have resolved to vote for Sandy Onor on Saturday 11th March, in spite of the perceived malignant acrimony and animosity towards him by a few greedy clique of renegades in the Central and Southern hemisphere of the State. For certain shylocks especially in the central Cross River, as long as it is not them, growth and development must be suspended until 2031, when power shall have returned to the central for their selfish gains. What a phantasy!

    However, the mammoth crowds that greeted the campaigns of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) across the state, few weeks ago, has nullified the old arguments of back to South. This is because the ordinary people came out publicly to affirm with passionate conviction that democracy, power and sovereignty belongs to the ordinary people. Thus, reducing governance to zoning against meritocracy and the good wishes of the people, is the height of idiocy. For instance, it was the zoning madness that imposed a leader who colluded with his family and totally kidnapped the commonwealth of Cross River State citizens.

    Sandy Onor’s imminent victory has become more glaring in view of the perceived river of grievance by the ‘Obedient Advocates’ who now feel apparently dissatisfied and shortchanged by the outcome of the presidential election results as announced by INEC. In fact, the current mood of Cross River today, smacks of incredible support for Onor, as the pendulum now clearly swings in favour of the PDP.

    Nonetheless, the Obedients movements has resolved to vote all candidates of the PDP in the states of the federation, especially where they have gubernatorial vacuums. Hence, Cross River is not an exception, as Senator Onor has now become the credible alternative and poster child of these revolutionaries, who have now settled for Onor as the possible solution to their existential issues. In words and deed, they have thrown their weight behind him, believing same that he is the most prepared and preferred candidate in the present two horse race in the state.

    The youths must therefore rise beyond emotions and sentiments, and advocate through the ballot to elect a “governor of governors” with power, capacity and integrity to lead Cross Cross River out of messy eight years of Ayade’s malfeasance. This is in view of the fact that his administration shall be youth-friendly and less genrontocratic in style. Government ministries and agencies shall be handled by young and intelligent graduates.

    A vote for distinguished senator Sandy Onor is a guarantee for better Cross River. Cross Riverians, let us enthrone, in Sandy Onor, a government that we all would be proud of, on March 11, 2023.

    Ori Owan Esq.

  • Sandy Onor: A Development Czar By ORI OWAN

    Sandy Onor: A Development Czar By ORI OWAN

     

    It was Chinua Achebe, legendary Nigerian novelist and essayist who said that, “Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.”
    Driving home the wisdom in this statement is a popular saying which admonishes us to “give honour to whom it is due and celebrate something good even in the thick of gloom and doom that has saturated our media space.”

    Indeed, it is the case of “action speaks louder than words” when it concerns Distinguished Senator Sandy Onor’s redemptive projects and activities in the Central Cross River Senatorial District. Senator Onor has distinguished himself as a man of great capacity and enterprise. His giant strides in the last two years remain both unmatched and challenging. His dedicated service to the people of Cross River Central has brought another giant amongst the best senators in Nigeria to the limelight. In fact, several appellations have been given consciously to this uncommon performer, especially by the people at the grassroots. Some have justifiably christened him a “repository of projects”, while others in their characteristic manner have argued strenuously, extensively and passionately that Distinguished Senator Sandy Onor is another emerging “Mr projects” south of the Niger. If one were to filter facts from fictions, one could loosely describe him as a harbinger of infrastructure. If one were to be pedantic and petty as his adversaries and traducers, then Senator Sandy Onor could be seen and measured in light of his numerous empowerments and poverty alleviation programs in the past two years. No doubt, if it were a contest, he would have walked away with the trophy long ago. If it were a class of degree, he would have meritoriously walked away with a first class honours. Of course, he would have been the valedictorian. If it were the “MO” Ibrahim award of excellence, exclusively reserved for outstanding leaders in Africa, Senator Sandy Onor would have sailed through. Unfortunately, Distinguished Senator Sandy Onor found himself in a political climate and setting where excellence in leadership is not celebrated. A setting that does not appreciate leaders who provide roads, electricity and water; a setting that does not appreciate leaders who transform dreams into reality. Rather, it is a polity that admires leaders who temporarily doll out cash rewards to the masses in exchange for praises, even when the roads are dilapidated; even when there is no portable water to drink; even when there are no good rural roads and other infrastructure.

    Before his celebrated emergence in 2019, people taught that politics was a class-driven exercise. The notion at that material time was that representatives were exclusively restricted to Abuja and state capitals. Legislators were seen as demigods, as constituents were subjected to rigorous procedures before they can interface with their legislators. But today, with Senator Sandy Onor, times have really changed. Thus, constituency allowances no longer end in private pockets and fat bank accounts. The facts are obvious and glaring that he gives back to the constituents more than he gets at the National Assembly. He ensures that whatever he dolls out, touches the man at the grassroots, which is why he visits his district on weekly basis for evaluations and town hall meetings.

    The Covid 19 pandemic that swept across the shores of nations is also an exemplar of effective and excellent representation. This is because the pandemic appeared like a destabilizing wind. Yet, this people-oriented Senator, captain and tireless champion of the common people did not disappoint his constituents. He gave them soft landing without allowing them to drown in the torrential ocean of Covid of 19. As such,he embarkd on a vigorous tour across the L.G.As of the Central District to feel the pulse of his people. Though, anonymous and quiet in his natural style, Distinguished Senator Sandy Onor gave Cash donations and unquantifiable food items, especially to the vulnerable segments of the society. Beyond this, over one hundred persons, selected from across the LGAs in the Senatorial District were handsomely empowered during his massive empowerment program that took place in the first quarter of 2021. In addition to this gesture, small and medium scale businesses were given a boost as a result of this empowerment program. Recently, many training centres were agog across the entire district, with influx of participants being taught several skills and eventually empowered to start up businesses. More so, the principal, parents/guidance of students of several secondary schools in Abi L.G.A and many other communities in the Central Cross River State, remain appreciative to Senator Sandy Onor’s footprints in their schools in terms of renovations and supply of modern equipment and furniture.

    It is pertinent to remark, as the foregoing demonstrate, that Distinguished Senator Sandy Onor has dedicated his time and energy to make his constituents more secure and safe. He has deployed all government services to create fair and equal opportunity for constituents to make a living through his sustained leadership and love of humanity. A man who has made it possible even in the face of impossibles. A member of the ninth Assembly, which is characterized by serious austerity and absence of resources, yet this performer even in this situation hasn’t disappointed his constituents and followers. Even his worst critics would acknowledge this glaring facts. In fact, those who criticize him, in the respectful opinion of this writer, should embark on a tour of the rural roads in the entire district and sample the opinions of the rural dwellers.The leaders who talk against him, do so because Senator Sandy Onor has taken the unfamiliar path in putting smiles on the faces of his people. No Senator has done what Senator Sandy Onor has done in the past two years of his tenure. It is only a fantasized dreamer that will expect overnight miracles from this Senator whose expeditions have been recorded in the minds of the people. Thus, an average Cross Riverian regard him as an experienced elder statesman due to his moral principles. Hence, if he bows out as a Senator in 2023 to take up higher responsibilities, he will be remembered by all and sundry through his footprints, which is indeed the measure of a man. No wonder he is currently seen as a development Czar. History will certainly be fair to Distinguished Senator Sandy Irunandu Ojang Onor.

    Ori Owan is a political scientist and a lawyer in equity.

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, ORI OWAN and does not represent TheLumineNews or the organization the author works for

  • Sandy Onor Walking His Talk In Ikom Main Market, By Ori Owan

    Sandy Onor Walking His Talk In Ikom Main Market, By Ori Owan

     

    The book of Proverbs chapter 29:2 clearly posits: “When the righteous is on the throne, the people rejoice.”

    The Ikom main market is agog with excitement and jubilation, following the Distinguished Senator Professor Sandy Onor’s historic intervention in addressing the gross infrastructure deficit in the market. It’s now visible to the blind and audible to the deaf that Senator Onor is a shinning example of effective representation in the Central Cross River State. As a strategic driver of the economy of the Central Senatorial District, the Ikom main market holds a special place in the scheme of things. This reality inspired this visionary legislator to step in with to ameliorate the seemingly intractable challenges faced by buyers and sellers at the market.

    Those who have long memories would remember that in the preceding years of electioneering campaigns, Senator Professor Sandy Onor had told his constituents in Ikom Local Government Area that the main market would receive a special boost in the event of his emergence. In his characteristic manner, this economic maestro and legislator of distinction has not reneged on that social contract with the people.

    This could be manifestly gleaned from the laudable achievements and giant strides of his representation. In fulfilling his campaign promises for instance, the “errunandu” and people’s Senator as he is fondly called, has done quite a lot for the ordinary traders of the main market in his short stay in office. Just like his recent response to the fire inferno in the market, Sandy Onor has again intervened to better the lot of both traders and residents of the Ikom Main Market by awarding for construction, two sophisticated boreholes in the market.

    It is evidently clear, that Senator Sandy Onor is fulfilling his campaign promises to the people at the grassroots. This, he has done through several projects executed in the Senatorial District in recent times to ameliorate the pains and suffering of his people could state as a matter of fact, that his “Messianic” emergence in 2019 as a Senator representing Cross River Central, has laid to rest, the false narrative of the past. He emerged and reset the political clock of the district in the early life of his administration. And within a short time, the “balance sheet” has convincingly shown an impressive accomplishment of the dividends of democracy.

    The contract as facilitated by Senator Sandy Onor, for the construction of two boreholes, when completed, has the capacity of feeding the entire Ikom main market and neighbouring streets. Thus, the hitherto ordeal of the market women and the entire traders who had to trek long distances to draw water from “Mankono”,”Atim Aka”,as well as “Akpara water”in Calabar road has been addressed to the admiration of all and sundry.

    The construction of these boreholes, therefore, has ended this long suffering of traders and business men in the market. This, perfectly explains why some overjoyed and excited traders were moved to tears of joy, as they bowed in prayers, with appreciation to God for bringing Sandy Onor into the stream of leadership, noting that past administrations have come and gone without accomplishing any tangible thing and that, Senator Sandy Onor’s visible achievements have placed him far greater than the false claims of his traducers.

    Sandy Onor is not a greenhorn in politics. Hence, as an iconic character imbued with the art and business of politics, the traders and people of Ikom local government will continue to feel the national presence as a result of Senator Sandy Onor’s golden voice at the precincts of the Senate.
    I do not want to interrogate history in this short piece. Since history is “the ocean of past social facts”. Doing so would amount to writing another compendium which the doubting Thomases may not be able to read and exhaust in the entire century.

    However, it is pertinent to remark that his excellent tract records and rich pedigree affirms the notion that indeed, he will do more and exceed the expectations of the good people of Cross River Central in the next few years.