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Two verdicts in quick succession are
causing ripples in the political
circles.On Wednesday ,December 16 2009,
the Supreme court dramatically revived
Professor Chukwuma Soludo’s
gubernatorial hopes as the apex court
ruled that the Independent National
Electoral Commission,INEC should include
Soludo’s name among the list of
aspirants.The apex court also urged INEC
to grant soludo all the privileges due
to all governoship candidates
This verdict came a day after the court
of appeal had ruled that INEC should not
include the former governor of the apex
bank’s name on the list.
Newsdiaryonline sources revealed
that the appeal court ruling shattered
Soludo terribly .Pronto, the former
governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria
headed to the Aso Koro residence of
Chief Tony Anenih in Abuja.On arrival
sources said Soludo expressed his
worries about the development in the
courts
Newsdiaryonline reliably learnt that
Anenih pointedly reassured Soludo of
victory as he was certain the Supreme
Court would rule in favour of
Soludo.`Anenih told Soludo not to
worry.Some ruling party stalwarts seemed
very confident of victory at the Supreme
Court before the apex court ruled in
favour of Soludo’ a source in Abuja
revealed today. It is now an open secret
Soludo’s victory was fixed by henchmen
of the Peoples Democratic Party
spearheaded by Anenih.
But Vice president Goodluck Jonathan set
the tone earlier when he revealed that
INEC cannot stop PDP from contesting
gubernatorial elections in Anambra
state.And the Vice President in a
landmark statement also said even if
angels came from the moon to conduct
elections in Nigeria, PDP would win.
Sources believe that Anenih led the men
who facilitated victory. But it is
important to also note that that Michael
Aondoakaa, the attorney general of the
federation and minister of justice had
in the past been central to helping the
presidency in fixing controversial
judgments especially the last
presidential election cases in which
the Supreme Court finally ruled in
President Yar’Adua’s favour.
Anenih who is believed to have helped
Soludo out is also known to have worked
closely with chief James Ibori to ensure
victory at the Asaba High Court .The
Court on Thursday discharged Ibori of
the 176 count-charge of alleged
corruption.Newsdiaryonline had
earlier reported that Ibori has been
nursing a presidential ambition .His
plot has been to fight all the way to
quash the corruption charges against
him. Such victory will ,in his
calculation according to official
sources pave the way for the former
governor of Delta state to kickstart his
presidential plot which may begin by
becoming vice president in the next
general elections.Details of how he
intends to do this are unclear yet.But
there are hurdles ahead for Ibori as the
Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC has picked holes in
the Asaba Court ruling.
But sources said Anenih has been a
reliable ally for Anenih.Though the
renowned Mr Fix It has been losing grip
of his control of Edo politics ,Anenih’s
influence in Abuja remains alive. Ibori
and Anenih have remained particularly
close .In fact Ibori is said to be like
a son to Anenih .The former governor’s
closeness to the Anenih family dates
back to his days at the University of
Benin where Ibori and Anenih’s son
popularly called Anenih junior became
friends.Those who know them claim that
Anenih Jnr and Ibori shared a boys’
quarters in Anenih’s residence in
Benin some years ago.
And the closeness has lasted all
through the years to the political
advantage of Ibori who has found Anenih
a reliable pillar of support in his
numerous times of trouble.The PDP chiefs
who facilitated these latest string of
triumphs for Soludo and Ibori are known
to have lavishly celebrated their
`victories’ in Abuja.
Related links
Ibori wants to
be president : Inside story of his trial-(Newsdiaryonline
Friday Dec 4, 2009)
Ibori: No
Respite yet for A Plunderer
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