Experts Okay Umahi’s Removal From Office

The recent court removal of Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has been described by some experts as salutary for Nigeria’s democracy.
In an exclusive chat with The Tide, Dr Elems Maduawuchi of the Sociology Department in Ignatius Ajuru  University of Education hailed the judiciary for rising to address the anomaly in the political culture of the country.
He opined that the jumping of politicians from one party to another after winning elections was mockery of the democratic process.
Maduawuchi said, “ I call them political herdsmen of Nigeria- that is how I describe Nigerian politicians. They can’t be trusted or faithful to one ideology.”
The university teacher said the High Court removal of Governor Umahi is a warning that politics is not no longer played as usual.
For Dr. Iwarimie Uranta of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, the judgement is coming late as he cited many politicians who moved into another party in the past.
“ Why is it now that the court has woken up?” Uranta queried,” saying, the same judiciary looked the other way when Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Dr. Bukola Saraki and Kwakwanso moved to APC in 2014″.
Uranta averred that Umahi may win in the higher courts, as he insists that the Constitution should be the final solution to defection.
He added that the court is only there to interpret the constitution and that whatever the law says should be the basis of interpretation to defection.
The lecturer, however, stressed the need for clear- cut ideology between the parties, ‘if you look at APC and PDP, you will discover that they don’t have ideologies, that is why politicians jump around. “

By: Kevin Nengia