Is politics a dirty game as people are wont to say' No, it is not a dirty game. It is Politicians who are desperate to acquire political power via fair or foul means in order to achieve their selfish materialistic ends that give politics a bad name. Now, in Nigeria, we've political desperadoes who employ dirty tactics and antics to outwit their political foes during elections in order to assume exalted elective political positions.Regarding the issue of dirty politicking, one politician that readily comes to my mind is Dr Chris Ngige. What he lacks in height, he more than makes up for it in his possession of political trickery. His genial manner belies his political crudity and resort to underhand means to achieve political success.Dr Ngige, who can pass for a Nollywood star, what with his graying goatee and cap habitually worn jauntily and perkily, came into political acclaim and prominence through a purloined political mandate in 2003. Chris Uba bankrolled his campaign expenses for the 2003 governorship election, and rolled out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), rigging machine to rig him into power. Before that, he swore to an oath of political loyalty to his political benefactor, Chris Uba, at the Okija shrine. This action of his shows his desperation for power, and destitution of moral scruples.During his illegal occupation of office as governor, he embarked on a revolutionary road repair, which endeared him to Anambrarians. His political trouble started when he refused to hand over the financial patrimony of Anambra State to his political god-father, Chris Uba. So, he fell out of his political favour. To further compound his political woes, Mr. Peter Obi, the current governor of Anambra State, dethroned him from his governorship perch after a long 'drawn out legal battle that lasted for three years. That marked his demystification and gradual descent into political oblivion.Didn't he lose the February 2010 governorship election in Anambra state' While contesting Governor Peter Obi's victory in court, he threw his cap into the ring with regard to the April 2011 Anambra central senatorial election .That action portrays his confusion, political ambivalence and desperation for political power.He was the A.C.N. flag-bearer in the April 2011 Anambra central senatorial election. Before that election, Anambrarians believed that the election would be a catwalk for Professor Dora Akunyili owing to her administrative pedigree, forthrightness, courage, and her popularity with the people. She would have won the electoral contest, but for Ngige's manipulation of the poll. But, then, the leopard can't change its spots. He came into political prominence through electoral fraud, and he is still using the same method to survive politically till now.The Anambra central senatorial election was dogged and marred by controversy. Dr Anene, the returning officer, went underground after alleging that some people threatened to kill him owing to his refusal to rig the election in favour of an unnamed political contestant in the election. After he had been replaced by Professor Esimone owing to his abandonment of duties, he returned and declared Dr Chris Ngige the winner of the election.Whoever tried to bribe Dr Anene should be revealed, as it is crucial in the electoral legal battle to determine the true winner of the April 2011 Anambra central senatorial election. But, Dr Anene never accused Akunyili of trying to bribe him. Dr Ngige is covertly alleging that Akunyili offered Dr Anene monetary inducement in order for him to falsify the election result in Akunyili's favour. But, some months ago, ICPC instituted investigation into the Anene Saga in order to find out the truth.Professor Akunyili, who believes that election rigging undermines our democracy, and leads to the emergence of unqualified people occupying exalted elective positions, filed a petition at the Awka election tribunal to challenge Ngige's victory. Living up to his infamous reputation as a foxy politician, Ngige has been using antics and shenanigans to block the case from being heard at the election tribunal. He filed a motion at the Appeal Court, Enugu, praying the court to strike out the case on the grounds that 180 days set aside for hearing the case had expired. It should be noted that the dissolution of the Bwala-led tribunal caused the 180 days meant for the tribunal sitting to elapse. After the Appeal Court ruled in Akunyili's favour, the case got underway only for Ngige to return to the appellate Court(Appeal Court) urging it to strike out the case on the same grounds. Again, the court ruled in Akunyili's favour. The case is now being heard. Professor Akunyili has won 5 appeals before the hearing of the case on merit started.But, what is Ngige trying to hide from us' Does he have a skeleton in his cupboard that necessitated his trying to obstruct the hearing of the case' After the controversial election in which he was declared the winner, Ngige has been using antics and false-hood to deceive people as to the progress of the Ngige-Akunyili electoral legal battle. First, he spread the malicious rumour that Akunyili would not contest his victory at the Awka election tribunal. But, Akunyili didn't say that.Again, the page 13 of the Sunday sun of February 12, 2012 carried a false story as to what happened at the election tribunal in the past week. It is obvious that Ngige sponsored the write- up. Contrary to the false-hood and embellishments contained in the story, Akunyili only stated that she would 'forfeit' any vote erroneously given to her in the controversial election. We should note that human error is unavoidable in any human systems of doing things.But, why Ngige has chosen to use the media to brow- beat the election tribunal into deciding the electoral case in his favour baffles us. His resort to impugning the character of Professor Akunyili via publication of false stories in newspapers is irksome, cheap and a red-herring to obfuscate the issue, and mislead the public.This article is written to set the record straight, knowing that a false-hood that is not refuted will assume the form of truth.Professor Akunyili will not refute Ngige's lies and fabrications in the media anymore.Okoye, wrote in from Anambra. You can reach him on 08062220654
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