Winners & Losers

|  By Augustine Adah  |

AS WITH other years, 2012, had its own winners and losers worldwide. While some people were being promoted and congratulated for their achievements, others were made to lament their losses. It was no doubt a year of ups and downs, tears and joys. In January, Hafiz Ringim, the then inspector general of police, was a big loser, when he was sacked for dereliction of duty. He lost his job when Kabir Umar, the escapee mastermind of the Christmas Day bombing of St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Mandalla, Niger State, could not be produced as directed by President Goodluck Jonathan. Mohammed Abubakar, who was an assistant inspector general of police, was thus, appointed inspector-general of police. As a result, six deputy inspectors general of police were sent on retirement at the same time. They include, Ivy Uche Okoronkwo, Azubuko Udah, Sardauna Abubakar, Audu Abubakar, Saleh Abubakar and Mohammed Yesufu.

The governorship elections that took place in Adamawa, Bayelsa, Cross River, Sokoto,  Edo and Ondo states produced winners and losers. Murtala Nyako, incumbent governor of the state, and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, won a re-election February 4. He polled 302,953 votes representing 44 per cent of the total votes cast to defeat Markus Gundiri of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and Mohammed Buba Marwa, candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC. Both scored 241, 023, and 107, 546 votes, respectively.

Henry Seriake Dickson was the winner in Bayelsa State governorship election held on February 14. Dickson defeated other contestants in the election including Imoro Kubor of Change Advocate Party, CAP, Kamela Okara, ACN, and Famous Daunemigha of the CPC. Other contestants in the election did not make any significant impact.

In Cross River State, the February 25 governorship election produced Usani Usani, candidate of the ACN and Patrick Okomiso of All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, as losers. They both lost to Liyel Imoke, the state governor and candidate of the PDP. In Edo State the governorship election campaigns, which were characterised by insecurity and thuggery, eventually produced Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, incumbent governor as the winner. He won the July 14, governorship election to continue for a second term. Oshiomhole, candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, scored a total of 477,478 votes to defeat his opponent, Charles Airhiavbere of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, who polled 144, 235 votes.  It was also a celebration of victory for Olusegun Mimiko, governor of Ondo State, when the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared him winner of the October 20 governorship election.  Mimiko, contested the election on the platform of Labour Party, LP, for a second term in office.

In the judiciary, 2012 was a good year for some female judges. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, a female jurist, Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, was elevated to the post of chief justice of Nigeria. Her appointment elicited comments from many Nigerians. Several people extolled the virtue of Muktar and commended President Jonathan for the appointment. The year also witnessed the appointment of Mary Odili, as a justice of the Supreme Court. Odili was, before her elevation, a justice of the Court of Appeal. The month of November also witnessed the appointment of another woman, Zainab Bulkachuwa as acting president, Court of Appeal.

In sport, the 18th National Sport Festival held in Lagos produced Delta State as the overall winner on the medal table. The state won 288 medals, while Rivers State, the defending champion, came second with 218 medals.

In the month of December, Bestwood Chukwuemeka, 28, was sentenced to three months imprisonment for gay practice. John Mahama, of the National Democratic Party, NDC, won the Ghana’s presidential election in November. He defeated Nana Akufo Addo, of New Patriotic Party, NPP. In the United States, President Barack Obama of the Democratic Party, won the November 6, presidential election. He defeated Mitt Romney of the Republican Party, for a second term in office. In Egypt, Mohammed Morsi, of the Muslim Brotherhood, defeated Ahmed Shafik, the prime minister, under the regime of Hosni Mubarak, former president of Egypt. In his acceptance speech, Morsi promised to deliver on his election promises. “I have no rights, only responsibilities, if I do not deliver, do not obey me”, Morsi said.

In the corporate world, Samsung, a telecommunication company, lost its case against Apple. Samsung tried unsuccessfully to defend the case brought against it by Apple that it had slavishly copied its I phone for Samsung new Android handset designs.

— Jan. 7, 2013 @ 01:00 GMT

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