Lawyer Slams Professors, Wants Igbos To Invest At Home

A leading lawyer in the country, Godspower Godfrey has slammed Nigerian professors who served as returning officers in the contentious 2023 general elections across the country. He scored them low.
Godfrey, who is the principal officer in Powers and Partners (Ajuri Chambers) made his assessment known over the weekend in a chat with National Point in Port Harcourt.
He expressed disappointment with the performance of the professors.
Said he: “I am highly disappointed with Nigerian professors who served as INEC election returning officers across the country, especially those who served as returning officers in the governorship elections. If half of the professors who served in the governorship elections had done half of what Prof. (Mrs.) Nnenna Otti did in the Abia State governorship election, I would have scored them 50 percent.”
Mr. Godfrey described the professors as hungry because of the strike they embarked on.
“The professors are hungry and they have not been paid for months because of the one year strike they embarked on. In fact, because of the strike the professors had been impoverished before the election,” the legal principal officer asserted.
He expressed satisfaction with the performance of Prof. Otti for what she did in Abia State, adding that there is the need for her to be recognized with a national award.
Prof. Otti is the vice chancellor, Federal University of Technology, FUTO, Owerri and was the returning officer for Abia State governorship election in the March election.
On lessons from the 2023 general elections Mr. Godfrey said: “The 2013 general election was the most keenly contested election since the return of democratic rule in 1999. “What happened in Lagos during and after the election is a lesson for the Igbo ethnic nationality in Nigeria. Although what is driving the Igbos away from their area is the lack of seaport, my Igbo brothers should look inward and come home and invest.
“The Igbos should come home and invest and develop their zones.”
He expressed dissatisfaction with the ethnic cleansing going on in some parts of the country, calling for a change of heart.
He also expressed concerns over some activities in the judiciary.
On the recent appointment of some judges in Rivers State, Mr. Godfrey had this to say: “It is unfortunate that judges are no longer being referred to the NBA to make input before their appointment as judges. Today, judges are being appointed without the input of NBA members.”