n umpire is an official who observes a game or match closely in order to enforce the rules and arbitrate on matters arising from the game in question. Such a person or official must make impartiality his watchword. If he officiates well, he goes home with honour and pageantry. But if he or she plays partiality, then he goes home with dishonor and bruises.

In a football match, the umpire is otherwise called referee. If he or she officiates well, then promotion follows him or her. If not, demotion or dismissal becomes the penalty. Even if one team belongs to his kindred, he is expected to be impartial. I have watched a local football match whereby the referee in the eyes of other football officials and spectators was grossly partial. He was almost a player. Thus eleven were playing against twelve. When a foul was committed by his favorite team, he looked the other way and said, "Play on!" Even when the side referee raised the flag, he was not perturbed. He made sure his favorite team won the match. It was later discovered that the 'victorious' team oiled his palms with two hundred thousand naira. At the end of the match, the defeated team laid an ambush against him as he was driving home. They gave him the beating of his life and set his 'jagajaja' car on fire. He went home leaping and crying. At home he lied to his wife that he had a nearly fatal accident on the way whereby his car got burnt. He added that it was by whiskers that he survived, though seriously injured. His wife rushed him to the nearest hospital where he was placed on admission for almost two weeks. His hospital bill was half a million naira. He received two hundred thousand naira bribe. Who cheated who? After his recovery, the town's football authority banished him forever from football pitch.

From time immemorial I have been hearing of the incorruptible or impartial judge. A judge is also an umpire in the court of Law. He abdicates between the accused and the defendant. From the arguments of their lawyers he arbitrates. His judgment is based on the evidences before him. Magistrates, judges and justices should be above board. They should not be biased in their judgments. Also they must shun bribery. A corrupt judge is detestable before God and humanity.

Unfortunately, things have fallen apart in Nigeria today. Hence corrupt and partial magistrates, judges and justices are abundant in our country. Such corrupt judges base their judgments on how much they received from clients. Thus the highest bidder wins the case. Sometimes the defendant becomes the accused. The innocent is punished while the unjust goes home triumphant. One day in the High Court, the judge in his misjudgment said to someone unjustly accused, "I put it to you that you will spend the rest of your life behind bars." The innocent accused shouted, "I am innocent! I put it to you that God is never asleep!" As the court was rising, the judge slumped instantly. On reaching the nearest hospital, the medical doctor on duty confirmed him stone dead. Has God not vindicated the innocently accused man?

Many innocent persons are languishing in correctional centers all over the country. Some die while awaiting trial for years. Formerly it was called prison. Today it is known as Correctional Center. The difference is only in name. The condition in most of the correctional centers is inhuman. In developed countries prisons are like minor mansions without freedom. In our country Nigeria, the president and governors appoint judges at the state and federal levels. It is said that he who pays the piper dictates the tune. Often the judges are influenced by those who appointed them, lest they lose their appointments. The Supreme Court is the last bus stop in law. The justices therein ought to be supreme and not biased. Unfortunately, within the last two years in the Supreme Court of Nigeria there seems to be some unseen forces dictating to the justices what to deliver. I heard someone say that the court has taken over the functions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). After elections, the court pronounces the real or fake winners. Hence it has become doubtful if the court is still the last hope of the common man.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has an umpire known as INEC chairman. He oversees state and federal elections. Of course he is supposed to be impartial in this national duty. He should not be partisan in thought and in action. He must never be a card carrier of any political party. Elections ought to be free, fair and credible. Candidates contest through any party platform. The electorates go to the polls to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice. Regrettable elections in Nigeria are marred by violence, selling and buying of votes, snatching of ballot boxes, change of figures, etc. The electoral commissioners and their agents are often bribed. Hence they manipulate the results according to their whips and caprices. Consequently fake or prepared results are announced. Instead of transmitting the results electronically, they do so manually in order to change figures which favour their anointed. As far as I know from 1979 to date, only the 1993 June 12 Presidential election won by Abiola but annulled by Babangida was free, fair and credible. The umpire Professor Humphrey Nwosu was the only electoral umpire that has written his name in gold. He died recently and was buried on 28 March 2025 in Ajalli, Anambra State. If I have the ecclesiastical power, I would canonize him a Saint here and now. The 2023 electoral umpire wrote his name in the mud by manipulating the presidential election result.

As I was dealing on this topic, breaking news came into my Whatsapp message which says, "Nigeria now has 37 States. President Bola Tinubu just created Emergency State on top of Rivers State." For about two years now, there has been a serious political fracas between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike and the Governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara. As former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike ruled for eight years and became the godfather of Governor Fubara. After Fubara's swearing-in, things fell apart between the two friendly politicians who have turned into political foes. The FCT Minister as godfather wants to control his godson governor, which the latter objected to. To worsen the situation, 27 out of the State's 31 members of the State House of Assembly abandoned the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) which brought them into office and jumped into All Progressives Congress (APC). Their sponsor Wike became a member of PDP in theory and APC in practice. The recent judgment of the Supreme Court incapacitated Governor Fubara. At the same time the 27 members of the House of Assembly loyal to the FCT minister initiated the process of impeachment against the governor. When two elephants are fighting, the grasses suffer. Suddenly on 19 March 2025, President Tinubu imposed a state of emergency in the fragile state caused by two political gladiators. He suspended governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi and members of the House of Assembly for a period of six months. In the interim he appointed the Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas, to take charge of Rivers State affairs.

The question on every lip is: Since two political gladiators were the causes of the tension and disorder in Rivers State; why was one suspended and the other left untouched? President Tinubu crucified Governor Fubara and beatified Wike. The state of emergency order and suspensions in Rivers State are not the definite solution to the imbroglio. The President should call the FCT minister to order. He cannot be the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the Governor of Rivers State at the same. He must let peace reign in the state. He who seeks equity must come with clean hands. I rest my case here for now.