Absolutely nothing shields you from having your fair share of the state’s lawlessness. Buhari is still very much in town.
My take on the reported seizure of Ms. Odele's Passport by the Nigerian Immigration is very clear. In a democracy, I believe every law-abiding citizen has a right to movement, and that should not be violated under any guise. If this government has any substantial case against her, then, she should have been informed and invited on board. It is only when she has consistently refused the honour of an invitation that the government can consider stopping her in the manner they did. Instead, the government has once again chosen to go the dishonourable route. Again, I'm asking, who are those advising this government? #FreeMoeSexy #FreeMoeDollars
It is rather unfortunate that this Buhari-led regime is yet again doing what it knows best to do - brazenly disregarding the rule of law and trampling upon citizens' rights. I'm afraid the lawlessness of Buhari's government is edging too fast to being irredeemable. Unfortunately, many citizens have had huge roles to play in strengthening this nonsense.
Until lately, we have conveniently allowed emotions, bias, ethnic/religious bigotry, political identification/correctness and other unfathomable excuses to guide our response to the lawless acts of this government. Even when the path that Buhari has chosen to go has been clearly cut out to be lawless since the first year of his assumption.
In this same Nigeria, Buhari had barely spent 7 months in office when he went on a LIVE broadcast, on the national television to say that he won’t release the former NSA, Sambo Dasuki and the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu for some poorly thought reasons, even against several court directives. Because of your prejudice, many of you praised and supported him. You claimed he was doing it for the culture. In fact, at a point, Buhari said that the Rule of Law is secondary to what he described as national security and some Nigerians said, Yoo! Sai baba, ride on. Now, you’re asking who ordered the shooting at Lekki. I’m also asking, who ordered the killings of many peaceful IPOB protesters?
It was in this country that many journalists, including the leader of the #RevolutionNow struggle, Omoyele Sowore were illegally arrested, unlawfully detained and the government refused to comply with court orders that released them. This is still happening to date. How about El-Zakyzaky?
This same Nigeria, in a Gestapo manner and in the middle of the night, security operatives launched attacks on the houses of select judges who were allegedly been investigated for corruption. I remember arguing, writing and asking questions about that act then but some Nigerians felt it was just okay.
Not just this, the role of the President in abruptly forcing a change of the CJN remains constitutionally questionable to date.
Under Buhari’s watch, the EFCC left their primary duty of fighting economic and financial crimes, the agency went after a journalist for alleged "cybercrime" against its Chairman. Crazy right? Not until you realize that the DSS also reportedly went after the Speaker of a SHOA and other principal members of that Assembly because the governor reportedly ordered it. Crazier! All of these under Buhari’s watch as the sworn defender of the constitution. A failure indeed.
I can actually go on and on, and on listing how this government started out ungraciously but many of those who are now impressively concerned were either uninterested, supported it, or even labeled those who spoke up those moments as Nigerians who were still bitter about GEJ's loss. The same GEJ they voted out to bring Buhari on board.
My shàlàyé is getting too long but the kókó ọmọ ọlọ́dun is that I hope Nigerians have a deep reflection and see beyond those things that currently divide them, to hold the people they have elected accountable. It is high time we stopped choosing which injustice and lawlessness we fight. Even amongst ourselves - the oppressed citizens, we cannot afford to keep polarising what is supposed to be a united front against lawlessness, and turning it to fights against fellow citizens who hold the views of seemingly different approaches to solving the same problems we see. It won't help our cause.
It was Sowore yesterday, it is Odele today and absolutely nothing shields you from having your fair share of the state’s lawlessness tomorrow because Buhari is still very much in town. May we be wise. And if you choose otherwise, too bad.
Certainly, like my oga, Barrister Inibehe says every time: "history will vindicate the just!"
