When the Senate Committee invited police chief Ibrahim Idris over the allegations by Senator Isah Misau, I knew a problem was in the offing. Idris rejected the summons and told the lawmakers that a case was in court on the matter. Honouring the summons, reasoned the Inspector–General, would be prejudicial.
The senators, ever dutiful and diligent – isn’t that why they are revered as distinguished? – insisted that the probe must go on.
Misau, by way of introduction, is the senator representing the good people of Bauchi Central. He hurled a truckload of allegations at the IG. Some of them bordered on financial misappropriation, mismanagement and misapplication – not stealing, please note. The police were left scampering for weapons to fight back. They did. Misau was slapped with an allegation of being a deserter. He defended himself desperately.
All this while, the Senate did not lift a finger either for its own or for the IG, at least in protection of the office. Then, as if stung by a swarm of bees, the lawmakers sprang up to action when Misau accused the IG of some inappropriate behaviour that bordered on what the lawmaker described as the chief’s propensity for sexual peccadillos. He peppered it all with some salacious details, some of which are not fit for this space, this being a serious journal of repute and not some popular kiss-and-tell sensational publication.
The committee threatened to issue a warrant for the IG’s arrest. Who will arrest the IG? Thankfully, the IG appeared before the committee yesterday. But he refused to answer questions, leaving observers to wonder what kind of questions would have been fired at him.
Is it true you had a girlfriend who is now an officer and married to your good self? Did you actually put her in the family way as alleged? How did you do that? When? Where? Who are your witnesses? Was it with her consent or she was intimidated into it? Who are your witnesses?
Can an officer fall in love while on duty? Are such acts common in the police? If so, how have you been checking the rank and file? Can a police chief’s private affair, including his bedroom deportment, affect his role as the chief crime fighter? Is a police chief expected to have a soft side in a country infested with vicious criminals, with jackals and hyenas in high places? Where is that tough-man image, the mere thought of which should keep criminals restless? Can an IG be seduced? How?
Just before the IG elected to shun the committee, a senior lawyer, I am told, was getting set to storm the landmark hearing, which promised to be a watershed in the development of our criminal jurisprudence.
Among the questions he planned to ask the distinguished senators are: why was there no probe when a senator was rumoured to have married an underage girl? Was the Senate’s image not tarnished by that act, with child rights activists describing the respected chamber as a den of pedophiles, drug pushers and robbers? Why the probe now that Misau has been charged with forgery, intent to harm the IG, peddling falsehood against the IG and lying, among several other practices?
In other words, vigilantibus non dormientibus aequitas subvenit. That is to say, “Equity aids the vigilant, not those who slumber on their rights”.
I advise the Senate to resist this attempt at circumventing its rights and duties. It is its responsibility to go ahead with the probe and, in fact, launch into several others that it has been threatening to undertake: The Maikanti Baru – Ibe Kachikwu kerfuffle; the Paris Club refund; the Nigeria Content Development Fund and many others.
Consider the fact that suicide cases are rising. In Lagos, it is fast becoming fashionable for those who are disaffected with life to end it all by taking the final plunge – into the lagoon. Why are people taking their lives? Are the gods thirsty for blood? Is the economic situation that bad that some would like to see if it could be sunny on the other side? A Senate enquiry will, no doubt, provide answers to these questions. It should begin today.
First, it was the State House Clinic. We were told by the President’s wife that it was a “mere consulting clinic”. No facilities. No drugs. Nothing. Now, we have heard of how some of our compatriots – 91 in all – have died of snake bite in Gombe and Plateau states because hospitals lack snake bite venom. Health Minister Prof Isaac Adewole says we haven’t run out of the essential drug to tackle the poison. So, what happened?
I trust the Senate will launch a probe after a member must have raised a motion on “matter of urgent national importance.”
The other day in Kabba, Kogi State, distinguished Senator Dino Melaye, a man not many will accuse of being saintly in disposition, of being urbane and placid, was pelted with stones and other missiles. We were told that hoodlums did it. Who are the so- called hoodlums? Whom were they working for? Were they masked? Why were no suspects arrested?
These are the questions a probe will unravel. Over to the Senate.
Many discerning observers of the polity are surprised that not even a tepid attempt has been made to institute a major probe into the seemingly vacuous allegation that the change that the Buhari administration promised is yet to manifest. “We haven’t seen any change,” many have been crying. They are obviously those disillusioned fellows who won’t stop lamenting what to them were the good days of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when oil sold at over $100 a barrel and we had so much to fritter away. This has been the stand of government officials.
But a doctor-turned-politician has thrown in the medical angle, suggesting that those who claim not to have seen changes may have problems with their eyes. “Are we short of ophthalmologists?” he has been asking his aides.
The Senate will do well to take up the challenge. It should probe the strange thinking that propels some of our compatriots to ask, “where is the change?” Is the number of the blind growing? How many ophthalmologists do we have? Are they being owed salaries? Why will so many people be complaining of poor vision at the same time? Is there an epidemic or some strange eye condition?
Despite its furious response to the allegation that its members draw jumbo salaries, the Senate has not been able to convince the public that it has not taken more than its legal dues from the treasury. In fact, a source close to a senator who is said to be in love with fast cars, movie stars and choice beverages, says the lawmaker often derides the purveyors of such rumours as nonentities.
That is too mild.
Senators should end this malicious allegation that won’t just go away once and for all by launching a grand probe that will lay the matter to rest – finally. All questions must be resolved, including the most troublesome of them all – how much exactly do senators earn?
Eau de Akwa Ibom
New perfume in town? Not quite. But some news – about good old, foxy tortoise of the folklorist era.
Somewhere in Akwa Ibom, the poor animal is being hunted for a love potion, which in the local language is called kop nno mi (do as I say).
Poor Dr Edem Eniang. The director of the Biodiversity Preservation Centre (BPC) has been having problems reining in those women who believe in the magical powers of this potion to arrest their men- body and soul.
The University of Uyo teacher says the animal is endangered. He appeals to residents to help save the tortoise. I join him in this campaign.
The fate of the tortoise in Akwa Ibom reminds one of those days of bloody politics in Oyo State. One of the actors, Busari Adelakun – may his soul rest in peace – was well known for romanticising the powers of his juju. One of his fashion accessories was a small live tortoise that he wore as a necklace, dangling from his neck. His opponents quaked at his appearance.
The story is told of how he, as commissioner for Local Government carried out some reforms that were far-sighted but which the powers that-were resisted. He was unceremoniously moved to the Health ministry, but he did not like that. Adelakun (aka Eruobodo –the river dreads nothing) was said to have sworn that his successor would not stay long on the seat.
When the new commissioner died suddenly, Adelakun was quoted as saying: “Kinkin ni mo fun. Mo ro pe okunrin ni, a se kii sokunrin (I gave him just a little. I thought he was a man… .”
Ah, those good old days. Who will bring back some of the colour?
