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Tag: treasonable

  • Treasonable felons, economic saboteurs in agbada, convoys, labour replies SGF

    Treasonable felons, economic saboteurs in agbada, convoys, labour replies SGF

    The Organised Labour has lashed at the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, over his comment that it was a treasonable offence for workers to switch off the National grid during the nationwide strike.

    Labour also lambasted the SGF for saying he cannot afford to pay his driver N100,000 in a month.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress said it was disheartening that a person of SGF’s repute can make such a statement.

    In a statement tagged: “Mr. SGF: Treasonable Felons and Economic Saboteurs are in Agbada and Convoys,” by the Head, Information and Public Affairs, NLC, Comrade Benson Upah, labour said: “It is particularly disheartening that the SGF, a high-ranking government official, would make statements that trivialise the genuine grievances of Nigerian workers. His assertion that he cannot afford to pay each of his four drivers ₦100,000 monthly is a stark reminder of the disconnect between the government and the realities faced by ordinary Nigerians. Such statements do not contribute to the resolution of the issues at hand but rather exacerbate tensions.

    “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expresses its profound disappointment and strong condemnation of the recent comments made by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) regarding the nationwide strike embarked upon by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

    “The SGF’s characterization of our legitimate and constitutionally protected industrial action as a “treasonable felony” and “economic sabotage” is not only deeply troubling but also undermines the spirit of constructive dialogue necessary for resolving the ongoing issues.

    “The demands of the NLC and TUC are clear and just. We seek the conclusion and signing into law of a new national minimum wage that is in sync with the realities of the cost of living, a reversal of the hike in electricity tariff to ₦65/kWh, and an end to the discriminatory classification of electricity consumers into bands. These demands are grounded in the need for economic justice and fairness for all Nigerian workers and citizens.

    “The SGF we are sure clearly knows those whose actions are treasonable and sabotages our economy. Those who loot our treasury around the country, those who divert public resources meant for hospitals and schools; those who are involved in foreign exchange round tripping; padding of budgets and inflating contracts including those who steal trillions of Naira in the name of subsidy are the real Economic saboteurs who commit treasonable felony.

    “These people are in costly Agbada and drive in convoys all around the nation occupying the corridors of power and not innocent workers who are not slaves but chose to withdraw their services because of the inhuman treatment meted on them by the Government.

    “It is particularly disheartening that the SGF, a high-ranking government official, would make statements that trivialise the genuine grievances of Nigerian workers. His assertion that he cannot afford to pay each of his four drivers ₦100,000 monthly is a stark reminder of the disconnect between the government and the realities faced by ordinary Nigerians. Such statements do not contribute to the resolution of the issues at hand but rather exacerbate tensions.

    “It is a clear demonstration that the SGF pays his personal staff starvation wages and may be telling us that he is a slave master. We may have to remind him that a 50kg bag of rice is N88,000 which leaves the worker with just N12,000 if he is to pay the paltry sum, he claims that he is unable to pay. Anyway, one wonders what the SGF does with four drivers alone? We would also want to know what work justifies the huge salaries and allowances the SGF takes home all the time? Do we need to wonder too far why we are here as a nation when you have individuals with this mindset occupying sensitive positions in the corridors of power?

    “It is unfortunate that the SGF who presides over the Administration of the Executive arm of government which is one of the basic pillars of democracy and is supposed to be a protector and defender of democracy, its various institutions and practices would be seen making statements that negate these traditions and principles. We believe that through the office of the SGF, the citizens will feel the pulse of the President at all times, occupiers of such sensitive offices should therefore show more understanding in their utterances and actions at all times.

    “We reject completely the unfortunate insinuations around the SGF’s remarks because strikes are not only legal but also a civic duty. We are surprised that the SGF will demonstrate such a glaring sense of unawareness to the understanding of the fact that when workers withdraw their services which is their right, machines cannot operate themselves so, they grind to a halt.

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    “We expect a highly placed official of the government to understand this basic fact and act or speak within its confines. It is a recognised instrument historically and world wide available to the citizenry and indeed workers to hold governance accountable thus press home their interests. It is therefore a positive socioeconomic tool that is natural to the democratic process which allows nation states to continue to adjust, prevent and protect the prevalence of dictatorship and social implosion.

    “The NLC wishes to remind the SGF that respectful and productive negotiations cannot occur under duress. The events of last week, where labour leaders were surrounded by military personnel during a negotiation exercise in the SGF’s office, were a clear violation of our rights and an intimidation tactic that has no place in a democratic society. We cannot and will not negotiate under such conditions which is what the SGF’s comments portend.

    “We call on the SGF to retract his regrettable statements and to approach the ongoing negotiation with the seriousness and respect it deserves. The path to resolving these issues lies in genuine dialogue and a commitment to addressing the legitimate concerns of Nigerian workers. We urge the government to engage with us in good faith, free from threats and intimidation.

    “We are worried that despite the denials of the purpose of the military’s presence in the last negotiation exercise and the ensuing assurances that this sad statement may be an additional proof of what the original intentions may have been. We truly fear for the safety of the lives of our leaders and would want to be reassured to the contrary if we are to continue with this round of negotiation especially when the government has not offered Nigerian workers anything tangible since after relaxing the nationwide strike.

    “The NLC remains committed to advocating for the rights and welfare of all Nigerian workers. We stand firm in our demands and will continue to pursue them through all legitimate means available to us. We will not surrender the trust and confidence Nigerian workers and people have bestowed on us to blackmail by the SGF or any other official. Our commitment is to Nigeria, Nigerian workers and peoples and this will continue driving our engagement.”

  • SANs: invasion criminal, treasonable, condemnable

    Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) yesterday condemned the disruption of Senate plenary by suspected thugs allegedly led by Senator Omo-Agege, saying seizing the mace was a criminal act.

    Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Wole Olanipekun and a constitutional lawyer Sebastine Hon, both SANs, called for the prosecution of all those involved.

    Mallam Yusuf Alli, Chief Mike Ozekhome, Chief Emeka Ngige, Mr Ahmed Raji and Prof Yemi Akinseye-George, all senior advocates, said the developments were condemnable.

    Olanipekun said: “It’s certainly a dangerous development, which is very threatening, not just to our evolving democracy but also to the entirety of the nation. To me, it’s akin to treason. It makes us a laughing stock in the comity of democratic nations worldwide.

    “We shouldn’t allow history to repeat itself on us this time around, because this was how the infamous ‘fire on the mountain’ episode started in the House of Assembly of the defunct Western region.

    “Those behind this heinous and dastardly act must be apprehended and brought to book, but due process of law should also be followed. They shouldn’t be condemned without hearing, as this is the fashion in Nigeria now.”

    Hon, a renowned legal author, said those who stormed the Senate and removed the mace must be prosecuted.

    “This is a very sad development for our democracy. It seems the government at the centre has lost control, or it’s fast losing control. All Nigerians of good will must rise up to defend this democracy.

    “The suspended senator and his backers must be prosecuted without delay. This is simply intolerable. I condemn this dastardly act without mincing words,” Hon said.

    Ali said the development showed the kind of leaders Nigeria has.

    “If it’s true that a senator led hoodlums to steal the mace, which is the authority of the Senate, then our collective resolve to live as decent and civilised citizens is undermined! It speaks volume for the quality of leaders our system threw up in 2015!” Ali said.

    Ozekhome described incident as a “crude and barbaric” invasion of the hallowed Senate chambers, saying it was the civilian equivalent of a military coup.

    According to him, no democracy was complete without an independent legislature, in line with the principle of separation of powers, so as to prevent dictatorship.

    Ozekhome said Omo-Agege had no business in the Senate having been suspended, adding that the mace that was taken away was “a sacrosanct symbol of authority, integrity, dignity and power of lawmaking in the Senate.”

    On why he suspects executive collusion, he said: “For these hoodlums to have taken the mace out of the floor of the chamber into their car, in the presence of policemen and other security agencies that guard the National Assembly, it is simply a case of the witch crying last night and the child dying this morning, and we know who killed the child. I therefore suspect serious government conspiratorial collaboration.”

    Ozekhome said Omo-Agege, who went to court to challenge his suspension, should have allowed the judicial process to run its full course, but resorted to self-help.

    “This is unacceptable. It is a sad day for democracy. It is sad day for the Senate and National Assembly and for Nigeria. It shows that we’re not ready to deepen the tenets of democracy,” he said, adding that Omo-Agege could not claim that his constituency was denied of representation, having subscribed to the Rules of the Senate and was bound by its decisions.

    “I condemn what happened in the Senate. I condemn the intrusion, and the apparent half-powerlessness of the National Assembly security in guarding against this national embarrassment and national shame on our country,” Ozekhome added.

    Raji warned politicians to desist from acts threatening democracy.

    “The political class must get their acts together and must consciously avoid any action that will aid the fifth columnists to wipe out the little progress we have recorded in our democratic journey so far,” the SAN said.

    Ngige said Omo-Agege, despite the circumstances, was presumed innocent until proven otherwise. He urged the National Assembly to strengthen its security.

    “The leadership of the National Assembly should beef up its security and investigate why the thugs had easy access to the premises and to the hallowed chambers. All those involved should be severely dealt with in accordance with rule of law. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. National Assembly members should be vigilant,” he said.

    Akinseye-George believes that provocation could make someone to lose his sense of decency and self-control.

    “The suspended senator must have acted under the heat of extreme provocation. Authorities should avoid provoking people. This is the kind of response you get when people are provoked. They act in the heat of passion only to regret their actions later. He may also have other issues which are not known to innocent observers.

    “But, we must all avoid actions which can undermine democracy. Legislature is the epitome of democracy. Its independence must be respected and preserved at all times,” the professor of Law said.

  • APC: Fayose’s threat to wreck Buhari’s govt treasonable

    APC: Fayose’s threat to wreck Buhari’s govt treasonable

    Governor not recruiting thugs, says aide

    Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has said the allegation of treasonable comments against him by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is ridiculous and from those he called unsound minds.

    A statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, said the party’s claim was a shameless lie.

    It said APC’s claim that the governor was arming 10 thugs in each local government was untrue.

    The statement added: “APC is obviously calling for a coup d’etat against a democratically elected governor, whose tenure is fixed and mode of possible

    removal from office is stipulated in the Constitution of Nigeria.”

    The statementý said the tone of APC’s statement on the governor’s alleged comment showed the state of mind of those running the party.

    It said: “There is no point wrestling with pigs. For people with sound, discerning minds, they would, no doubt, wonder why somebody with a decent background and sound mind would refer to the governor of his

    state as needing psychiatric attention or not being able to survive in a law-abiding society?

    “Politics apart, this is madness taken too far and beyond redemption.

    “Governoýr Fayose came and cleaned up the mess left by the APC government of Dr Kayode Fayemi and its hordes of blood suckers, who made Ekiti State to bleed to a point of coma. He has not only been alive to his duty as the indefatigable leader of the state, but has

    consistently put smiles on the faces of the people.”

    The statement added: “…If the APC goons are piqued that Mr Governor is criticising the President, they can relocate to Abuja and denounce their indiqeneship of Ekiti State. They must know that Governor Fayose, like any other Nigerian, is exercising his constitutional rights of freedom of speech. He has not breached anybody’s rights by constructively

    commenting on national issues.

    “It is obvious that having failed in their efforts to gain access to the Ekiti State government through the backdoor, they now desire a situation whereby the Government House will also be invaded by the Department of State Service (DSS), as it was done in Akwa Ibom State; but on this one, they will fail, as usual.

    “Governor Fayose clearly expressed his mind in the interview they are trying to capitalise on by warning that any attempt to destabilise his government could lead to the downfall of the APC government, and he stands by what he said. The governor never said he was going to bring the government of President Muhammadu Buhari down…”

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has is Governor Ayo Fayose’s threat to bring down the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is “treasonable”.

    The party urged security agencies not to underestimate Fayose, saying the governor made the latest threat because he got away with alleged impunity of the past.

    In a statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, APC urged security agents to protect the integrity of the Constitution being challenged by Fayose’s alleged seditious remarks, which constitute a threat to the nation’s democracy.

    The party accused Fayose of recruiting 10 thugs in each of the 16 local government areas for “training” in Ifaki with Toyota Hilux vans allegedly put at their disposal for undisclosed purposes.

    It berated Fayose, saying the governor “must have been acting under psychological stress that had denied him emotional sanity”.

    APC said the governor was also being haunted by his sordid past.

    The party demanded investigation into the latest outburst from the governor, adding that his threat to bring down the Buhari administration could not have been empty.

    Fayose was reported to have said at a forum the at the weekend that Buhari’s government would be brought down should anything sinister happens to him (Fayose).

    APC said: “We want to appeal to Nigerians around the world to see Fayose as a special breed with a special case of psychosis among Ekiti people; so, he should be treated as a special man whose actions should not be equated to Ekiti standard of behaviour.

    “Even with his special condition of mental torture, which requires psychiatric management, we shall still urge the security agencies to watch the governor over his subversive activities within and outside the country and to act now to bring him under the law to account for his actions.

    “We had alerted security agencies that Fayose stockpiled arms in the Government House with hundreds of criminals already trained in arms handling. The arms and ammunition are still there.

    “We are telling the security agencies again with all sense of responsibility that Fayose is currently recruiting 10 thugs from each of the 16 local government areas to assemble at a training facility in Ifaki-Ekiti.

    “Who he wants to attack with armed thugs, we don’t know; but we know he has already made Hilux vans available to them for initial operations.

    “Nigerians and security agencies should note that as our son, who we know very well, Fayose cannot survive in a society where the law works. He knows he can’t survive his criminal past, including his election fraud, with a decent President like Muhammadu Buhari. That is why he will never wish the President and Nigerians well in their hope of getting an accountable leader to put smiles on their faces.

    “Put Fayose where he naturally belongs and Ekiti people will know peace. As such, he needs a world clearly outside of Ekiti world of Omoluabi credo, where he can survive with his volatile temperament and lawless conduct.

    “He was well fit into the last administration’s scheme, which thrived on lawlessness. That is why he invaded the court with thugs to beat up a judge and tore court records in the Chief Judge’s office and nothing happened except thunderous ovation and thumps-up in the Presidency.

    “He shut 19 lawmakers out of the state and used seven lawmakers to pass the budget and ‘impeach’ the Speaker in the House of Assembly of 26 members and Goodluck Jonathan’s Presidency hooted in celebration of an accomplished thug being unleashed on the integrity of the nation’s constitution on the altar of political expediency.

     

  • Interim Govt is treasonable, says President at mass

    Interim Govt is treasonable, says President at mass

    President Goodluck Jonathan should call his supporters and aides to order, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja John Cardinal Onaiyekan, said yesterday in his review of the political activities in the country.

    Many Nigerians are worried about the manner government officials and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign Council members have been heating up the polity.

    Contrary to President Jonathan’s statements, his campaign team has been pillorying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega.

    Some of the President’s supporters have been making inflammatory statements, including saying Dr Jonathan must win the elections or the nation will burn.

    But the President has always insisted that his ambition is not worth the blood of anyone.

    Yesterday, the President said he would not be part of any Interim Government, an idea he described as treasonable and alien to the Constitution.

    He also affirmed that the March 28 and April 11 dates picked for the general elections will remain sacrosanct.

    Dr. Jonathan and Cardinal Onaiyekan spoke at the opening mass for the plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Garki, Abuja.

    The President said he would not head an Interim Government, which can only be set up by a military government.

    Besides, he said an ING will not be acceptable to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN).

    He said: “There is no way Goodluck Jonathan, elected by people with clear mandate, will now go and head an Interim Government. The only interim government anybody can constitute is that of the military government which, of course, will not be accepted.

    “ECOWAS, AU, UN won’t accept it. And Nigeria will not be a pariah state. Clearly, the insinuation of interim government to me is treasonable.”

    Stressing that the postponement of the elections was a blessing in disguise, he said: “Elections will be conducted as scheduled by INEC.”

    “Look at what happened in Gombe on February 14… If the elections had been held, the casualty figure after that attack in Gombe would have been great. It is better for us to conduct elections that will not be contested, elections that are credible, free and fair.

    ”We believe no criminal element can come and prevent us from conducting our elections. I will not do anything because of personal interest; that would jeopardise the interest of this nation.

    Jonathan also faulted utterances that overheat the polity and portray Nigeria as being at a point of going up in flames.

    “When I listen to how some of us politicians talk… but God is supreme, this nation will survive”, he said.

    He also thanked Christians for the prayers for the nation, adding that the whole world was going crazy because of the bloodshed by terrorist groups, including Boko Haram.

    Cardinal Onaiyekan urged President Jonathan to call his aides and supporters to order so that they will desist from poisoning his resolve that elections will hold on the new dates – March 28 and April 11 – set by INEC and to ensure that the May 29 inauguration of a new government remains sacrosanct.

    According to the Archbishop, personal insults and caricature should give way to national discourse that will benefit all.

    He said: “Good families make a good nation. We can go even further to state that a good nation should be a family of families. The diversity of our nation is well known. But that is no reason why we cannot see ourselves as belonging to the same national family.

    “Apart from the fact that the things we have in common far outweigh our differences, even those differences need not be causes for conflict and friction. If we acquire the habit of respecting one another, then our differences can become beauty to celebrate in harmony.

    “Politics is very much in the air. It is a notable and sacred task meant to serve the common good of the family that is the nation. The hot competition between political parties should not make them forget the common objectives that everyone should be pursuing: justice, peace, prosperity, harmony, good order, building a nation we can all be proud of, etc.

    “The differences are in strategies and priorities. These are what should be presented to us, positively and transparently, to guide our free choice at elections.

    ”There should, therefore, not be room for negative campaigns. Personal insults and caricatures should give way to rational discussion of issues that concern us all. Truth must be sacrosanct even in politics. Lies, deceit, calumnies cannot move us forward.

    “They are the hallmarks of the bad politics which have not allowed us achieve the high level that we deserve as a nation. These are what builds tensions, heat up the polity, spreads dangerous rumours and cause deep distrust among rival political groups. All this is not in the interest of our people,” he said.

    On the rescheduled elections, Cardinal Onaiyekan urged politicians to use the extra time to mend fences.

    He also warned that the new dates should not be violated to avoid dire consequences.

    He said that while the president has promised that the elections will hold on schedule and that May 29th remains sacrosanct for a new government to take over, he urged him to caution his supporters not to poison the air.

    According to him, the dates are declarations by the President and he should be given  the benefit of the doubt.

    He said: “However, one judges the wisdom or even justice of the postponement of the elections, we should commend the political parties for patiently accepting a ‘fait accompli’ that seriously disrupted the plans – and maybe even budget – of many of them.

    “The nation will nevertheless be better served if we use the unexpected extra time to work for better outcome in our elections. Can we spend the time left to change attitudes, repair broken relationships and build trust? For example, Mr. President has declared publicly that he is committed to a free and fair elections. While we believe him, we hope that he will not allow any of his supporters to poison this his holy resolve.

    “In the same vein, he has declared that not only May 29 but also March 28 and April 11 are sacrosanct dates. There is no question of any new shift of dates. By the same token, he has excluded any idea of a much speculated ‘interim government’ for which there is no provisions in our constitution. These are sacred declarations from our President, which cannot be violated without the kind of serious consequence that is in nobody’s interest.

    “It would be better, therefore, that we give Mr. President the benefit of the doubt and stop sowing doubts that only raise tensions and create avoidable anxieties.”

    The Archbishop urged clergymen not to make reckless remarks and political  utterances liable to compromise their sacred role.

    He said, “The clergy should lead in this regard. As spiritual fathers to all for the common good, they should avoid reckless and politically partisan utterances, liable to compromise their sacred role and confuse the flock.

    “We commend and encourage our members to have decided to take on the apostolate of public life, in the spirit of service and not for selfish aims. As Catholic politicians, they should be witnesses to the truth, justice and peace that are the hallmarks of our Catholic Social Teaching.  If it is often said that ‘politics is dirty’, they should dare to be different, armed with God’s grace, and play a clean game, even at the cost of being declared losers at the polls.

    “As for the rest of… faithful, you are ambassadors of Christ to spread peace and harmony all around us. Reject and refuse to spread unfounded alarms, dangerous rumours, promote mutual trust and love, so that, together we can make our nation one united family under God our father.”

  • Call for Nigeria’s dissolution treasonable – Ohanaeze youths tell Northern counterparts

    Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has condemned the call by Arewa Youth Development Foundation for dissolution of Nigeria, describing it as a joke taken too far.

    It “is treasonable enough to warrant prosecution,” the OYC said.

    The youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo also described as “uncalled for and unconstitutional”, the call by the Arewa youths for Southerners in the North to leave within two weeks and for Northerners in the South to do the same.

    Briefing reporters in Enugu, the National President, Okechukwu Isiguzoro of OYC said it was shocking that at this time Nigeria was passing through serious security breaches, some misguided youth under sponsorship by fifth columnists could be making divisive calls inimical to their fatherland.

    Isiguzoro made it clear that Igbo youths were not under any illusion that the misguided Arewa youth were only smoke screen to the real architects of that treasonable call for secession, which the Nigerian state would resist with all its might.

    “Our concern about the shameful outing in the palace of Emir of Kano is that the youths of the region, who have been notoriously misruled for long by the same people that sent them on the dirty mission should have rather questioned their sponsors on their ignoble roles in bringing the region and Nigeria to its present situation.

    “The same people that foisted penury, deprivation and frustration on the innocent talakawas (commoners) of the North are now sending them mischievously on an errand that threatens Nigeria’s unity. Our message to the contemporary youths of the North is to resist the attempt of the fifth columnist and merchants of topsy-turvy politics to herd them into an ill-fated mission” he said.

    He observed that when some people refer to the North, they try to pull wool over the eyes of some gullible people whereas the truth is that majority of Nigerians from the Middle Belt are strong architects of a united Nigeria and have demonstrated unequivocal support to the measures presently being taken to address the insecurity problems and other problems of the nation.

    Isiguzoro noted that it was only few elements with rabid inordinate ambition that are hiding under the cloak of the North to cause confusion and chaos in the country, saying “we know these few elements that pretend to be the conscience of the North and we also know the true conscience of the North.”

    OYC also made it clear to the Arewa Consultative Forum that there was no threat to any Northerner in the South-East or Igboland.

    “Our attention has been drawn to a provocative warning against Ndigbo by the Arewa Consultative Forum, threatening to interfere with Igbo businesses in the North. This is also on the heels of the call by the Arewa Youth Development Foundation for Southerners to quit the North within two weeks.

    “This is a similar approach to the event that culminated to the unfortunate crisis of the middle of late 60’s when undue sentiment, emotional outburst and propaganda was allowed to take the better part of reasoning of some people in the North. Later, millions of innocent Igbos and Easterners were to pay the supreme sacrifice.

    “The truth is that there is no single threat to any Northerner in the South East or Igboland. They are here doing their normal businesses and unmolested by anybody. The Governors of the zone as the Chief security officers of their various states only took constitutional measures to safeguard their states against insecurity, especially in view of the recent discoveries and arrests of Boko Haram suspects in the zone. Do the Arewa people want the South-East Governors and people to keep quiet in the face of Boko Haram threat to the zone” OYC stated.

    But in another development, another group, the World Igbo Youth Congress welcomed the call by Arewa Youth for the dissolution of Nigeria in 2015.

    In a statement yesterday by its General Coordinator, Dick Izuora the congress while saluting the Arewa youth for their stand, suggested that the dissolution should even be done before 2015.

  • 2015: Every opinion is treasonable

    2015: Every opinion is treasonable

    One of the greatest tragedies of the Fourth Republic is the all-out assault on our national psyche. Each time we enter a new election cycle truth, reason and common sense become casualties. As the darker side of our leaders emerges it’s as if a wet blank has been dumped on the nation’s mood. There’s very little to uplift and all you read and hear depresses.

    We are ostensibly in a democratic dispensation, but never has there been a more anti-democratic temper in the land. Before our very eyes hard worn freedoms are being rolled back by temporary occupants of powerful offices, and Nigerians who are notorious ‘shock absorbers’ are casually taking it in their stride.

    Today, the most dangerous thing you can hold is not a gun but a contrary opinion. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his famous epistle to his erstwhile protégé, President Goodluck Jonathan, raised disturbing questions about the actions of this administration.

    Rather than limiting his response to the substance of the letter he received, he veered off into name-calling, bald insinuations and topped it by labelling Obasanjo’s missive a threat to national security.

    Several weeks before the letter-writing saga began this same administration accused the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) of treason – nothing less – over some statement the party issued!

    Ever since there has been no let-up in the flood of tirades and threats from ethnic champions and jobbers falling over themselves to attack anyone who dared criticise the powers-that-be. All this is coming at a time when even Popes are becoming leery of laying claim to infallibility.

    A few days ago, former Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasir El-Rufai, was hauled in by agents of the State Security Service (SSS) for making “inciting statements.” Apparently, at some forum in Abuja last week he had predicted that the 2015 elections could be bloody in parts of the country and many would lose their lives.

    With what is going in Rivers State today it is hard to see how that comment can faulted. Already, people are being beaten and bloodied for belonging to the “wrong political camp.” The continuing assault on gatherings of supporters of Governor Rotimi Amaechi by the police and hired thugs is a matter of public record. A senator, Magnus Abe, is recuperating in London after his body stopped rubber bullets allegedly shot by the police at one of the aborted rallies.

    Without any sense of shame, the Rivers State police command willingly provides security cover whenever the governor’s foes hold their own events. Mbu Joseph Mbu who presides over this partisan detachment of the “Nigerian Police,” is often quick with the mealy-mouthed response about Amaechi’s supporters not obtaining a police permit.

    The Police force is chock full of lawyers who cannot claim ignorance of the fact that both the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal have ruled that Nigerians do not need a police permit to enjoy what is their constitutional right. Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has written a treatise on this referring to the rulings of Justice Gloria Chinyere on a 2006 suit filed by the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), as well as a subsequent ruling on the same matter by Justice Olufunke Adekeye formerly of the Court of Appeal.

    This is supposedly a democratic dispensation yet court rulings are either ignored or disobeyed without consequences. This is the sort of sick system that our leaders are proud to preside over and bequeath to those who will come after them.

    Unfortunately, this lawlessness, this blatant rape of the constitution continues apace because the police carry guns funded by taxpayers on whom – in cruel irony – they are now turning them in groveling service of their current masters.

    Of course, it suits the Jonathan’s political agenda to destabilise his political foe and to keep Rivers in ferment until 2015 in the hope that this will enable him take the state. It is the selfish thing to do but is it the patriotic thing?

    The stakes are high and nothing short of outright victory will do for either side. That sets the stage for violence and bloodshed in a community with a background for militancy, and where there is mounting evidence that politicians are amassing arms for the coming showdown.

    The week the world mourned former South African leader Nelson Mandela, our own president was at his preachy best – flaying Nigerian politicians for not imbibing the virtues of the great statesman. Sadly, he too has not been preaching what he preaches. Mandela would not have allowed what is playing out in Rivers – i.e. giving winking approval for the police to abuse their powers in one corner of the country – just because it suits him politically.

    In reaction to the crisis in Rivers APC has now directed its lawmakers in the National Assembly to block budget passage and ministerial confirmation. The Presidency and PDP have responded by accusing the opposition of seeking to truncate democracy. Jonathan’s voluble Political Adviser, Ahmed Gulak, regurgitated the usual line about “playing politics with everything.” Talk about hypocrisy!

    What is Jonathan doing by allowing the situation in Rivers to fester if not playing politics? What is he doing with his new cabinet selection if not placing pawns on the 2015 political chess board? If the president as incumbent has power to manipulate the police and armed forces for his own ends, the opposition are within their rights to deploy their limited and new-fangled pull in the National Assembly to full advantage.

    It happens everywhere. Late last year the American government shutdown because the Republicans who controlled the House of Representatives used their numerical clout to frustrate a budget deal until the most powerful president on earth cut a compromise with them. American democracy was not demolished just because of the two-week plus showdown.

    In the same manner Nigeria’s faux democracy will survive any clashing of heads between the APC and PDP. Indeed, in an environment like ours where presidents want to reign like monarchs, only such confrontations can bring them to heel.

    If this is the only way to get Jonathan’s attention to sort out the mess in Rivers, then the opposition deserves the applause of all true patriots.