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Opinion:
BY OLUWOLE OLADIPO
In every society, there are three types of people…the creators, managers, and destroyers- Both the creator and manager could be either positive, or negative, in their creative/managerial roles, abilities, and dealings, in the material world. But, the destroyer has no duality of purpose, rather than just being negative, in whatever ways/forms.
However, whenever the destroyer tries to be positive, it’s always for certain ulterior motives, self-interests, and predetermined purposes…often ending in crises/disasters, especially, while dealing with a positive/conscious creator(s), or manager(s), in such a society,…details on this, later!
However, the essence of this piece is to let you…ooooh yes, you u…in particular…that is reading this piece…to know, in your heart of hearts, where you belong to, and the role you had played…still playing, (in getting us to where we are, today, as a nation)…and will, eventually, play in the future, (2027 in view), as a citizen, or an institution…either positively or negatively…as you deem it fit, and not God…but your choice…with huge prices, and dire consequences…either ways…as usual, thereafter !
It’s very disheartening that the few destroyers in a retrogressive society, often leverage on the support of the majority citizens, the misapplication of the oppressive state instrument of cohesion, and weak institutions, to perpetrate/perpetuate their evil acts- If not, former Rivers State Governor, now Federal capital territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, should have been arrested by the police, and prosecuted, long time ago, for so many democratic infractions without any consequence!
His Excellency, Nyesom Wike, was someone I so much admired…a public figure in my heart, in the past…for the yeoman’s critical, and assertive opposition role he played, along with the former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, during the first term of former President Muhammad Buhari, in 2015. But, how does one, now, justifiably explain the statement by a Federal minister, in the media space, that, as the Rivers State Governor, he single-handedly bought the nomination forms for all the Rivers State elected political office holders, from the wards, local, state and national assemblies, including his successor, now suspended, Governor Fubara? (probably from the state treasury!). And such a misdemeanor…anti democratic norm is, still, being eulogized and celebrated by some people, in a supposedly to be a democratically sane society?
Earlier, in 2023, His Excellency, Governor Wike, had threatened the PDP Presidential Campaign Trail, not to come to Rivers State, (When, political campaigns are fundamentals, in any thriving democracy!)- But for the statesmanship, magnanimity, and elderly posture of the PDP 2023 presidential candidate, His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, who prevailed on PDP Presidential Campaign Council, especially the party youths, to cancel the Rivers State Campaign…it could have become a bloodbath, indeed!
Equally, if not for the later crisis between Wike and Fubara, people would not have known that Wike was, actually, the one dictating/teleguiding the Rivers State affairs, and even nominated over 90% majority of the commissioners, and other political office holders, six months into/before the crisis…having pushed Fubara to the wall, with threat of impeachment, for a full fledged total control!
Injustice, unfairness, and lack of equity, have always been the bane of an unstable society- Or how could one reconcile, and explain the collaborative efforts, or the coincidences, in the Supreme court’s laying much emphasis on the destruction of Rivers State house of assembly complex, and which President Tinubu, equally, reemphasised, in his River state emergency rule proclamation?
The questions begging for answers are: Had the Assembly complex demolition been litigated upon, and culprits identified, by the lower court and the appeal court ? Was it, really, part of the prayers before the Supreme court?- One is presumed to be innocent, until proven guilty…is the judicial norm/parlance.
If yes, where were, then, the adduced evidences before the Supreme court ? or could court judgement be based on mere public sentiment/outcry, which former Chief Justice, Ariwoola, had, once, publicly detested, and pronounced against, in his statement during the Atiku’s presidential elections case against Tinubu’s certificates, in 2023…that judges’ judgments could not be swayed by the public opinions, without presentation of justifiable evidences ? Hence, one cannot be the accuser, prosecutor and the judge, in such a criminal case!
A society is, gradually, being destroyed, when leadership, and various institutional frameworks, tend to be weak, by bending their respective laws, rules, and regulations, towards dispensing justice to the different categories of citizenry.
Yes…pulling down, any state house of assembly was really out of place- It was politically naive, on the part of Fubara’s supporters that, allegedly, did that- And Wike’s supporters, too, that, allegedly, maimed the people, and burnt down some local government secretariats, during the LG elections, organized by Fubara, (which the Supreme Court, eventually, nullified). Both alleged acts of Fubara’s, and Wike’s supporters, were, sincerely, irresponsible reactions to political issues/grievances…that the necessary institutions (Especially, law enforcement agencies), should have been responsive to…by nipping them in the bud.
However, why highlighted that of Fubara by the President, and the Supreme court side comments…with heavy judicial implications…while condescending that of Wike to political history? Why did the Executive…President Tinubu…find it difficult to enforce the Supreme court judgement, by not calling Wike to order, or River state house of assembly speaker…..to allow Governor Fubara present the year 2025 State budget, in obedience to the Supreme court judgement…like the President’s intervention in the recent Lagos State’s house of assembly speakership crisis? Why should the Executive emergency rule proclamation be a norm…with a retired naval officer as the head…rather than the Supreme court 2025 budget presentation judgement…in a country that prides itself on democracy?
These are some of the BIASES, INJUSTICES, and DEMOCRATIC INFRACTIONS that set a nation back, and often ablaze…on a democratic journey…for destruction! (May our attitudes/actions forbid…and not God, we often used, as an ‘Alibi’, in the end!).
