The postulations of George Orwell, the author of Animal Farm, a classic that portrayed the revolution in Russia played out recently in Nigeria. It was a case of class and power in Niger State, North Central Nigeria. Quoting George Orwell; “All animals are equal but some are more equal than others”. The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, during a burial ceremony ordered one of his aides to slap a cleric who volunteered to pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased they gathered to bid final farewell. Bago, in a video now gone viral ordered his aide, “Slap him, very well. I said slap him. Go and arrest him. Deal with him well-well.”
Not done yet, the governor also made a statement in Hausa, when translated into English means, ‘’l have power”. Surprisingly enough, those who were present at the scene of the incident laughed over the shameful episode, while some who had the courage just giggled and hissed away. That was all! We know that our governors and other political leaders, paid with tax payers’ money have powers, even to kill those that elected them. This show of power at the burial ground is a clear sign that some of our leaders have lost it. Nigeria, we hail thee! That the gathering of the people could not deter him to do what he did in his state shows how low some of our leaders can descend, and what to expect from the so-called political stalwarts.
It is gross abuse of power; such that we have never seen in the recent past. This high handedness and reckless use of power should not be glossed over. We call on the National Human Rights Commission and other civil rights organisations to intervene in the case and ensure that justice is done. The shameful aspect of this behaviour is that it was carried out against a harmless and hapless Nigerian who, probably, went to commiserate with his leader. Whereas such powers have not been unleashed against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups that are wreaking havoc, and causing sleepless nights in the zone, the governor failed to restrain himself from unwarranted use of power.
Indeed, it’s a crying shame! This kind of development in our democracy is worrisome. The behaviour of the governor actually means Nigeria is completely captured by those we lined up in the rain and sun to vote for. What was the offence of the young cleric? Does praying in a public gathering have anything to do with age and position in the society? As it stands, was the young cleric’s fundamental rights of freedom of worship and association not trampled upon? What charges would be preferred against him in the court of law, and for the DSS operative who was directed to manhandle the cleric; was he supposed to drag him away on the floor like a criminal? It is also good to know how long he was detained, if at all he has been released.
This is a test case for the Judiciary, whose role it is to determine when a citizen’s right is violated, especially at a time when people feel the Judiciary has been compromised. This type of behaviour by our public officials underscores why the bill for state police is yet to be signed into law, by our lawmakers. Some hold the view that with state police, the governors would do unprintable things just like the Niger State incident. Although, the number of those rooting for state police outweighs those who are against it, should it be properly put in place without the governor’s interference, we need to emphasise here that the problem of insecurity should be addressed. What the people need are leaders with the milk of human kindness and not those who would bully and trample on the rights of citizens.
There is nothing wrong with state police. Where the problem lies is the type of leaders our society is throwing up at every election cycle. What is happening in Rivers and Kano States also are show of power by individuals that became what they are today, owing to opportunities provided them by the people. It is only in Nigeria that an individual could become stronger than the state. This kind of power is not what our society needs, else, a time may come when these individuals will become uncontrollable. We condemn the humiliation and arrest of this young cleric, and call on the Niger State Government to ensure that nothing goes wrong with the young man. We want to remind the political leaders once again that Nigeria is no longer under the military rule.
Might therefore, is not right in a democracy. Citizens should be allowed to express themselves freely without intimidation. Arresting and detaining innocent people just because they are powerless is not what should be tolerated in our society. This is the time for better understanding between our leaders and the led, Nigerians should tell themselves the truth, that a governor of a state should be the chief servant of the people, and not a leviathan who goes about terrorising and intimidating those who made him what he is. Citizens must be protected, defended and not humiliated, for whatever reason!
