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The Tompolo
Lesson - A government that is disobedient to the courts will
breed citizens also disobedient to the courts - Snakes breed
Snakes; Rats breeds Rats; Mango breeds Mango; this is a
natural outcome; this is the lesson that President Buhari
needs to draw from the Tompolo saga.
We are all
witnesses to the lawlessness of the State forced on Nigeria
by APC and its government. There are citizens of this
country languishing in detention despite court rulings
ordering their various freedoms. APC and its government have
chosen to force on us all their corrupt contraption of a
"Rule of Law" instead of the Rule of Law dictated
by the constitution and laws of the Federal Republic.
The simple
fact is this; if citizens fear that the courts can no longer
protect us from the excessiveness, tyranny, and recklessness
of government, then many would opt for self help. It makes
no sense at all to demand that citizens answer to the law
when the law can no longer protect the citizens.
Now, Mr.
Government Tompolo reasoned that much when he ignored the
invitation of the law; even the warrant of court for his
arrest; reportedly on the excuse that the government will
not honour the directive of the court regarding his rights.
The issue
is not the truthfulness or otherwise of his assertion. The
issue is that in just seven months of the APC Government, we
have moved so backwards on the issues of law and order that
ordinary citizens would rather resort to self help than
submit to the summons of the law. This is a far reaching
indictment of the ruling party and Mr. President; nothing
else speaks more to such glaring lawlessness of this regime
than this singular outcome.
We note
that when ordinary citizens can no longer trust the
government to defend and protect their rights; when the
institutions of justice can no longer enforce the will of
the law on the government; when the pleas of citizens
against tyranny can not be assuaged by the law; then anarchy
looms; ditto, Mr. Government Tompolo.
PPP is
constrained to call APC to order; to call President Buhari
to Order. The interest of this nation is far beyond the
interest of the President, his party, or any other person
for that matter.
To claim
that the fight against corruption is more important than the
enthronement of the Rule of Law is errant nonsense; even
common sense tells us that it is evil to throw away the baby
with the bath water.
Signed:
Dr. Damian Ogbonna
National Chairman |
