Editorial
Julius Abure, et al: Who will save the police in Nigeria?
On July 30, 2009, President Barak Obama, had a swing of beer with James Crowley, then a Sergeant at the Cambridge Police Department (CPD) in Massachusetts at the White House Rose Garden, a serene enclave bordering the Oval Office at the West Wing of the White House in Washington DC, the US seat of power.
That event, dubbed The Beer Summit, was to seal the end of the fence-mending procedure initiated to soothe frayed nerves between the President, his guest and the officers and men of the CPD that began on July 16, 2009, over the Harvard University professor saga, then raging across the country.
What happened? Henry Louis Gates Jr. a Professor with the US-based world’s prestigious institution was arrested at his Cambridge, Massachusetts, home by local police officer Crowley, a white police officer, who claimed to have received a call that somebody was trying to break into a house, but who on arrival, was confronted by the supposed offender, who claimed ownership to the facility.
Soon, the matter, was to spark off a national debate, when the university don, claiming inappropriate behaviour towards him by the said white officer, who went ahead to arrest him, regardless on a charge of disorderly conduct, linked it with racial profiling heightened with the waves it generated spreading across the country.
Obama practically exacerbated the debate when he was quoted as stating that Crowley “acted stupidly,” with the CPD union, calling him out over the statement, with Steve Killian, President of the Cambridge police patrol officers’ association, who debunked that race was a factor in the incident demanding an apology from Obama and Deval Patrick, the African-American governor, who also described the arrest as “every black man’s nightmare.”
Buckling against the backlash his comment attracted, Obama had to practically eat his words, first, admitting that he could have chosen his words more carefully, said: “Because this has been ratcheting up and I helped to contribute to ratcheting it up, I want to make it clear that in my choice of words I unfortunately gave the impression I was maligning the Cambridge police department and Sergeant Crowley and I could have calibrated those words differently.”
If that statement, from the POTUS, leader of the most powerful country in the world, was not a straight apology, the beer summit, with Obama, Crowley and Gates, as well as Joe Biden, then Vice President, now the current helmsman, watching, was a clear euphemism for it.
Now, what does this mean? The clear answer is that, that the job of that police officer is so protected that not even the President has any power outside what the constitution of the United States bestows on him to make any snide comments about him, not to talk about any form of punishment, including sacking him.
In fact, given the scenario that played out, Obama’s job was more threatened and at risk than any hint of the officer losing his. Any suggestion from the POTUS of further action against him could constitute an impeachment offence, because it could be construed as attacking the police formation, a major institution of state, and therefore, gross misconduct, punishable by removal. That was how serious it was for him to beat a retreat and call for truce.
Now, juxtapose that with the scenario in Nigeria. Imagine that it was a Nigerian President that made that comment credited to Obama. That same policeman, a mere Sergeant, would have been thanking his stars if the matter ended with just losing his job within minutes, simply on the strength of that obvious displeasure of the number one citizen.
A whole President chiding a police officer? Most of his colleagues would probably have been clamped into detention where they could be forgotten even without the President taking any further action. Their superiors would have since stepped in to ensure maximum punishment.
Else, what could have given rise to the funny incident last week in the arrest and detention of Julius Abure, National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), by the authorities of the Zone 5 command of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), if the police in Nigeria, just like many organisations, is an independent institution, with loyalty to the people rather than some vested interests pulling the strings from outside?
Listen to Tijani Momoh, spokesman of the command: “I wish to confirm the arrest of the factional chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure and four others. It has to do with a written petition that was endorsed by the AIG Zone 5 from the office of the Inspector General of Police. There are video clips, recordings of the petitioner being assaulted, being beaten when he came home last year to conduct ward matters.
“It is a case of attempted murder, conspiracy, illegal possession of arms and other related offences. They were also in possession of firearms; a short gun and three rounds of ammunition. Investigation is ongoing. They were just arrested today. More details will be provided later.”
Now, assuming that the same petition was written against Abdullahi Ganduje, National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), what are the police likely to do? Will they as much as acknowledge the paper it was written on? Would they order him to sit on the floor or drag him while sitting on the floor, as was seen in the video capturing Abure’s treatment in their hands?
But not even an imbecile needed to be goaded in believing the incident had much to do with politics as officials of the LP allege, than it is connected to crime. In other words, what was at play in that odious episode, is likened to the biblical hand of Esau and voice of Jacob.
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the party in last year’s election captured the oddity more succinctly, writing on his X platform: “My stance on this matter remains unwavering but does not explain watching the distressing image of our National Chairman lying on the ground in the name of arrest. This act is undesirable, demeaning and unequivocally intolerable and must be condemned by any decent and civilized mind within the context of our present civic landscape in Nigeria. These deplorable actions epitomize the pinnacle of rascality and serve to egregiously tarnish the already regrettable perception of our nation as one plagued by lawlessness. Such behaviour must not only be denounced but also actively addressed to uphold the principles of justice and respect for the dignity of the individual within our society.
“Regarding the circumstances surrounding Mr. Abure’s arrest, it is crucial to emphasize that while constitutional authorities must be allowed to execute their statutory functions, officers must adhere to due process, civility, decency and established arrest procedures, embody civility, decorum, respect for the dignity and rights of citizens, and, above all, the presumption of innocence before the law. It is crucial to emphasize that as a leader within the Labour Party, Mr. Abure represents, both personally and statutorily, as the incumbent Chairman of the LP, the face of political opposition in Nigeria. Most importantly, political Parties are institutions of democratic statehood and ought to that extent be accorded due respect.”
Come to think of it, at what point in the Nigerian sad story, were the police as an institution or individually not a major contributor or enabler. Was it in the humiliation and brutalisation of political opponents such as attributed to the case of Abure, or policemen running away with ballot boxes as was the case in the last elections, as captured in Rivers State or suppression of even killing of citizens during civil protests that arise from discontent over election heists?
The question, then is, at what point would the police in Nigeria come to terms with the reality that even as enablers of the sorry state in Nigeria, they are equally victims. At what point will they realise that in being alive to their duty to the state rather than powerful individuals and groups, they will ultimately free themselves from bondage. Who, indeed will save the police in Nigeria?
It began less than 10 minutes after taking the oath of office. In his address to the nation, he uttered those three-letter words – subsidy is gone. The ink with which he signed the documents declaring him President was yet to dry.
That was it. From that moment, Nigerians have known nothing but poverty, tears and death. It was a declaration that came out of impulse rather than articulacy. It was not even contained in his original speech prepared for the occasion. But it sprouted out – from a rash, unthinking and impetuous mental construct.
But the effect was instant, the impact direct. From that moment, Nigerians have never known peace. Every thing took a cue. Minutes after, the news broke that the price of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol had jumped from N189 to N550. It was that instant. Today, it hovers around N1,500.
The effect: Within minutes, transportation cost quadrupled. So too, commodity prices. Caught unawares, marketers, who had earlier thought it was a day of the rains as customers rushed to their shops, soon became suspicious and then got wiser – these were not ordinary customers but smart alecs playing a fast one on them.
They stopped selling, retrieved the items they could from those who had not disappeared with their goods and closed shop to study the situation properly. Hours after, they responded. A plate of eba and soup, went up from N200 to N1,000. Prices hit the rooftops.
In fact, the vehicle transporting what used to be Nigeria, which had been moving at a horse and buggy pace in the days of Muhammadu Buhari, stopped abruptly, engaged the reverse gear and began galloping backwards. That has remained the ugly, parlous tale of the Tinubu days, since May 29, 2023.
Now, the expectation would be that the President and his government that wrought such a horrendous punishment on the polity, would themselves take some blows. But nada! Instead, the opposite was the case. Within months of plunging the citizens into the untold hardship Tinubu went on a binge, spending money – in the words of Olusegun Obasanjo, former President – like a drunken sailor.
Few weeks after, as Nigerians were reeling and gasping in pain from the impact of their new situation, 469 newly-minted Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), rolled out from factories in Japan, where they were produced into the premises of the National Assembly for the just inaugurated members.
Put the cost at N100billion – that is N160million for each unit, plus other charges. Reason: The lawmakers needed the vehicles because of their good suspension system, to navigate the so many bad roads in Nigeria. Yes, you heard right. How could they think well and make good laws after the hassles of the bad roads? Tinubu saw reasons, acquiesced and voila!
But it did not end there. Tinubu suddenly realised that Kashim Shettima, his deputy, needed a new home “befitting” his new office. Pronto! A voucher of N21billion was raised and he had it. Till date a haze still hovers over the project.
The last news that was heard was that Number Two refused to take residence because the entire environment, including the toilets was wired to the teeth to monitor him. And Number Two needed privacy.
Again, in the same weeks, Oga Patapata, also realised that Madam needed to transport more comfortably. Pronto! It was arranged. Another voucher was raised for cars for the Office of the First Lady. Cost N1.2billion. Of course, madam needed the comfort for peace at home.
Naturally, since transportation is not done by land alone, he also took care of that. For the sea, a yacht was procured. Cost N5billion. Because the birds in the presidential fleet were not good enough, Tinubu did the needful.
He enriched the fleet with the one befitting of his status and had it transformed to mimic the US Air Force One. To complete the status symbol project, he also added a replica of The Beast, the US presidential automobile.
Ironically, the funds used in procuring these luxury lifestyle, came, not out of productive ventures of Nigeria, but through borrowing. Today, Tinubu has practically borrowed Nigeria blind, doubling or even tripling that of his predecessors.
Meanwhile Nigerians had upped the ante from mere groaning and skreiching. Citizens, unable to take it anymore, now stop their hitherto sleek vehicles on the Third Mainland Bridge and plunge into the Lagos lagoon to end it all. The option is now more rampant than remote and occasional.
Many others, taking the Socrates option, now drink hemlock and many more simply sleep off without any intention of waking up. That is where we are. That is the new Nigeria – the Tinubu Nigeria. But there is more.
Terrorists and the landlords of the forest, having now discovered that the Commander-in-Chief has other fancies than security and welfare of the people – the constitutionally-declared primary purpose of government and scant regard for the citizens, have practically gone haywire. They have taken over and established their authority.
Presently, outside those wantonly slaughtered or butchered in their homes like animals at the abattoir, incinerated alive while sleeping on their beds, among other forms of decimation, many more citizens are now spending months, going to years as victims of captivity with them in various forests in Nigeria.
In their rampage, the terrorists have since broken all barriers considered out of place hitherto. One of their escapades is the present videos of the school children and teachers taken from Oyo State. The gory imagery captures the current Nigerian story.
For instance, on Thursday, just as the sound of heavy celebration was going on in neighbouring Ogun State as the world marked the Ojude Oba yearly carnival, two of the victims, one of them with a toddler on her back, were pleading for their lives, as others went through various forms of torture, including heavy whipping like beasts.
Don’t forget that the terrorists had earlier slaughtered one of their colleagues. In the new video, the totally terrified women, informed that they had chosen another victim to be similarly eliminated. Yet, no word about rescue! Terrible!
Interestingly, if not painfully, Tinubu’s response, in the few cases he bothered, was to see the crisis through the politics lens. His most recent reaction was to tell the world that the harvest of attacks and carnages ravaging the country, were sponsored by his political enemies, intent on shoving him out of power. That to him was all that mattered.
Now, where are your powers as C-in-C? They are mostly found in the most disgraceful economic and political acts of impunity. Nigerians now waking up to hear of the award of brain-dazing contracts such as the N15trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Badagry-Maiduguri Highway – with scant regard for official regulations, is now becoming more common than rare.
Few days after one of the teachers was beheaded and the video of the hideous act made to circulate on the social media, the President and his All Progressives Congress (APC), party, rolled out the drums of his winning the party’s ticket to contest the 2027 presidential election.
To say that it has been three years of weeping, wailing, mourning and gnashing of the teeth, is a clear euphemism. There is no starker way of putting it than calamity – pure, unmitigated catastrophe – disaster.
Then comes the big question. Nigeria is already breasting the tape of these ruinous years of the first term. Suppose Tinubu succeeds in renewing his tenure by January next year? Will Nigeria survive five more years of a life like the last three? What will be left of Nigeria? Is there a way out, outside shouting – God forbid!?
Now that Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has fully executed his plot against Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, where would it be placed in terms of identity, nuances, ethos and history? Where would it be placed in democratic arrangement and value? In other word, by what name would it be called?
So, this is what President Bola Tinubu’s much-advertised democratic credentials is all about? This is what being listed among the arrowheads in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), the body that fought relentlessly against the late Sani Abacha and his henchmen has finally come to?
Is this where “The Last Man Standing” – apologies Tony Elumelu – has ended up? So, after wedging an epic battle for and through Lagos State, against then President Obasanjo and practically defeating him, even if perceptibly, in all the struggles – such as running government without federal allocation for years and surviving the political onslaught that took away other South West states like a tsunami, it has come to this?
Don’t forget that it was this selfsame Tinubu that served as the bastion of opposition in Nigerian politics from when he was Governor of Lagos State, not only standing up against Obasanjo, but undertaking the relentless battles that led to the All Progressives Congress (APC), winning the war eventually in 2015.
So, this is what all the struggles, the speeches, the colloquia, the meetings and the strategies have come to – the end result? So, the definition of democracy, to Tinubu, is selling the dog to buy a monkey – replacing democratic bad-behaviour with democratic-heist? So, this is it?!
Make no mistake about it. What you saw play out in Rivers is nothing but Tinubu at work. It is all about him, it is for him. Never make the mistake of adorning Wike in the toga of a powerful man. That would be a fatal error of judgement. Every power he exercises, real, imagined, inferred or contingent belong to and are exclusive to Tinubu.
Take away the President and Wike would turn to a political meek-lamb or a jellyfish. Fubara would have eaten him for lunch a long time ago. So, Tinubu it is – the reason the klieglights must be beamed on him. That is why he must carry the can in this odious construct in Rivers in particular and the entire Nigerian political scenario in general.
With the picture that assaulted Nigeria regarding the APC primaries that have just held, what is different from the edition we saw in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of old? Is it not worse or the worst in real and imagined terms? What then has Tinubu been fighting all these years?
Incidentally, where we have Wike today, we had Lamidi Adedibu, the Amala Politics exponent, Tony Aneni of the Mr. Fix-it fame and the Uba brothers in Anambra to whom the political firmament in Nigeria once bowed, among many plethora of examples.
So, there is nothing really new about the development, but for the fresh dimension that has been introduced into the narrative by the Wike phenomenon, which is totally novel. Before now it was a case of one behemoth in a political party rampaging the system.
But today, it has gone beyond that. Wike has developed the penchant for taking no prisoners. In his own strange construct, he has now coalesced the entire APC and PDP structure into his shoulder basket, from where he dispenses favours.
Imagine Kingsley Chinda, purchasing APC governorship election form, as a PDP federal lawmaker without first resigning from his original party. That is how wacky it has become. Wackier still is that nobody – not even the APC apparatchik has been able to raise a finger. Why? Obvious answer – the Tinubu factor.
Now, here is the danger. By the heist in Port Harcourt adding to the sequence of political oddities and absurdities since the Tinubu years, it has become obvious that Nigeria is headed towards a Paul Biya’s Cameroun, a Yoweri Musaveni’s Uganda and Zimbabwe under the late Robert Mugabe.
Tinubu, has shown obvious incapacity to tackle the parlous economic crisis in the country with 150 million Nigerians plunged into multidimensional poverty and many more growing the list daily, while also displaying uncommon powerlessness towards addressing the debilitating state of insecurity.
Under his nose citizens are daily being forced from their homes into the forests by terrorists, with some of them taken from their crutching positions, positioned before the camera and slaughtered – heads cut off like animals at an abattoir and video images freely displayed on social media.
Yet, by what has now happened in Rivers State, it has become obvious that Nigerians are not being factored into the whole equation and if they were, scant regard is paid to their opinion, ending in their powerlessness to change the situation. That is the tragedy!
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