Funke Aboyade
1 December 2008
column
Lagos — Amazing, isn't it, how the Police high command has thrown vigour, resources and men into the Nuhu Ribadu agenda. In the meantime, armed robbers have taken over the country. In the last two weeks alone, it's been terrible news of their daredevilry from Lagos to Ibadan to Ekiti and elsewhere, and the destruction and death they've left in their wake. At least twice in those two weeks I've been in areas where the robbers struck, shortly before they did.
Perhaps if, just if, the Police high command could devote the same amount of time, men and resources as they have in trying to cut Ribadu to size we could at least have some law and order return to the land?
These days I get very nervous and edgy if I have any business to transact in the bank; I have one eye on the door trying to figure out if the person coming in could be an armed robber and another eye on where I can dive for safety. And then, even when you're out going about your normal business you're praying not to become a statistic, another victim felled by stray bullets, unfortunate to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The state of siege we're currently under reminds me of the Wild, Wild, West - those who grew up in the '60s would remember the very popular cowboy TV series. I don't think we're much better off now. Law and order have broken down, the Police are clearly overwhelmed and it's every man for himself and God for us all. To be fair, one must acknowledge the brave acts of some of them in facing those robbers at the risk of their lives. One must also commend in particular, the response time of the RRS in Lagos - I phoned the 767 emergency number (put in place by Governor Fashola's Security Trust Council) during one of the sieges and my call was promptly picked up by an operator who assured me they'd already received calls on the attack and had sent their men out there, which indeed, they had. But still, the fact remains that even with all this Lagos is hopelessly under-policed, with some 2,500 men for 15 million residents.
The country is in a state of anomie. Protection of life and property which is the most basic duty of any government to its citizens is sorely lacking.
Where is the President's rule of law in all this? And does our servant-leader really care about the rest of us? We only hear about the rule of law from the President or his foot soldiers when it's time to hound a Nuhu or offer some wexed (I made that word up) logic as to why state protection is given to public officials, former or serving, who should otherwise be at great pains explaining to a court of law the source of their wealth.
The rule of law. That term again. There's no getting away from it, it seems. With all that's been going on in the country, we thought it expedient to devote some attention to it. A substantial part of this week's edition of LAWYER is devoted to President Umaru Yar'Adua's rule of law or lack thereof
Post Script:
The Abuja carnival has come and gone. Bare breasted maidens as well as nubile, seductive dancing ones were all part of the troupes which took part in the cultural fiesta. I'm not complaining. But shouldn't Senator Ekaette who is bent on the passage of the so-called Indecent Dressing Bill be? After all, those dancers were right on her doorsteps in Abuja
Not to worry, her bill if it actually makes it to an Act will in its brief life time (brief because it will undoubtedly be challenged and struck down willy nilly by a competent court as unconstitutional) have the Police, armed with tape rules, rulers et al, out for the next carnival to haul the delectable beauties to jail where they will, hopefully, have plenty of time to purge themselves of any further thoughts of traditional dressing and dancing.
Of course since the Police will be too busy arresting the scantily clad dancers, that would leave the field free(er) for armed robbers to continue their siege with even less hindrance
But then again, I suppose our law makers won't be too bothered about this since they have their own Police escorts, convoys, bullet proof cars et al.
Re: Ribadu's Humiliation is ours too
I have just read your piece from the Thisday newspaper of November 25. I thought the argument you made was extremely well-balanced and thoughtful - not joining the "Nuhu can do no wrong" camp but neither supporting his absurd demonization. As someone who has worked with Nuhu I believe there were a number of "flaws" in his approach (for example, his seeming inability to delegate to his subordinates the authority they needed to undertake their tasks and at times his almost messianic zeal - which could cloud judgment and make winning allies difficult) but on balance (as you observe) he was someone to be admired and emulated.
If Nigeria is to free itself from the scourge of corruption and financial crimes, the posting of Nuhu to Edo as an administrative officer (and the posting of Lamorde his former deputy to the most obscure part of Bauchi state) is a huge waste of human resources that have been developed in the battle against corruption as both have unique knowledge of both practice and strategy.
Furthermore, as someone who has been living and working in Nigeria for the past 5 years - this whole saga has simply made it even more difficult to convince those outside Nigeria that Nigeria is serious about anti-corruption and that it is a place that is good to both live and work. More power to your pen.
Dr. Bob Arnot, National Programme Manager/Security Justice and Growth Programme, Abuja
(Written in a personal capacity and not representing any official view or the view of the SJG programme).
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