Abuja — The recent crisis in Jos has once again revealed the impiety in some men's heart. I say "some men" because, I don't' concur with the view progressively gaining momentum that, "all men are wicked".

If you have a strong dissenting opinion over this cliche, I won't bring a railing accusation against you, because the recent happenings in Jos leave us all dumbfounded at the attitude of man at the slightest provocation. I still struggle to wonder how a man with a human heart, not a dog's heart, could muster enough courage to chop off the head of his neighbour he has lived with for years; or to lock a family, I mean - father, mother, and five children in their own house and burn them alive. Only for the perpetrators to rejoice and clap their hands at their supposed bravery, brandishing their weapons with ecstasy as though a divine mandate has been accomplished, while the helpless victims burn slowly to death in the human ignited inferno. What else can I say? Does the story of the youth corper who called the dad few minutes before his death, expressing his fears as he saw his slaughterers marching towards him, ring a bell?

I wonder, not because I have no read the history books about such animalistic proclivity- but in the 21" century, right before our eyes, is what my soul strives to comprehend. It is on record that Nigeria has over 550 tribal groups, with each of course, bearing its singular interest. In response to this, there is a Constitution that seeks to curtail each singular interest not to manifest at variance to another's interest or the nation's collective interest. Some residents have confided that beyond the political smokescreen that there exists a religious undertone. Nevertheless, is it a justifiable reason to kill and loot?

It is at this juncture the constitution 'comes to aid. Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria entitles . every Nigerian a right to life and none is to be deprived of this right intentionally. It is a fundamental breach for another to kill a fellow citizen of Nigeria because his religious book says so. Section 38 empowers any citizen of Nigeria to choose any religion of his choice. No one is to be forced to belong to a sect he does not want to. The constitution says, this freedom "can either be alone or in community with others, and in public or in private, to manifest and propagate his religious or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance" . Furthermore, Section 10 says the government of the federation or a state shall not adopt any religion. The combined effect of Section 10 and 38 gives the Nigerian, the audacity and unquestionable right to practice his faith anywhere, I repeat anywhere. This· Law has not been amended. It remains the law.

I cannot but end with this apt and succinct extrapolation of the power of the constitution by Justice Niki Tobi in the case of A.G Abia v. A.G Federation (2007) lCCLR SC 104 at 169 -170, where he stated thus;

"The constitution of a nation is the fons et origo, not only of the jurisprudence but also of the legal system of the nation. It's the beginning and the end of the legal system. In Greek language, it's the alpha and omega. It is the barometer with which all statutes are measured." Let the Law take its course and let the earth be silent.