April 23, 2010
The choice of a presidential system in administering and governing a young political society like Nigeria poses enormous challenge for each individual. As you may recall Nigeria is a nation that is independently, soon to turn fifty years having experienced and practiced forty years of the parliamentary system of government.
It is true that the parliamentary way of governance is equally an ‘Oyibo’ or Eurocentric democratic system but it less dictatorial in its power, more accountable to the people, making it less complicated for the people to comprehend.
In fact it is much more multi-social in its political behaviors, and less speedy in matters that call for quick decision making, as such it more akin to our customary, multi-relational and long drawn way of seeking resolutions to matters. Sir, here lies your problem.
Certainly, you will agree like many thoughtful people, that the presidential system with all of its sub-systems like the anti-corrupt police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) inherently clutch, control and wield enormous executive power.
In fact you were the executive and the almost-one man power that crafted and helped implement the policy that led to the 1995 national drug policy which exists to this day. Sir, you will further identify with the authoritarian nature of the American style of executive rule which as a Governor you used to deal and reduce many economic stresses in Delta State. Such is the nature of the executive hand.
However, one thing you need to know about or ask from any American-based Diasporan Nigerian is the nature of a presidential government as it relates to law enforcement or national security.
It is so powerful that that its leadership and the various agencies it directs can use its executive powers to maneuver, move over, even and go around legislative or judicial rules.
When a presidential system of government concludes that one individual or region, wrongly or rightly, poses the possibility of raising a constitutional crisis or national panic to a people, any kind of supreme action is usually taking immediately.
Paradoxically or ironically, a presidential government, when it is effective knows it is being watched by the international world when it unfairly tramps on the right of a minority or a citizen—no matter how allegedly or legally offensive or politically oppositional is the individual.
Sir, it now a reality that you face another set of legal problems. As a reminder you once faced 170 charges in 2007 and from the eyes of the court you won the case against the government in 2009. All the government did in response to the court ruling was to appeal the case; such is the nature of presidential system of government.
No matter how some humans in the society vexed or negatively felt about your winning, open violence or possible bloodshed did not follow, and thank God for the police security around you in the last two years.
Now, what almost happened on that faithful Tuesday in your home town, Oghara almost resulted into major national security disorder as there were reports of the police who reportedly had arrest warrant for you, were ambushed by your ‘home boys’ in a manner that was reportedly violent.
Given the powerful nature of the executive system of government, a crime of in citing violence could be raised against you, even though you may not even be involved directly, this they could do just because they could assert their criminal codes or aggravate you more—this you surely don’t need at this time.
Also, while it is no open fault of yours, the reported protest by full blown naked adult women, an understandable expression of swift anger, leave a bad taste about our people, with regard to public and international sanity, as it relates to children particular.
Sir, most sensible people are fully aware of some of your concerns, for example, the apparent confusion of the EFCC as it relates to the conflicting letters of inviting you while at the same time declaring you wanted. If this was an innocent mistake, the government owes you and/or your attorneys immediate or a future apology.
They do owe you an act of contrition, since no matter how powerful a presidential governmental system is, the basic rights and integrity of an individual remain paramount.
There was also the conflicting reports about the court with regard to the presiding judge issuing a restraining order on the EFCC not to arrest you. This misunderstanding could be put to rest now. As in every democratic society the presiding judge, through the court’s public relations officer should invite the press (print, internet and other electronic media), and read as well as explain the exact court ruling on this mater.
In that in every executive or presidential system, a president is supposed to be very active, direct and exposed ( not just subordinates constantly speaking or reading un behalf of the president) to the people.
Given the national importance of this case and its sensitivity, the stand-in president, Goodluck Jonathan should come out immediately, to comment on this case, only if to assure the public of peacefulness and call for the respect of the rule of law by every one involved in what one might now call your case—the Ibori affair.
We saw how the world’s authority on presidential system of government, Barack Obama invited two people into the White House in July of last year for beer, in order to calm a simple disagreement over arrest issues, and to subdue his reportedly irritating comments. Expectedly, Jonathan should take the simple steps of speaking before the media and to the public on the Ibori affair before it becomes a major national controversy or turmoil in the nearest future.
Sir, your case has spread out across the nation, around Europe and America, and no matter how you are portrayed by the authorities, you should believe that the government, from now on will be less impulsive, dramatic, and less over reactive on how they look for you.
The report that a roll of multiple armed police officers, in trucks and armored cars, battled into a struggling village like Oghara looking for you with regard to collar crimes such as fraud, tells about the still backward nature of policing in Nigeria.
Even worse was the reported leading role of a Deputy Inspector General of Police (what is a D.I.G doing in a small village like Oghara, looking for one man?, what happened to detectives known for their tactical detection skills and unexpected methods of arrest as long as they have legal warrant for arrest).
This extraordinary drama certainly makes the environment more provocative and offensive to the innocent villagers and trouble shooters.
However, now or in the future, the federal government in their capacity as an executive system will be looking for you as long as you have pending charges. But they must do this with some degree of sensitivity and professionalism.
This might seem tough with regard to a bold but a straight psycho-legal idea that will be now raised. However it is a dignified one and this is the right opportunity to act in humility; at least in the eyes of Deltans and those who love you, as well as before the national and international media.
Again, the world is already watching, no matter where you face the charges, in Nigeria or/and in Britain.
Take your self, peacefully along with your lawyers and report to a police station of your choosing, and say I AM CHIEF JAMES ONANEFE IBORI, FORMER GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT DELTER STATE, I AM HERE TO TURN MY SELF IN.
John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D, DABPS,FACFE is a practicing Forensic/Clinical Psychologist, and an Interim Associate Dean of Behavioral Science at Broward College, Coconut Creek, Florida. [email protected]
It is true that the parliamentary way of governance is equally an ‘Oyibo’ or Eurocentric democratic system but it less dictatorial in its power, more accountable to the people, making it less complicated for the people to comprehend.
In fact it is much more multi-social in its political behaviors, and less speedy in matters that call for quick decision making, as such it more akin to our customary, multi-relational and long drawn way of seeking resolutions to matters. Sir, here lies your problem.
Certainly, you will agree like many thoughtful people, that the presidential system with all of its sub-systems like the anti-corrupt police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) inherently clutch, control and wield enormous executive power.
In fact you were the executive and the almost-one man power that crafted and helped implement the policy that led to the 1995 national drug policy which exists to this day. Sir, you will further identify with the authoritarian nature of the American style of executive rule which as a Governor you used to deal and reduce many economic stresses in Delta State. Such is the nature of the executive hand.
However, one thing you need to know about or ask from any American-based Diasporan Nigerian is the nature of a presidential government as it relates to law enforcement or national security.
It is so powerful that that its leadership and the various agencies it directs can use its executive powers to maneuver, move over, even and go around legislative or judicial rules.
When a presidential system of government concludes that one individual or region, wrongly or rightly, poses the possibility of raising a constitutional crisis or national panic to a people, any kind of supreme action is usually taking immediately.
Paradoxically or ironically, a presidential government, when it is effective knows it is being watched by the international world when it unfairly tramps on the right of a minority or a citizen—no matter how allegedly or legally offensive or politically oppositional is the individual.
Sir, it now a reality that you face another set of legal problems. As a reminder you once faced 170 charges in 2007 and from the eyes of the court you won the case against the government in 2009. All the government did in response to the court ruling was to appeal the case; such is the nature of presidential system of government.
No matter how some humans in the society vexed or negatively felt about your winning, open violence or possible bloodshed did not follow, and thank God for the police security around you in the last two years.
Now, what almost happened on that faithful Tuesday in your home town, Oghara almost resulted into major national security disorder as there were reports of the police who reportedly had arrest warrant for you, were ambushed by your ‘home boys’ in a manner that was reportedly violent.
Given the powerful nature of the executive system of government, a crime of in citing violence could be raised against you, even though you may not even be involved directly, this they could do just because they could assert their criminal codes or aggravate you more—this you surely don’t need at this time.
Also, while it is no open fault of yours, the reported protest by full blown naked adult women, an understandable expression of swift anger, leave a bad taste about our people, with regard to public and international sanity, as it relates to children particular.
Sir, most sensible people are fully aware of some of your concerns, for example, the apparent confusion of the EFCC as it relates to the conflicting letters of inviting you while at the same time declaring you wanted. If this was an innocent mistake, the government owes you and/or your attorneys immediate or a future apology.
They do owe you an act of contrition, since no matter how powerful a presidential governmental system is, the basic rights and integrity of an individual remain paramount.
There was also the conflicting reports about the court with regard to the presiding judge issuing a restraining order on the EFCC not to arrest you. This misunderstanding could be put to rest now. As in every democratic society the presiding judge, through the court’s public relations officer should invite the press (print, internet and other electronic media), and read as well as explain the exact court ruling on this mater.
In that in every executive or presidential system, a president is supposed to be very active, direct and exposed ( not just subordinates constantly speaking or reading un behalf of the president) to the people.
Given the national importance of this case and its sensitivity, the stand-in president, Goodluck Jonathan should come out immediately, to comment on this case, only if to assure the public of peacefulness and call for the respect of the rule of law by every one involved in what one might now call your case—the Ibori affair.
We saw how the world’s authority on presidential system of government, Barack Obama invited two people into the White House in July of last year for beer, in order to calm a simple disagreement over arrest issues, and to subdue his reportedly irritating comments. Expectedly, Jonathan should take the simple steps of speaking before the media and to the public on the Ibori affair before it becomes a major national controversy or turmoil in the nearest future.
Sir, your case has spread out across the nation, around Europe and America, and no matter how you are portrayed by the authorities, you should believe that the government, from now on will be less impulsive, dramatic, and less over reactive on how they look for you.
The report that a roll of multiple armed police officers, in trucks and armored cars, battled into a struggling village like Oghara looking for you with regard to collar crimes such as fraud, tells about the still backward nature of policing in Nigeria.
Even worse was the reported leading role of a Deputy Inspector General of Police (what is a D.I.G doing in a small village like Oghara, looking for one man?, what happened to detectives known for their tactical detection skills and unexpected methods of arrest as long as they have legal warrant for arrest).
This extraordinary drama certainly makes the environment more provocative and offensive to the innocent villagers and trouble shooters.
However, now or in the future, the federal government in their capacity as an executive system will be looking for you as long as you have pending charges. But they must do this with some degree of sensitivity and professionalism.
This might seem tough with regard to a bold but a straight psycho-legal idea that will be now raised. However it is a dignified one and this is the right opportunity to act in humility; at least in the eyes of Deltans and those who love you, as well as before the national and international media.
Again, the world is already watching, no matter where you face the charges, in Nigeria or/and in Britain.
Take your self, peacefully along with your lawyers and report to a police station of your choosing, and say I AM CHIEF JAMES ONANEFE IBORI, FORMER GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT DELTER STATE, I AM HERE TO TURN MY SELF IN.
John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D, DABPS,FACFE is a practicing Forensic/Clinical Psychologist, and an Interim Associate Dean of Behavioral Science at Broward College, Coconut Creek, Florida. [email protected]
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