My People: Happy New Year....
But why might a government be UNHAPPY with a mere public commentator like Prof. Okey Ndibe? This may be for one of several reasons:
My People: Happy New Year....
But why might a government be UNHAPPY with a mere public commentator like Prof. Okey Ndibe? This may be for one of several reasons:
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1. he has (once or repeatedly) criticized a particular government policy;
2. he told a truth (that the government would rather not let the world know); a lie or untruth (once or repeatedly) about a government policy or official;
3. he (once or repeatedly) abused a particular high government official.
4. he asked (once or repeatedly) for the removal of general political support for a government-in-power - as in during the next elections.
I am quite certain that Okey has done one or more of the above, yet none of them should cause him to be stopped at the border when entering or leaving the country. Criticism - even severe one, whether truthful or dishonest - abuse, and preference of alternate government are part of politics, while correcting the lie or untruth is all that need to be done before a government moves on.
But why might a commentator be justifiably STOPPED at a border?
5. Only if he has REPEATEDLY (not even just once) asked for violent reaction (including mayhem and murder) to a government or its functionaries, AND has demonstrated a followership willing to obey him, AND that has obeyed him once or more times.
This is INCITEMENT to violent or murderous outcome cannot be tolerated in any society by the government-of-the-day, even if we agree that it is a fascist one. Even a progressive one will not tolerate it. It is the only basis that I can see for a commentator to be STOPPED at the border, whereupon he should be charged for INCITEMENT for actual mayhem along with those others who ACTUALLY caused the mayhem, not just warned.
Then why might a commentator be on a WATCH-LIST at a border?
6. He has ONCE or REPEATEDLY asked for violent reaction (including mayhem and murder) to a government or its functionaries, but has NOT demonstrated a followership willing to obey him. That is, NO ONE has acted on his incitement.
In that case, when stopped, he should be told PRECISELY why he is being stopped and being warned.
Note that I have emphasised above is about a MERE PUBLIC COMMENTATOR, not one, who, in addition to public commentaries, is
7. a spy for a foreign government; and/or
8. a gun runner with an intent to war against the government or murder someone; and/or
9. a crook (financial, etc.)
10. any other overtly criminal activity (eg rape, money laundry, etc.)
In that case, criminality has become a handmaiden to his public commentaries.
Those who arrested Prof Okey Ndibe in Nigeria within the past few days should tell us PRECISELY why he was stopped - for example which of the above ten examples or others he is guilty of - and who else is on the watch list that Okey was on. Merely releasing him - welcome as it is - is clearly not enough.
Those are my thoughts; yours are welcome.
And there you have it.
Bolaji Aluko
Public Commentator
[email protected]
Burtonsville, MD, USA
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