History is replete with great names of ordinary persons who will not compromise truth or their conscience, in defence of their faith or what they perceive is Just! These extraordinary souls, no matter the threat to their well being or even to their lives, refuse to tolerate injustice to themselves or their fellow men! In Nigeria, these martyrs of our political freedoms and democratic growth, we must celebrate with appropriate flair! And even teach their martyrdom to our youths in schools! What, for example do Nigerian youths today know of Ken Saro-Wiwa or Abiola? Who died for our political progress!
History is replete with great names of ordinary persons who will not compromise truth or their conscience, in defence of their faith or what they perceive is Just! These extraordinary souls, no matter the threat to their well being or even to their lives, refuse to tolerate injustice to themselves or their fellow men! In Nigeria, these martyrs of our political freedoms and democratic growth, we must celebrate with appropriate flair! And even teach their martyrdom to our youths in schools! What, for example do Nigerian youths today know of Ken Saro-Wiwa or Abiola? Who died for our political progress!
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It takes an unusual, almost hallucinatory vision to change our society for better and to rectify Nigeria’s body politic! And that visionary prophet of change cannot emerge from the People Deceive People confraternity! Success in this bid, by whatever means, confirms the true national greatness, of that prophet of change – witness the Rawlings of Ghana! Mugabe of Zimbabwe! But should your change attempt fail then you become a treasonable felon, ready for execution! Or at best reduced to a mere leader of the Opposition, with enough bitterness to incite rebellion – witness Buhari and Babangida, who cannot forget their past successful forceful seizure of government. Their search for this past ‘glory’ of yesterday’s tyranny, drives them now to preach the tenets of Democracy! Anything to regain Power! After which, what? Return to another Dele Giwa who dared to expose the pretext and short-comings of the government and disappeared in the process; or the silencing of Fela Kuti by killing his mother? Not to mention Abiola and his wife, Kudirat, who dared to reclaim the people’s mandate to rule when the military’s insatiable appetite for power was at its peak.
The truth of course is that ‘military coups’ are no longer internationally popular or acceptable – witness Salou Djibo of Niger! So the Armed Forces now co-operate with past masters of retired officers, to ensure indirect participation, in a Civilian Democratic Government! And to make the illusion complete they enthrone compliant civilians into positions of power, from time to time – witness late Musa Yar’adua, Sanusi and lately Jonathan, while David Mark hangs in the wings! Next time round, by rotation – PDP style – to North Central Zone! And if, per chance, anyone challenges this contrived political programme, then the Heavens will fall! The challenger simply disappears – witness a mere civilian Bola Ige, who declined a three year ministerial bribery of a job and threated to neutralize a Presidential Major-General, politically! What cheek, bloody civilian!
Alas, Nigeria is approaching the threshold of a failed State. If anyone seeks confirmation of this failure, they need look no further than at the Nigerian Judiciary! The legitimacy and structural stability of our country has been systemically eroded by the Judiciary’s appetite for Graft! We have now arrived at the auctions where Justice – particularly electoral justice – is for sale! This disgraceful dance, unfortunately, empowers only the rich, most of whom have been looting the State’s treasury, in military uniforms, since Nigeria’s independence; co-partnered with civilians, who at their behest continued the exploitation!
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When, however, a judicial officer like Justice Salami becomes President of the Court of Appeal, then a major nuisance and obstacle to their illicit jamboree of a State, becomes an intolerable peril! ‘Salami must Go!’ becomes the war cry! But this man, Salami, is only trying to infuse judicial life into a near terminal expiration of a failed State! This resuscitative effort, instead of drawing applause from President Jonathan, our avowed gentleman Democrat, there is the deafening silence of the grave! Why? Because Salami, cast from a different mould, has decline participation in the Ruling Party’s electoral larceny which keeps them in power in some States. We thank God for the courage of this man who is determined to free Nigeria from the clutches of unelected leaders and not compromised, even with the lure of promotion to the Supreme Court!
Because of INEC’s redefinition of the electoral process by Jega, the people’s choice is often ignored, as in Delta, Sokoto, and Anambra States, and Judges are expected to ratify the Ruling Party’s choice at Election Tribunals. This, Judge Salami will not play!
Old Democrats like Balarabe Musa, Olu Falae, Alex Ekwueme and Bisi Akande speak up, support the truth as of old and there maybe salvation yet for Nigeria!
God help Salami! God save Nigeria!
Barrister Atake Mukoro
14 Afiesere Road
Ughelli
Delta State
20th August 2011
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