EL-ZAKZAKY: Impunity & The Slide To Anarchy
Report filtering in is on the clash, today, between protesting members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN and the Nigerian Police Force in the federal capital territory, Abuja.
For long, since the last five years, the members of the IMN, who are faithful of the Shiite leader, Ibrahim El-zakzaky, have consistently being staging loyalty protest and demanding the release of their leader, who has continued to be in detention even after been granted bail by courts of competent jurisdiction.
Mr El-zakzaky have suffered incarceration, together with his wife, since 2015 when he was arrested by the Nigerian government for the inciting activities of his followers during one of their Qudd procession. The matter was taken to a federal high court, where the Islamic leader sought for and was obliged a bail.
However, for whatever reason, and stoutly in defiance of court order, the federal government of President Muhammadu Buhari has refused to actuate this bail order. Repeatedly, the Shiite movement as the IMN is otherwise known have approached the court and successfully acquired bail reliefs, and repeatedly too the government remain adamant, insisting on holding the cleric against judicial wisdom.
Subjected to a state of incommunicado and with a fledgling health condition, supporters of the elder cleric troop out continuously en masse to demand for the release of their reverred leader. And as often as they gather in protest, so often they're cudgelled by the government forces. And always, it is an attempt that's met with stiff resistance, most times turning bloody.
But the recent protest in the FCT today is not only one too many but obviously one which took lives, and the lives of high profile personality. One of such persons is a deputy commissioner of police, DCP Umar, who many claim is a fine gentleman and the other is a young graduate, a journalist on national youth service assignment with Channels television.
While the later, Precious Owolabi, was killed by stray bullet as he covers the protest for her place of primary assignment, the former was shot in a cross fire.
Sad and gloomy as the day could be, the deeper question that prod is what is the underlying basis of this constantly bloody protest and couldn't there be anything done to entirely stop it. Fortunately, the answer to this question could be found so easily. But rather unfortunately, in one such inflicted unfortunacy, the easy solution to this has been stood upon.
How on earth would a government not respect the verdict of its institution, saddled with the responsibility to adjudicate in criminal and civil matters such as this? What adequate ground does the Muhammadu Buhari government has in keeping El-zakzaky and wife in custody even against wise counsel of the courts?
In the face of such impunity, such disdain and such outright disregard to sensibility, what is expected of victims, who are continuously traduced by the insensitivity and blatancy of government? What does the executors of the law expect from those who the law is supposedly meant to defend?
The anarchy being unleashed is the expected result of a situation when government allow people to take laws into their hands. And this is what is mostly unfortunate!
For long, since the last five years, the members of the IMN, who are faithful of the Shiite leader, Ibrahim El-zakzaky, have consistently being staging loyalty protest and demanding the release of their leader, who has continued to be in detention even after been granted bail by courts of competent jurisdiction.
Mr El-zakzaky have suffered incarceration, together with his wife, since 2015 when he was arrested by the Nigerian government for the inciting activities of his followers during one of their Qudd procession. The matter was taken to a federal high court, where the Islamic leader sought for and was obliged a bail.
However, for whatever reason, and stoutly in defiance of court order, the federal government of President Muhammadu Buhari has refused to actuate this bail order. Repeatedly, the Shiite movement as the IMN is otherwise known have approached the court and successfully acquired bail reliefs, and repeatedly too the government remain adamant, insisting on holding the cleric against judicial wisdom.
Subjected to a state of incommunicado and with a fledgling health condition, supporters of the elder cleric troop out continuously en masse to demand for the release of their reverred leader. And as often as they gather in protest, so often they're cudgelled by the government forces. And always, it is an attempt that's met with stiff resistance, most times turning bloody.
But the recent protest in the FCT today is not only one too many but obviously one which took lives, and the lives of high profile personality. One of such persons is a deputy commissioner of police, DCP Umar, who many claim is a fine gentleman and the other is a young graduate, a journalist on national youth service assignment with Channels television.
While the later, Precious Owolabi, was killed by stray bullet as he covers the protest for her place of primary assignment, the former was shot in a cross fire.
Sad and gloomy as the day could be, the deeper question that prod is what is the underlying basis of this constantly bloody protest and couldn't there be anything done to entirely stop it. Fortunately, the answer to this question could be found so easily. But rather unfortunately, in one such inflicted unfortunacy, the easy solution to this has been stood upon.
How on earth would a government not respect the verdict of its institution, saddled with the responsibility to adjudicate in criminal and civil matters such as this? What adequate ground does the Muhammadu Buhari government has in keeping El-zakzaky and wife in custody even against wise counsel of the courts?
In the face of such impunity, such disdain and such outright disregard to sensibility, what is expected of victims, who are continuously traduced by the insensitivity and blatancy of government? What does the executors of the law expect from those who the law is supposedly meant to defend?
The anarchy being unleashed is the expected result of a situation when government allow people to take laws into their hands. And this is what is mostly unfortunate!
Comments
Post a Comment