Anambra Liberation Day: Between Abduction and Improper Arrest

By

Emeka Oraetoka

limpidresources@yahoo.co.uk

 

I actually resigned,

says Ngige, see interview

On C1&C3. Front Page report.

Daily Independent, February 2, 2004 .

 

It is now a settled fact that July 10, has come to signify the so called liberation day for the people of Anambra state, from the forces of, as they put it, godfathers who are bent on looting the treasury of the state. From the colossal congratulatory advertorials, goodwill  messages from some political  actors and with the manner in which almost all the National dallies reported the celebration proper, it appears obvious that Nigeria are beginning to accept July 10, abduction saga as the day that  should be celebrated.

 

If we may ask, was Governor Chris Ngige actually abducted on July 10, 2003 ? Can a constituted authority in actual fact abduct? What is the long-term implication of this notorious term, abduction, to the corporate existence of the entity called Nigeria ? Rational Nigerians may understand that since July 10, 2003 , the term abduction has gain wider currency. At least more than fifty cases of abduction have been recorded all over the country. The other time, it was reported that major Hamza  Mustapha was abducted from the prison by men of directorate of military intelligence (DMI). Not long ago, the same story of abduction was reported in Edo state PDP.  The case was the same just recently in Lagos State , where there was a clash between men of the Air force and their counterpart from the Nigerian police force. The Police authorities claimed that their men were abducted by men of Nigerian air force after the  clash. We can go on and on.

 

As reported in the front page of Daily Independent of February 2, 2004 , it is an established fact that the event that led to his so-called abduction was triggered off by the resignation letter signed by him.

Going into details as to the circumstances surrounding Ngige resignation is immaterial here, what should be noted is the fact that the governor accepted resigning as the chief executive of Anambra state. Now, in view of the fact that the game of abduction took place in PDP, the ruling party, what is the overall implication to the image of the party? The gist that appears to be on the lips of Nigerians right now is that PDP is a party of anything goes, in a nutshell, it is a party that harbours all shades of in-discipline. The latest claim by Ngige that the libration day celebration was not a party affair appears worrisome to the real PDPs’.  Ngige emphatically told the NWC of PDP thus:

 

“What we did in Anambra state as regards the Liberation Day rally is not a party affair, it is the Anambra peoples’ business”. Pundits are even of the view that Audu Ogbeh led faction of PDP’s leadership

may have tactically encouraged the celebration and that informed Ogbeh’s silence.  As things stand, PDP risk the possibility of disintegration if this abduction madness is not checked. What is the security implication of this notorious term that has dangerously creep into Nigerians consciousness? Constitutionally, the police force was formed to maintain peace and order in the society, in doing these, they are empowered to arrest, detain, prosecute and protect the citizens of the federal republic of Nigeria . Truly speaking, there are instances where police actions in the process of performing their functions fall below exception. To this end, anybody who falls victim of police over-zealousness usually seek redress in the law court, in this instance, the police could be accused of effecting illegal or improper arrest of the victim, but certainly not abduction, because as a constituted authority, they cannot and will never abduct. What then motivated Ngige’s claim that he was abducted? Is it a case of sheer brinkmanship on his part? As the chief security officer of Anambra state, is Ngige not aware of the security implication of his claim in Anambra state? The fact is that very soon, the people of Anambra state may come to see Nigeria police as bunch of abductors who should not be obeyed, the implication is better imagined. I think the most civilized way of going about this abduction saga is for Anambra state government to bring an action in court against the Police authorities, if it feels Ngige was abducted.

 

Objectively speaking, if a stop is not put to this notorious mantra- abduction, the whole country may leave to regret the end result. Like bush fire, it is now spreading, it may not be totally wrong to insist

that in no distance time, people may come to see Nigeria police as buccaneers, public enemy and never do good set of people that must not be obeyed or even listened to. The belief in some quarters right now is that very soon, anti democratic forces may translate the term “abduction” into many Nigerian languages for easy memory.  When anybody has anything to do with the police, the fellow may even resist arrest. The police could be mobbed in the process. The fellow may claim that he cannot allow himself to be abducted, the obvious implication will certainly be Hobbenisian state of nature, "the war of every one, against every one". Anarchy will certainly become the order of the

day. Intellectuals should Just imagine this horrible

scenario.

 

Pronouncement: Governor Chris Ngige’s continuous claim that he was abducted on July 10,2003 , is clearly unhealthy for the entire country security wise, it should stop or be stopped. For Ngige, this comment by

Antonio in Shakespeare will suffice: “the Duke cannot deny the course of law; for the commmodity that strangers have with us in Venice , if it be denied, will much impeach the justice of the state, since that

the trade and profit of the city consisteth of all nations..."

 

Emeka Oraetoka

 

Information Management and Media Relation Consultant.

Writes from Garki - Abuja .