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Contempt Ex Facie Curie. Has Citizen Olusegun Obasanjo Finally Lost His Mind By Anthony Okosun
President Olusegun Obasanjo is today the biggest single threat to Nigeria's democracy. He has been conducting himself like the proverbial lunatic in a china shop. Olusegun Obasanjo was in Abacha's gulag when Nigeria fought for the present democratic dispensation, which he alone has had the unique priviledge of leading for the past eight years as executive president. Could it be that because he was in the slammer when many Nigerians were killed and many were forced into exile to attain this present democracy dispensation, Olusegun Obasanjo does not value nor realise the importance of the present democratic era to Nigerians.
All Nigerians are aware that as soon as General Sani Abacha died Olusegun Obasanjo was released and many billions of naira voluntary contributed by the rich and powerful to enable him ascend to the nations highest seat of power. Could it be that because Olusegun Obasanjo got the presidency on a platter of gold, he does not place any value on the lofty trust Nigerians have reposed on him.
Nigeria is a multi ethnic and pluralistic conglomeration of varied entities. The best systems for the Nigerian type of socio-political conglomeration is the federal system and separation of powers doctrine. Olusegun Obasanjo as President does not recognise that as the head of the executive arm of government he is not in any way or manner whatsoever superior to the head of the legislative branch nor the head of the judicial branch. The chief Justice of Nigeria and the Senate President and or the Speaker of the House of Representatives are co-equal with the President. However, President Olusegun Obasanjo like to dramatise this belief borne out of ignorance and military era hang over that he as president is superior to all other Nigerian public office holders. Separation of powers helps to create a check and balance among the various political branches.
The lawlessness and contempt of court that President Olusegun Obasanjo has been demonstrating all through his eight years presidency from unilaterally ceding Bakassi away without senatorial approval to his present penchant for ridiculing the courts and in the very recent case embarrassing and throwing a challenge to the hallowed supreme court should give all well meaning Nigerians serious course for concern. The Supreme Court ruled that the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) should re-instate one Ararume as the party's gubernatorial candidate in Imo state. Suddenly, the party expelled the said Ararume and Ahmadu Ali, then party's national chairman, and President Olusegun Obasanjo travelled from Abuja to Owerri to announce the expulsion of the said Ararume from the PDP. Even non lawyers recognise this act as contempt of court. Indeed, this act of showing disdain for the court outside the courtroom, but disrespecting the order of a competent court, anyway , is contempt ex facie curiae.
Is President Olusegun Obasanjo suffering from post presidency depression already ? Has he lost his mind ? Has his imagination of himself as Nigeria's absolute and imperial majesty overcome his sense of reality? Are his overt demonstration of disregard for court orders and disdain for even the Supreme Court a cry for help from mental health experts? The Supreme Court must handle President Olusegun Obasanjo with utmost care, until after the elections, until after he relinquishes power, and until after he has no more immunity. Nobody want to send a wrong signal to the military boys. We must make every sacrifice necessary to protect our nascent democratic experiment, even if it means suspending President Olusegun Obasanjo's punishment season by the Supreme Court.
President Olusegun Obasanjo has been overheating the polity unjustifiably, in a manner that has been worrisome, weird and bizarre. INEC, the national electoral body is the President's alter ego. INEC is a shameless errand boy of the presidency. Qualified Nigerians are disqualified from contesting the elections by INEC for laughable and whimsical reasons. The President's political enemies are hounded by the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) while his buddy thieving Governors and Council Chairmen (Mayors) are given state protection. While all responsible statesmen, leaders and the people are praying, interceding and talking about peaceful elections, President Olusegun Obasanjo is gallivanting the farthest and nearest regions of Nigeria , boasting and threatening about "Do or Die Elections".
Among the Esan people of Edo state, Nigeria, there is a popular saying "When the Okro plant has grown too tall for it's planter, the planter will hold it by it's stem, bend it and harvest it it's fruit anyway. Moral of the story is: The Okro's height does not make it greater or more powerful than the farmer that planted it. President Olusegun Obasanjo must realise, that power comes not from man, secret society or cult, not from East, West North nor south. In accordance with the Holy Bible, power comes from God. God gives power to whomsoever he wishes, God elevates whomsoever he wishes and humbles whomsoever he wishes. Man cannot be more powerful, nor greater than his creator. Man is given power by God in trust. Man must not abuse the power that he has received from God in trust.
It is a dangerous thing to fall into the correctional and awesome hands of their living God. Citizen Olusegun Obasanjo must choose whether to humble himself or allow the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God, in his eternal and flawless majesty to humble him.
Anthony Okosun (tonyosun@yahoo. co. uk) writes from the U. S. A.
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