Is it or isn't it time to declare a new war on indiscipline ?
Cornelius Hamelberg
I’m choosing my words carefully, responding to stiff upper lip Auwal Musa Rafsanjani’s latest, ”CISLAC CONDEMNS “ and Professor Jibrin Ibrahim’s tear-jerking and rather ominous, if not insidious, maybe also downright treasonous appeals in this USA Africa Dialogue Series, his piece entitled “Regime Change “, so I’m trying to kill two birds with one stone, if you'll kindly permit the expression.
As Professor Ibrahim fully understands, it’s a fair testimony to the status of Human Rights, Democracy and Freedom of Speech in Nigeria at the moment, that he as a resident citizen of Nigeria dares to pen an article which seems to be even remotely supporting, advocating or suggesting “Regime Change “ in the Democratic Federal Republic of Nigeria. As he himself knows all too well, if he had been a resident North Korean in North Korea, a resident Iranian or a resident Nigerian Professor in the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a wise man he would have thought more than twice before writing an article in any way desirous of Regime Change in the Islamic Republic, although, true, as the Quran has stated, those who believe are not afraid - by all means a Quranic truism which might mean that in Professor Jibrin Ibrahim’s case whether he believes or believes not, and despite what could undoubtedly be be his “Civil Courage” I believe that he would most likely stick to the advice in the Shakespearean adage “Discretion is the better part of valour” - and at this point I’m not sure whether or not the adage could be slightly adjusted to also mean “Discretion is the better part of wisdom ”, because sitting in Abuja’s equivalent which is Tehran, and writing a diatribe suggesting “Regime Change” in Iran would most certainly assure him a speedy journey to the gallows as the next stage, the end stage, the last stage, the terminal of his inevitable journey to the everlasting bonfire // Jahannam, in the Hereafter, but, of course, over there in Abuja, he may shmile and tell us that “Cowards die many times before their deaths”
This whole issue of violence, violent demonstrations, lawlessness, street violence everywhere, we could begin by declaring a war on indiscipline with regard to the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans’ violent rampage and hooliganism in Amsterdam and its aftermath this weekend, this time, as usual, of course resulting in the traditional “self-defensive” pious, holy, self-righteous cries of “anti-Semitism”, as if unaware that - in the words of Rev Bob Marley, ”For every little action, there's a reaction” ( Satisfy My Soul). The nightmare was widely reported by the Israeli Media as “ Muslim Street Violence Against Jews in Amsterdam” as if the violence abruptly erupted, and without any reasonable or unreasonable cause. Inauspiciously, it all happened on the anniversary of what goes down in history as Kristallnacht. Apparently, there were no massacres - thank God, and there was no genocide, speak less of Holocaust, yesterday. The reaction in this morning’s Dagens Nyheter editorial is “ The new attacks on Jews show why Israel must exist”
Back in Nigeria, it’s still always that something ain't never quite right, and that why It’s so easy to be in opposition, to be anti-Government, and it’s easier still for those who instead of counting their blessings, feel better chanting Karl Marx mantras, self-identifying as part of the lumpen lumpen proletariat, the downtrodden and part of the revolutionary forces in the trenches at the cusp of victory and about to crush the last stages of capitalism
Going back to what I experienced first hand in Nigeria during Brother Muhammadu Buhari's First Coming, perhaps it's time to declare a new WAI - a new War Against Indiscipline as was declared by him and the late Great Tunde Idiagbon, early in 1984 -,that fortuitous year in the annals of Nigerian history.
In some civilised democracies, those who want to protest or demonstrate, for whatever cause, first obtain permission from the Police , in order to congregate, to demonstrate . It’s difficult to fathom Professor Ibrahim’s reasoning here, when he says that “These were people who did not know one another, and yet they were supposed to be in a conspiracy.” Did those who stormed the Bastille , or those who stormed the capitol on January 6, 2021. “ know one another? They must have of course been united in purpose. That it was clandestine, secret or a conspiracy/ a plot/a plan / planned/ accidental, spontaneous combustion of the forces that had gathered for that specific purpose etc is quite a matter of definitions according to Nigeria’s criminal code of conduct.as is indeed the definition of “child”, “minor” , and “children” as some of the so called “minors”/ arsonists are said to be married , and with children..
No matter how you define conspiracy, what we all know for a fact is that the demonstrations were premeditated. planned ,and it was advertised that the 1st - to the 10th of August would be 10 Days of Rage -what was not absolutely clear prior to the commencement of the planned 10 Days of RAGE was whether the rage was going to be peacefully expressed or not, whether the rage was going to be peaceful or violent. The lawyers and law enforcement officers have plenty of evidence of the extent to which the 10 Days of Rage took a very violent turn with extensive video footage available on the websites of the protestors and their organisers .
And these are the very important - outstanding aspects of the whole nightmare that’s missing in the agitations of these two heads of NGOs, Professor Jibrin Ibrahim and Musa Auwal Rafsanjani, the fact that these were by no means peaceful or peaceable demonstrations against alleged “ Bad Governance” - on the contrary, they were far from peaceful - they were indeed violent, very violent, riotous, replete with setting vehicles on fire and stoning law enforcement officers etc….
In the name of law and order, how is any responsible government supposed to deal with that kind of violent insurrection?
Abidogun, Jamaine M
Dear Cornelius,
“In the name of law and order, how is any responsible government supposed to deal with that kind of violent insurrection?”
If Nigeria and other many countries actually invested in their justice systems and security forces through consistent support and training with a dedicated goal to serve and protect (not harass & take bribes), the answer would be simple, but it like others has not practiced such due diligence for decades now.
If it did the simple answer is through due process as instructed through the constitution and judicial systems’ established statutes and protocols. They did not shoot any of the rioters at the White House on January 6th who scaled its walls, looted its halls, threatened even the Vice President’s life, and killed police officers, yet brought scores of these attempted coup rioters to court and provided all the rights and processes available to any defendant based on due process. People can be held accountable in a civilized and humane manner regardless of the spectacle, threat or carnage they caused in the name of protest. No one beaten or otherwise tortured or starved while in custody. That is the mark of a civilized democracy, even when the protestors are clearly attempting to overthrow the government.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rGmsXweEV0 January 6th Insurrection.
The only flaw I see in this process is that those with the means, wherever they happen to exist, circumvent the very constitution and judicial systems that they expect to protect their rights.
That’s my piece to peace.
Cheers,
Jamaine
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