SIR: The recent nocturnal raid on Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho’s residence by the operatives of the DSS brings to the front burner once again the propriety or otherwise of the federal government’s attempts to arrest the growing security challenges plaguing the nation.
Good governance at all levels should aggregate elements of due process, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, equity and a host of all that such elements in the decision-making process as well as the execution of such decisions. In doing that, government should always demonstrate consistency and without duplicity of its intent.
There is no doubt that the efforts of security agencies in tackling security issues across the country are currently being overstretched as a result of the multiplicity of security flash points nationwide. Be that as it is, measures being taken to curb security challenges must be seen to be consistent and appropriate, no matter what part or section of the country it is arising from or even the individuals involved.
A cursory look at recent security issues and the response of security agencies to them will fail the test of the much-desired consistency of approach. Certain prominent individuals, even a sitting governor, have openly canvassed and defended the activities of bandits and kidnappers, dismissing their heinous actions as merely for pecuniary gains. An Islamic cleric has asked for amnesty for bandits, and openly negotiated with them for ransom on behalf of kidnapped victims.
Whereas these are bandits that kill and maim, that have made children orphans, produced widows and widowers, displaced communities, disrupted academic activities in schools, halted farming activities with the resultant threat to food security besides generating widespread fear and panic, the DSS and other relevant security agencies of government did not deem it necessary to interrogate such individuals. That is why the action of the DSS with reference to the siege on Igboho’s residence do not pass the propriety test. After all, the purported fear of the planned peaceful protest in Lagos is for reasons of possible breakdown of law and order which may result in the loss of lives.
Whereas bandits are daily snuffing life out of innocent and defenceless Nigerians; and those highly placed Nigerians who defend their actions walk free! What is good for the goose is good for the gander. We should recall that a sitting president in this country accepted defeat in his bid for a second term in office during announcement of election results, to forestall the loss of lives, as his mantra had always been that the loss of any life is not worth his presidential ambition.
Government exists basically to guarantee safety of lives and the welfare of its citizenry in accordance with sections 14-2(b) of the constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria. Further, sections 33 through 46 that deals on Fundamental Rights clearly show that the action of the DSS contradicts those sections of the constitution. That is why majority are in support of the recent call made by Professor Wole Soyinka that the DSS should apologise to Sunday Igboho because the ill-conceived raid on his residence infringes on his fundamental rights.
If this government is not endorsing impunity and adorning the garb of sectional interests and oppressive tendencies, it should do the needful, retrace its steps and in the interim drop all charges against Igboho. That is the way to go if this government truly embraced the ideals of good governance is said “o refer to “structures and processes that are designed to ensure accountability, transparency, responsiveness, rule of law, stability, equity and inclusiveness, empowerment and broad-based participation “.
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Samuel Oyiborhoro, Sapele, Delta State.
