The principal partner, Chinenye Chambers, Abuja, Amobi Nzelu Esq, in this interview with our man, Ekunkonye Junior, while marking the Yearly New Yam festival, in his residence in Abuja, says, among others, the government in power did absolutely nothing to cushion the effects of sufferings of Nigerians.
Can you speak on the arrangement of 10 out of those who participated in the recent #EndBadGovernance protest by the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in a Federal high Court in Abuja?
The duty of Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is to protect lives and properties, arrest suspects or persons that might have committed an offence and bring them before court of law within a reasonable time, as allowed by the 1999 Constitution.
I don’t know the evidence available for the prosecution to arrest those people for treasonable felony, mutiny and inciting people against Mr President. We all in this country are all aware that there was a protest against bad governance. We are also aware that this matter happened in many states in Nigeria. We are also aware that the government of the day did absolutely nothing to cushion the effects of sufferings of Nigerians.
Evidence defeats argument, with charges of among others, inciting the public against tMr President, treasonable felony and mutiny, do you think that the accused can be free from the charges?
Yes, if there is evidence available to the prosecution that will make them succeed in that case, so be it, but the question is, treasonable felony, the consequences are very grave. Mutiny is a military language and I don’t think that you can see it in our criminal statute book. Inciting Mr President, I don’t know how they incited against him. That is why I am saying that I don’t know of the evidence at the disposal of the prosecution, before they were arraigned before a court.of law.
You must have enough evidence to prosecute them successfully. They may not, some may be because they don’t want them to make a name, or mark or to sound a warning to other people, that we can arrest, arraign you, even though we don’t have evidence to prosecute you. That is the issue, but let us see how it goes. But I am aware that the court is yet to grant them bail.
What is your advice to the IGP on the matter?
Ans: Well, he is doing his work, but I don’t believe that he is doing his master’s voice. I don’t know, I don’t know, all I know is that it is very simple. The rest is, let him: be thorough in whatever he is doing and; do the needful. If those people are found wanton, let them be prosecuted, but let there be a level playing ground, for them to put up their defense.
How do you see another planned protest from October 1st?
It has been a rumour that they are coming back from October the 1st. But my belief is that before that time, Mr President might have said something to them, or they might have seen what he is doing to cushion the effects of hardship in the country. Today, a litre of fuel is N1,000. You see, let us not pretend; let us look at ourselves in the eyeballs, there is hardship on the land. People are hungry and dying.
In your opinion, what do you think that should be done to curb things such as protests for this country to move forward?
I have said it time without number, unless we look inwards, and apply what I call financial hygiene in everything we do, this country may not move forward. Firstly, 469 people that constitute about .00025% are holding this country of about 2million at ransom, because of what they take home and they constitute about .05% of the working population in this country.
You see, if you want to address the issue, don’t address its symptoms, address the issue itself. You don’t treat symptoms of malaria, treat the malaria itself. This Jonah in the ship of the state, which is called corruption, must be thrown overboard, for the ship to stabilize. The money that is being taken away via corruption, is very enormous. Unless there is a reorientation of the way of our reasoning and thinking, I don’t think we shall see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The nation is bleeding. Few people are living in absolute aggrandizement, while the masses are in the streets of Nigeria, hardly getting what to eat and young girls capable of being our daughters are there going for customers. And 469 people are there holding the country at ransome and nobody want to see it or say something. What is the wisdom in buying a vehicle of N160million for each legislator that has no Volkswagen, before getting into the senate.
Let us tell ourselves the truth. You don’t encourage pleasure you can’t afford. No more conscience in what we are doing in life and does it mean that conscience is dead? People are feeding from the dustbin and you are happy about it in a country that God has blessed with resources. It is painful.
Does it mean that Nigerians live no good legacies behind?
No! I saw it in the news where Enugu State governor visited a 92 year old renowned musician, Mike Ejeagha and commissioned a road and named it after him, because he left a good legacy. I wonder how many politicians this will be extended to. This is the type of what I want to be in life; by the time you are aging, people will be coming to visit you and say when you were there, things were alright for them. Ejeagha, a musical legend, played music and he is being remembered for that.
One man of God went to him, dashed him money and appealed to him to pray for him. These are symbolic things. Some people, if you mention their names, people will not want to pass through their houses. Peter Obi as Anambra governor, was paying salary to each member of Rangers International Football Club, for playing football for Nigerians and Obiano gave Emma Okala an appointment. Leave a legacy that at your old age, people will say, this is a good man, let me go and appreciate him. When you eat your breakfast, lunch and dinner at the earlier hour, I wonder what you will eat when the night comes.
