The official defection of former governorship candidates in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, to the African Democratic Congress brought these worrying and shameful antics to the fore again
It is believed that the Greek philosopher, Plato, postulated “the rule of law” paradigm. Whereas he, Plato, alluded to benevolent dictatorship as the best form of government, Aristotle triggered the debate as to whether it was better for a king to rule by discretion or by the rule of law. Both positions are debatable.
The argument here is that law is a system of rules independent of the ruler himself. It therefore becomes a matter for deep concern, for a ruler who is not the drafter of the said rules, to become discretionary when applying a rule or law. It must be stressed here and now that ours is not a dictatorship, a monarchy or an absolute environment.
Ours is a democracy, which does not in any way mean a bludgeoning of (the people) by a people, for a people. The elementary meaning of the word democracy has not been lost on us, I guess. The system is anchored on absolute respect for what the law says, and never on the law of the leadership or rulership as the case may be.
The events of the last 72 hours have only helped to deepen the country’s slide into fascism and, many would say, our morphing into a banana republic. Since the return to democracy in 1999, violence, intimidation and brazen impunity have become key components of Lagos politics and vital ingredients of winning elections. These ugly, undemocratic attributes have come to be the defining characteristics of the state and have shaped not just its politics but also the governance of the state.
The official defection of former governorship candidates in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, to the African Democratic Congress brought these worrying and shameful antics to the fore again. On Saturday in the Alimosho area of Lagos, where Rhodes-Vivour was slated to officially announce his defection to the ADC, thugs sponsored by the ruling All Progressives Congress brutally attacked many of his supporters and destroyed their possessions.
The assault and destruction were carried out in the presence of the police who watched on without lifting a finger to stop the attackers. Before the dastardly act of the state-backed thugs, Rhodes-Vivour and his team were denied the use of the initial location they paid for and approved by the state government at the last minute, causing them to start making arrangements for a new place to hold their event. They were also prevented from using the second venue they secured and were forced to settle for a church. However, the sacredness and sanctity of the worship house did not deter the thugs from engaging in nefarious and abhorrent acts.
The police had claimed they were acting on orders from above when asked why they sealed off the venue Rhodes-Vivour planned to use for his event. Expectedly, the Lagos state police command denied enabling or aiding the armed miscreants behind the vicious attacks on Rhodes-Vivour and his team and disrupting their legal and democratic political gathering, even though viral footage of the incidents says otherwise.
The words of the Nigerian Constitution are so unambiguous in their intrinsic meaning. The freedom of association is enshrined in our constitution, and lawful gatherings of persons are protected.
Furthermore, despite our feelings and inanities as humans; we are rational beings, capable of governing our own affairs, if left alone. The Nigeria Police’s job is two-fold. One, to keep and maintain law and order and two, to investigate infractions of any kind, but not to interpret the Law. More than anything else, the institution is known as “The Nigeria Police” and never the PDP, APC or ADC police. It is also concerning that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has not publicly condemned the unconscionable actions of these vermin and scumbags. His silence has only lent credence to speculation that the thugs are backed by state actors.
President Bola Tinubu, a while back, underscored the importance of having a multi-party, virile, and thriving democracy where opposition is not stifled, persecuted, harassed and intimidated, adding that he won’t partake in any arrangement aimed at turning Nigeria into a one-party state. However, recent developments have not shown that he is willing and ready to put his preaching into practice. Despite continuous portrayal of himself as a lover of democracy his actions have exposed him as the very opposite of his public posturing.
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