No year is Worth Celebrating In Nigeria, It should be a day of Massive revolt against Failed Government -By Oluwaseun ogun

One of the constitutive elements of any society is that it has common and conventional norms. A society without laws guiding the activities will be in anarchy, and perhaps cannot strictly be regarded as a society because of no legal binding force to enforce the norms of the society. It is apparent that many a society abhors behavioural misconducts especially crime. Over the years, In Nigeria, the extent of crime rate has risen and the government keeps jeopardizing the security of the people. This, critically makes many people within and outside the country to keep asking if crime and criminality have become sociocultural norm in our society today.

As long as human beings continue to keep harmony and peaceful coexistence, the need for conventional laws, body of agents of law and government in general to regulate our daily activities is quite pertinent to every society. Interesting, by virtue of Section 1 (1) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), no one is above the Constitution. Interestingly, both the rulers and the ruled, everybody is equal to the law.

However, the level of disregard with highest of impunity to sacred laws and in Nigeria is appealing and calls for a rethink. This could make many a concerned citizen to ponder on George Orwell’s assertion “that though everyone is equal before the law; but, some are above the law, some are beneath the law and some are under the law”. This unfortunate fact has been an intrigued question that is always palpitated of many Nigerians.

Nigeria just like any other constitutional democratic state should be guided by laws. There are laws which also include appropriate punishment for each offence committed. Any offender is meant to be tried in line with the provisions of the law. Though, in some cases, the President and Governors as provided for by the Constitution can pardon convicted offenders. But, if the president arbitrarily pardons law offenders without due and legal process, I doubt if such act will not undermine our status as country built on the principles of rule of law.

There are laws we know, but the activeness of the laws is not obviously witnessed as of today’s Nigeria. In other words, to say no one is above the law do always not hold true in Nigerian context. It is just easier to understand that Nigeria is no longer the nation but the place where everything goes where both citizens and aliens have no assurance of safety in short, a scene of lawlessness.

Noteworthy is the fact that by Virtue of Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the primary purpose of any government is the security and welfare of the people. However, what is obtainable in Nigeria’s situation is different. As we can see, our country has not degenerated to a country in which terrorists masquerading as Fulani Herdsmen kill thousands of people every day, bandits invade our land, unknown gunmen abduct both school children and old people, fraudsters defraud people of their hard-earned money, we still believe in Nigeria a place of our home.

If the primary duty of government to provide security for its citizenry and aliens within the territory of the government, why then do Nigeria government seem to have failed grossly in their obligatory duty for Nigeria people? Honestly, it is shamelessly shameful to call NIGERIA a grave yard!

Moving on, what would be the hope of common man, when our basic and constitutional rights are being tempered with and fringed? The sign of brazen lawlessness which has been brought to the limelight of impetus gravity which certainly pulls the common mutual hegemonies all over the country apart. This is also a disaster wish we citizens must rise to salvage our right if progress should be attained in this country.

To sum up, This year is running to an end, the question I will leave for individual to think about is how long are we to perpetually keep folding our arms every year singing and dancing seeing our country at the verge of collapsing?

Oluwseun Ogun
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