Democracy & Governance
Still On Abba Kyari Crime Fighting And The Need To Curtail Disturbing Incidences Of Crime In The Country (13) -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed
Lazarus Idokoh an Enugu-based security expert is of the opinion that reinstating Abba Kyari to his duty wouldn’t have been an issue if our country is doing what is right as expected of public office holders. To him, releasing the incarcerated officer is not just for his freedom or his career but for the overall interest of the nation buffeted by serious security challenges.
It is generally believed that Nigerians are united by football. But as it is today, it seems that other things are uniting Nigerians more than just football or sports. First, poverty which seems to be a tool in the hands of the Nigerian politicians to control the masses is fast becoming a uniting factor. But more than that is the issue of insecurity in the land which is affecting everybody gravely irrespective of tribe, religion or social status. The feedback that I have received from this essay series on Abba Kyari seems to confirm this obvious fact. And I think that opinion poll on this will confirm my position. Policy contractors and social researchers will find this fact interesting. And in fact, it is the intriguing responses to my essay on the subject of Abba Kyari that have sustained it to this period. Since the series began in December, 2023, I have received over a thousand responses and the respondents are unanimous in their support and advocacy for the release of the incarcerated Nigerian super cop, DCP Abba Kyari. I have to treat the respondents some of whom appear not to have the platform to express their views by reporting some of their expressed opinions on the subject.
One Ndubisi Ikegbu who wrote from Umuahia in Abia State expressed surprised that the North who are known for fighting for their own could keep quiet while their region is ravaged by insurgency while a top-notch officer like Abba Kyari reputed for cracking knotty cases is languishing in prison custody. In the same line of thought, Kunle Oladosu asked, “I don’t know the Vice-president Kashim Shettima has not intervened in the matter, when Abba Kyari is from the same state with him? Is he trying to be cautious or does he feel that Mr. Kyari has no electoral value? Whatever the case, he has more reason to intervene to get Abba Kyari out of detention than not. Again, one Kingsley Oche who wrote from Abuja was of the opinion that the continued detention of DCP Abba Kyari was what he attributed to the passivity of the Nigerian citizens who don’t know their civic rights. He opined that, “if Nigerians has acted as they should because of security problem in the country, the National Assembly would have had no choice but to intervene and order the attorney general to drop all the charges against Abba Kyari and restore him to his duty post…”
Furthermore, Alhaji Shehu Suleiman stated that Abba Kyari is more useful to the citizens combating crime than being in the prison custody in the name of justice. He queried, “what manner of justice is it when one who would help fight crime and uphold justice is caged while crime and injustice is let loose on the people?…This is nothing but miscarriage of justice.” Speaking in the same vein, one Ahmadu Abdullahi from Yola likened the continued detention of the super cop to a case of misplaced priority on the part of the government. “If our government and our leaders see security and crime fighting as a priority, then, they don’t need any campaign to know that people like Abba Kyari who have the passion for crime bursting should be deployed for service now that the country is facing acute security challenges. Also, Ayomide Musiliu Adarabioyo from Lagos declared that the case is purely that of insensitivity on the part of the government…”For if the government actually understands the mood of the nation now, it would have listened to the strident calls of the people to provide adequate security and that would have began by listening to the calls for the release and reinstatement of DCP. Abba Kyari.”
Barr. Efe Agbroko who wrote from Warri explained that there are many ways to uphold justice. He explained that justice is not only obtained when one is tried in the law court. He maintained that there are many useful channels to pursue justice and arbitrate on conflicts and disputes. He was of the view that for exigencies of the Abba Kyari’s case, the intervention of the presidency to accede to wish of the people is also a way of getting justice. “That is why there are many channels for the settlement of legal issues, the same reason the presidency is given power to grant pardon or amnesty.”
Lazarus Idokoh an Enugu-based security expert is of the opinion that reinstating Abba Kyari to his duty wouldn’t have been an issue if our country is doing what is right as expected of public office holders. To him, releasing the incarcerated officer is not just for his freedom or his career but for the overall interest of the nation buffeted by serious security challenges. “I have advocated this before that a special anti-kidnapping and banditry unit be created in the Police Force and Abba Kyari be released and placed in command of this unit,” he concluded.
From the foregoing, the view of the respondents is that there are many ways to obtain justice and the ultimate justice is the wish of the citizens who have the sovereign powers. It generally believed that whatever the case against the super cop that his continued detention is a great disservice to the nation for he is more useful to the nation combating banditry and kidnapping than being confined in prison custody. And I earnestly wish that the authorities will hearken to the voice of the people as it is said that the voice of the people is the voice of God. Vox populi, Vox Dei!
Hajia Hadiza Mohammed
An actress, social activist, politician
London, UK
