By Chinedum Art Michael
Nobody is above the law.
This popular phrase forms the foundation of the legal system in most countries across the globe. We can say that modern democracy could not have existed without it. Absolutely no democratic state currently exists where people are above the law. This is until you meet the country called Nigeria.
In Nigeria, it has been widely observed that, with just the right amount of money or power, one can bend the law to their advantage. But this is why you have governmental institutions like the judiciary and executive, to respectively interpret and enforce the law equally for/to everyone, thereby protecting the dignity, equity and supremacy of the rule of law. However, what do you do when even the executive and judiciary decide to place themselves above the law?
A video going viral on the internet about Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s reaction to Justice Binta Nyako’s insistence to continue presiding over the latter’s case has laid bare what everyone already knows: Nigeria does not obey her own laws. How else does one explain the government refusing to obey a court order ordering the release of Nnamdi Kanu? How else does one rationalise the ‘kidnapping’ of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by the Nigerian government, despite the law saying that kidnapping is a crime? How does one justify a judge passing a court order recusing herself from presiding a case, but then deciding to continue presiding over said case regardless?
There are countless examples of the Nigerian governmental institutions breaking its own laws in order to achieve its own motives, but we IPOB and Biafra supporters are focused on our own injustices. Non-Biafra supporters would look at this and sneer. Some would even call Mazi Nnamdi Kanu insolent for speaking strongly and vociferously against the illegality of Justice Binta Nyako’s handling of the court proceedings. However, I must call on everyone who has seen that video to look beyond this as a Biafra thing. This is about the rule of law.
One must understand that governments are made up of people – ordinary people – like you and me. People who seek their own gains. People who would not hesitate to take advantage of the power they have to pursue their personal goals. The rule of law is there to protect the people in government from themselves; but it is also there to protect the common citizen from people in power. No one wants to live in a country where those in power can use the power whichever way they like. Unfortunately, this is the reality for Nigerians.
This is what Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is kicking against. He is charging the Nigerian government to obey its own laws. And indeed, any patriotic citizen of Nigeria should charge its government to obey the laws of the land. Mazi Kanu’s strong stand against the illegality of the Nigerian court is not only a display of Biafran patriotism, but also a great example of the standards to which Nigerians must hold their government. “Nobody is above the law”. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has taken his stand and everyone who believes in democracy must stand with him, whether or not they are in support of Biafran sovereignty. It would be immoral, illegal, and irresponsible to do otherwise.
Chinedum Art Michael, Welfare Coordinator, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, IPOB Jewish Community, wrote from Uyo.