“If
liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do
not want to hear.” ― George Orwell
If there is something so special and interesting about
democracy that the people cherish the most it is Basic Human Rights. This
includes freedom of speech that is the right to freedom of opinion and
expression.
Over 14 years, Nigeria left Military dispensation and moved
on to the path of democracy but it is a pity that in a democratic set up of
ours where freedom of speech is meant to be protected, granted and sustained, that
is where it’s been abused and bastardized.
Before he became the Commissioner of Police of Rivers State,
only few knew much about him. He however became popular for his unpopular decisions
and following his controversial activities in River State.
Politicians
are usually known to be controversial but when a Police Officer becomes
massively influenced and controlled by politics he becomes a “Policician”.
Policicians are controversial which makes them not in any way different
from a Politician except in dressing.
To prove to you that he is actually a Controversial Police
Officer and that the Journalist was indeed right about his description of him,
I will mention some of the many controversies about him:
He was the same that described himself as a “lion”, who tamed
a leopard in Rivers State. Apparently referring to Governor Amaechi as a
leopard. However, in a statement released on September 16, 2014 by David Iyofor the Chief Press Secretary
to the Governor of Rivers State, I quote: “Indeed it’s very sad, pathetic, however ironic that Mbu called himself a
lion. Which lion? This character call Mbu Joseph Mbu completely lacks the
courage, steel and strength of character of a lion. Rather he’s a shameless,
corrupt puppet of a woman. This is a man paid by taxpayers to protect, secure
and serve the interests of the people. But when he was in Rivers State, he
spurned the people; he trampled on the masses and rather elected to be the
partisan servant of one woman, to be the woman’s tool in causing disaffection,
confusion and crises in Rivers State. Mbu shamelessly and corruptly turned
himself into the toothless attack dog of this woman to fight the government and
people of Rivers State.” End of Quote!
He was the same accused of authorizing the use of “rubber
bullets” to disperse a group preparing to hold a rally in Rivers State, in
which Senator Magnus Abe was shot.
On getting to Abuja, he was the same that authorized the use
of water cannon to disperse protesting lecturers of polytechnics and colleges
of education at the Eagle Square.
He was the same that banned the Bring Back Our Girls rally
and protest in Abuja.
And just recently, he ordered the detention of a Journalist-
Amaechi Anakwe, a reporter cum presenter for the African Independent Television
(AIT) over a frivolous charge. He invited the Journalist to his office for allegedly
referring to him as a “Controversial Police Officer” during his television
programme- Matters Arising and after the Journalist arrived at his office in
Abuja, he got him detained.
However, even with his many controversies, the aforementioned
former Commissioner of Police was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant
Inspector General of Police.
When he started the culture and level of impunity in River State
nobody stopped him and no one rebuked him. When he moved to Abuja, no one tamed
him and no one cautioned him. He has now grown to be a bully, growing wild to
truly become a lion which he claims to be.
The
truth is, in a sane and functioning society the aforementioned Police Officer
would have either been tamed or forced to resign if he refuses corrections but
the reverse is the case. Rather he is being promoted.
And until something is done pretty fast about him and he`s
being called to order, more abuses and bully will be made by him.
Thanks to the judicial system that one can still partially
depend on if not Mr Amaechi Anakwe would have been cheated and his right would
have been completely trampled on.
And
like the Former Minister of Education- @obyezeks wrote
on her timeline on twitter,
I quote: “Mbu is a CONTROVERSIAL police officer who should be called
to order by his supervisors. Send him to me for a FREE #Democracy101 tutoring”
I am absolutely in support of Mrs
Oby Ezekwesili suggestion, He actually needs a Democracy 101 tutorial and that
tutoring must start now before it is too late!
Imagine
if someone like Mbu becomes the President?
No doubt our freedom of speech would be taken away from us,
then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.
And once a government is committed to the principle of silencing
the voice of the people, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path
of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all
its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear. That is the
more reason why Mbu has to be stopped now!
We must be able to think freely and must be able to express
our thoughts freely. Whosoever is against this is not only primitive but at the
same time a very great enemy of our freedom. Such must be treated like an enemy
of the people.
God Bless Nigeria!
Ogundana Michael Rotimi
Follow me on Twitter @MickeySunny
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