*By Ishaq Murtala*
The recent arrest and subsequent detention of Mr Uyi Giwa-Osagie, lawyer to
the leading opposition PDP candidate in the rescheduled 2019 Presidential
election of Saturday, February 23, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, by operatives of
the EFCC, is exactly what it is: a political witch hunt, aggressive
intimidation and harassment of opposition actors motivated by the well
known tyranny of a jittery and fading government which has carved for
itself an inglorious niche of destroying state security institutions by
using them to achieve selfish and extra-judicial purposes in blatant and
flagrant disregard for the rights of Nigerians, the rule of law and
constitutionalism.
In their usual characteristic manner of subverting legally prescribed
judicial processes for the arrest of citizens, opposition members and those
associated with them have been severally and severely persecuted by this
government, and Uyi Giwa-Osagie’s case is not different as he was
reportedly subjected, without any warrant of whatever kind, to a straight
7-hour search of his house and office, took him away along with files of
his clients and detained him even when it was reported that nothing
incriminating was found during the grueling search.
There is no gainsaying the fact that this is a gross abuse of the lawyer’s
rights particularly when the files belonging to his clients were carted
away in such a brazen manner thereby grossly violating the trust that
usually exists between lawyers and their clients. And to think that this
was nothing but a politically motivated raid, it causes the hearts of
patriotic Nigerians to bleed.
No doubt, this is a panic button being pressed by the APC-led federal
government on the eve of the presidential election. Just over a week ago,
President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the nation twice saying in one of
them, “I hereby humbly ask for your support again in the coming election to
enable us to move to the next level and consolidate on the successes
recorded in making our country a better place. I don’t take your support
for granted”.
The question Nigerians have been asking since that broadcast is, since when
did Buhari start addressing Nigerians and use the word “humbly”? This is
the same president they had “humbly begged” several times to address them
on critical national issues but he had always rebuffed them with the
arrogance of Pharaoh only for him to go abroad and talk down, brashly and
rashly, on his own citizens thereby making them a laughing stock before the
world.
Election is indeed a humbler!
Days to the election, and within a space of one week, Buhari addressed the
nation twice and used the word “humbly” in asking them for their votes.
These are the same people he had unleashed the military on under the guise
of operations named after carnivorous animals, which also leave behind them
tales of sorrow, tears and blood. The same Nigerians he had unleashed the
security agencies on for daring to ask him questions as their leader,
criticize his non-existent policies that have led to millions losing their
jobs, thousands murdered either by herdsmen or security forces, as was the
case with the Shiite Muslims in Zaria, without justice for the victims;
thousands others displaced by those the federal government once said came
from Libya etc; the same Nigerians whose relatives have been summarily
arrested and detained for days, weeks, months and even years without trial,
and in some cases, in flagrant disobedience of court orders granting them
bail, it is the same Nigerians Buhari is now begging to vote for him again.
The same Buhari who once chided the Shiites for daring to tap the chest of
Generals which allegedly led to the murderous military clampdown on the
Shiites, was the same man, who after being pelted with stones in the sad
and unfortunate Ogun saga said, “I don’t have any trouble with it. It is
your right”. Indeed, election is a humbler!
Seeing that no amount of begging or election-instigated humility would sway
Nigerians, frustration set in for Buhari and his handlers, and in
confusion, are now harassing and attempting to intimidate Atiku and his
supporters by waging a frontal war against the PDP candidate directly even
if by proxy.
But then, it is too late. Nigerians have since made up their minds and are
saying “Enough is enough!” rather than boost his image, the politically
motivated arrest of Osagie is making the matter worse for the APC. They
tried it against Saraki, but failed. They tried it against Ekweremadu, they
failed! They tried it against Dino Melaye, but also failed. They tried it
against the legislature as an institution, they failed! They tried it
against the judiciary, they also failed. They have tried it against Atiku
before with the US challenge, they failed abysmally. Now, they are trying
Atiku again! The good news to Buhari and his agents is that they will fail
again!
No matter what they do now, whether by persuasion or coercion, Nigerians
are tired of this hardship in the land and my part of the country, the
north, is even worst hit by it. So, rather than retire in more damning
infamy, President Muhammadu Buhari should actually retrace his steps from
this whimsical and capricious political bellicosity of his, stop
intimidating the people, and prepare for a peaceful retirement.
With the minds of Nigerians already made up, the illegal arrest and
detention of Atku’s lawyer, Uyi Giwa-Osagie, is nothing but the last kick
of a dying horse!
*— Ishaq Murtala sent this piece from Kano*