There is no doubt many persons seem to bring in varying ethnic, religious & emotional sentiments into this, as well as our dislike for president Buhari but, if we set aside these flaws in our eyes, occluding our vision, we might come to appreciate the fact that indeed, a crime was committed.
Having observed the situation from various angles, it has become clear that the Judiciary as well as security officials are looking at the situation and seeing one thing, while the citizens, particularly, those who harbor a natural disdain for the president, are looking at the same situation and yet, seeing a totally different thing.
To some persons, they only see the unlawful sentencing of a man, who has done nothing wrong, but only name his dog what suits him, by a qualified judge, following the tenets of the Law, in a court of competent jurisdiction, without bothering to read the verdict of the case. These set of persons argue that the Defendant in question has committed no crime in naming his dog Buhari, a position which I completely agree with, but, WAS THE MAN SENTENCED FOR NAMING HIS DOG BUHARI??
Now, this is the questions in which majority of persons fail to understand, nor answer. According to the Verdict or the court, The defendant was arraigned for carrying out actions capable of breaching public peace and instigating not just ethnic but also religious and political violence, and this includes but not limited to;
1. The defendant boldly printed on the Body of the dog, the name “Buhari’ (where has the name of a dog been written on the dog before)?
2. That the defendant paraded the same dog with name boldly printed, in the Hausa Section of the market. (He did not just leave the dog in his shop but wants it to be seen not just in the market but in the Hausa section)
3. That a certain popular Alhaji Buhari is a trader in this Hausa section of the market.
1. The defendant boldly printed on the Body of the dog, the name “Buhari’ (where has the name of a dog been written on the dog before)?
2. That the defendant paraded the same dog with name boldly printed, in the Hausa Section of the market. (He did not just leave the dog in his shop but wants it to be seen not just in the market but in the Hausa section)
3. That a certain popular Alhaji Buhari is a trader in this Hausa section of the market.
We might dislike the president and his policies, particularly in the current period as it isn’t favorable to Nigerians, a situation which has resulted in increased hardship, but, if you tell me that these actions, as detailed above would not lead to a breach in public peace, breakdown of law and order and culminating in ethnic, religious and political violence, then, it’s obvious that you are not seeking for the rule of law.
Ridiculing the president obviously isn’t a crime, as it is not yet contained in any part of the constitution, but doing so in a manner capable of breaching peace, in a very large way is a crime.
If you are from the east, and you still disagree that the actions above are capable of breaching public peace, and instigating violence, then let me give you this example.
Imagine that an Hausa/Fulani man, boldly wrote on the body of his dog or ram, the name “NNAMDI KANU or OJUKWU” and paraded same in the Onitsha Main market, or around Upper Iweka or in Ariaria market, Aba. What do you think would be the result??
Traders clapping and laughing for him??
Obviously not.
Obviously not.
I might not like the president or his policies, but this is not a matter of scoring political points.
The president did not arrest nor arraign the man, a member of the society complained and the police arrested him, for acting in a manner capable of breaching public peace.
It could have been worse, numerous lives have been lost for acts less than this, and after the lives have been lost, we accuse the police and security operatives of not being able to maintain public peace, when they do, we bring in all forms of political, religious and ethnic sentiments into it.
The president did not arrest nor arraign the man, a member of the society complained and the police arrested him, for acting in a manner capable of breaching public peace.
It could have been worse, numerous lives have been lost for acts less than this, and after the lives have been lost, we accuse the police and security operatives of not being able to maintain public peace, when they do, we bring in all forms of political, religious and ethnic sentiments into it.
I agree that a number of wrong judgments and decisions might have been unlawfully passed recently but, this one, THIS ONE, THE MAN IS GUILTY of ACTIONS CAPABLE OF BREACHING PUBLIC PEACE!!.
He is not guilty, nor was he sentenced for naming his dog Buhari. Its always important to read the full story.
if you argue that he should not be sent to prison, I might agree, but, he obviously, needs to be sent to REHAB. At least, that’s what is obtained in advanced nations.
P/S: I am not a Buhari nor an APC supporter, but truth has to be said in this case.
God bless you.
– Obasi. D. C. Chinedu
Deputy Speaker,
Students Union
University of Nigeria!
Deputy Speaker,
Students Union
University of Nigeria!
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