Armed Policemen or 'Armed Robbers'? By Sulaiman Kazeem

Doesn't it bother you that the decadence in the Nigeria Police has grown periodically over the last two decades and seem irredeemable? Well, I am very perturbed but you may choose to feel otherwise.

Today, as always, there is a need to address the diminishing honor in the present crops of men in black, not as bequeathed to them by those before them. The growing impunity in the ranks and file of the Nigerian Police, the extortion, the harassment and the hostilities being meted by Nigerians on fellow Nigerians, day in day out.

Unfortunately, the motto of the Nigerian Police reads 'To serve and protect'. No doubt, this is contrary to their shameful activities in our communities and on our highways. Today, the men of the Nigerian Police, particularly those who call themselves State Anti-Crime Response Squad (SARS) are nothing but oppressors, armed robbers, extortionists, pedophiles and bullies who provide covers for criminals in exchange for tips, flee at the sight of men of the highways but humiliates travelers and rob them of their belongings. At times, they even go as far as implicating and brutalizing innocent people, and taking their lives when they pose a threat or refuse to yield. Well, that does not mean that there are no good ones among them.

So much, if not enough has been said of these inhumane treatments that we suffer from the bad eggs in the Nigerian Police, but it seem to me that it's either nothing has been done to curb this menace or the leadership of the Nigerian Police needs to do more than paying lip service. Please don't talk about the Ministry Of Police Affairs, Ministry Of Interior, House Committee On Police Affairs and what have you, they are just like dummies.

Unfortunately, a majority of the present crops of officers in the high ranks of the Nigerian Police are also beneficiaries of the corrupt system. They get their shares from the bribes Nigerians are being coerced to pay as bail or pure cases of daylight extortion from motorists, other road users and people going about their daily legal activities.

We can not continue like this, we can not continue to live like all is well, we can not continue to live in pretense and self denial. Now or never, we must choose to live in opprobrium and not to continue to live with the brutalities from the men of the Nigerian Police and our insensitive ruling class.

Today, there is a thin line between the entity called Nigeria and a Banana Republic, where some people are outlaws, if at all there are laws, and enjoys covers by those that should persecute them for crimes, while law abiding citizens are being harassed and unjustly killed in some cases by those who should protect and serve. Unfortunately, these officers have been unable to subdue the heightened level of crimes in major cities in the country.

I am very perturbed by the hostility on law abiding Nigerians, by men of the Nigerian Police and the inability of the system to checkmate the bad eggs among them. But I know, someday, Nigeria would be hit by an event that will change EVERYTHING forever.

Believe me, that day is closer than you think.

12/07/2017

Ogbeni Aregbesola; Retreat but do not surrender. By Sulaiman Kazeem

Firstly, let me quickly remind you that history has been very kind to you and that you have been treated very fairly by life itself. So, should we then say that you have forgotten that fate has put you in the category of men who rose from rags to tags, even amidst controversies and hopelessness.

For the sake of posterity, let me also remind you that life has showered you with so much fortune than you have ever wished for and made you a cornerstone. You won a political battle that served as a precedence for many others that followed, using the good people of Osun State as unpaid foot soldiers. The people who supported you gave up everything; some lost their properties, freedom, loved ones and even their lives to the brutality from your predecessor, the former military man turned executive governor.

No doubt, life has treated you with much favoured partiality that you were able to beat the odds and get the people of Osun State whom your leadership errors have submerged in extreme starvation and abject penury, standing by you and with you for more than two years of financial misfortunes and seemingly infrastructural decadence. Now, should we ask if you have met their expectations.

Interestingly, you have been able to prove to critics that it is possible to win it all and retire unbeaten like the likes of Muhammed Ali. But unfortunately, not only have you disappointed your mammoth followers and unrepentant supporters by towing the path of the beaten, but you have given the people who were indifferent about your leadership flaws more reasons to sympathize with the major opposition party, in their ploy to dim your popularity.

Today, should you be reminded of what becomes of warlords when they decide to embark on a war unprepared or continue to fight a war that they lack the required capacity and the needed resources to win, when it seem that you have proved to many that you don't believe in peaceful resolution of conflicts of interests and that sovereignty is embedded in the office of the executive governor of Osun State.

You may choose to agree with those sycophants and bootlickers in your administration, if you disagree with me that your party, the All Progressives Congress lost the Osun West senatorial District elections as a result of your leadership inadequacies, unguided political utterances, nonchalant and egoistic attitudes towards the people of Osun State, who ones believed in your messianic stature and in your political grandstanding. The truth if you care to listen is that the people of Osun State are very disappointed in your leadership and would not hesitate to read it aloud at every given opportunity.

Ogbeni Aregbesola, you would be ungrateful to God and to the people of Osun State, if you decide to tow the lane of tyrants who damned the consequences of kidnapping freedom and holding justice to ransom. FYI, the soaring honor of tyrants diminishes before sunset, leaving them in perpetual dishonor.

Interestingly, power can be perpetual but its holders are mere mortals with a predestined number of days. So, we must always tow with caution and remember that stewardship awaits all of us. Yes, politics is a non-emotional game but we should not loose our humanity in the course of pursuing things that are earthly.

Inarguably, the results of the just concluded Osun West senatorial District elections is a bad precedence for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the State. But let me also inform you that the defeat suffered by your political party has nothing to do with the credibility of your party's candidate or merit on the part of the winner. It was the most preferred medium to express their grievances for your leadership inadequacies, this they have done with fulfillment and are ready to nurture the birthed toddler till maturity. Should anyone blame the people of Osun West senatorial District for their anger influenced decision, when it was caused by the failures of your administration to boost the State's internally generated revenues, pay workers salaries and meet their other needs.

Again, fate has presented to you yet another opportunity to get to work and fix the damages in your party and in your led government, so do it right. Else, you will be remembered as a man who rose to power, having enjoyed the peoples sympathy and the beams of fortune, but eventually betrayed the people and the party on whose he rose to power. Sir, such men are not men of honor, such men lacks valour and the required integrity to be in the hall of fame of men whose immense contributions to creating a better world is heroic.

It is on record that I was among those who followed your case at the tribunal to its later end, agitating that justice is served. I was also instrumental to your emergence at the polls, when you presented yourself for reelection. This you can enquire from people around you, particularly those who know me well. However, I still feel it's unnecessary to write about myself and my relationship with the government of Osun State under your watch, because you are a phone call away from everyone's details.

In conclusion, your excellency should spend time to look inward, retrace your steps and make amends before you lose it all.

11/07/2017.