Ayo Fayose's Intrepidity In The Face Of Intimidation, A Tonic Against Executive Recklessness:

   

By Sir Don Ubani

For Nigeria's nascent constitutional democracy to be sustainable, all hands must be on deck. One characteristic feature of democratic governance is observance of the rule of law.

Man, by his nature, has proclivity to vaulting ambition. This nature of his is most exhibited when he occupies a position of power, in fact any position of power, including a school prefect or class monitor. If any body wants to know the real nature of man, let him occupy a position of influence.

Right from early Greek Thinkers such as Aristotle and Plato up to the 19th Century British A V Dicey, the concept of the rule of law implied supremacy of law against the individual citizen, including Monarchs.

The originators of the rule of law had the premonition that without the concept as a socio-political safety-valve, the ruled would be subjected to the worst form of intimidation, deprivation and injustice. This is the raw nature of man when conferred with power.

For despots and dictators, the concept of the rule of law sounds inimical to every inch of their comprehension and perception. This is why the first thing a dictatorial regime does is to proscribe and prohibit the legislative arm of the government of the land. Legislations are no more democratized, rather inhuman decrees are churned out.

A typical example of a dictator's attitude towards democracy and its attendant rule of law could be viewed from what Nigeria went through when General Muhammadu Buhari unlawfully overthrew the democratically elected government of President Shehu Shagari on 31st December, 1983, dismantled all democratic institutions and enacted the most horrible and inhuman decree no 4 of 1984.

By that draconian decree no 4, many innocent Nigerian politicians, social critics and journalists were illegally arrested and incarcerated without trial. More than 90% of Nigerian political office holders were clamped down on trump up charges of corruption. Under Buhari's military imposition, there was nothing like the rule of law. Ironically, the APC federal government of President Buhari turns a blind eye to putrid cases of corruption associated with many of her members.

The leopard does not change its spot. No matter the prevailing circumstance, a dictator will always wish to remain a dictator. One's nature hardly changes.

The APC government of President Buhari has been hiding under the false pretenses of fighting corruption to harass and intimidate members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

It uses anti-graft agencies created by the PDP when it was in power from 1999-2015 to subject PDP members to persuasive coercion. The aftermath is that many weak-minded and gullible ones end up defecting to APC, just to escape from constant menace and psychological trauma. No sooner does the 'accused' leave PDP and joins the ruling party than he or she becomes labelled a 'saint'.

The immediate past governor of Akwa-Ibom State; Obong Godswill Akpabio, could not resist the harassment by APC teleguided anti-graft agencies. Hence, he capitulated. Today, he is a 'highly-prized' member of the ruling party. Even though the party's promise of making him the President of the Senate after empty threats of impeaching the incumbent President;  Senator Bukola Saraki, was dead before arrival, he feels free having been declared a 'saint' by the ruling party. All his 'sins' have been forgiven him.

Many other examples of members of the opposition PDP, whose weakness of character could not resist being intimidated into forceful membership of the ruling APC abound. They include but not limited to a former governor of old Anambra State, Chief James Nwobodo, Senator Hope Uzodinma and Senator Musiliu Olatunde Obanikoro.

In the midst of this crude and moribund strategy of intimidation, a Man has courageously stood himself out amongst many. The immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Ayodele Fayose, has proved to the world, particularly to countries which democracy is adjudged to be nascent, that it takes uncommon courage and less attachment to pride and status to sustain the rule of law in a democracy.

Governor Fayose has been a dogged critic of the President Buhari government of discrimination and hate. He knew his tenure which guaranteed him constitutional immunity would end while the President will still be in power and, so,  would be hunted by the President, using the anti-graft agencies against him. He was quite mindful of it all.

To tell them he was not, in the least,  afraid of whatever drastic measures the agencies would resort to taking against him at the expiration of his tenure of office, he had formally written the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; EFCC, of his resolve to turn himself in no sooner than he handed over as Governor.

In keeping with his resolve, Fayose voluntarily and openly made himself available to the EFCC. He was prepared and ready for the attendant ordeal. He did not allow the consciousness and pride of being a former Governor to induce him to compromise on his stand to resist impunity and disrespect for the rule of law.

Due to his strong will, Fayose was able to bear and go through the burden of being deprived of his freedom for about two weeks. He did not mind the associated inconvenience. Yet he insisted that the rule of law must take its course.

The rule of law has taken its course and Chief Ayodele Fayose has been granted bail. The Fayose example is what Nigerians of good conscience need do in order to sustain and grow our democracy. Those that are lily-livered should learn to appreciate that the coward dies ten times before his actual death.

Congratulations to the Apesin Apogun P'ote of Ado Ekiti. You are, indeed, a source of motivation and pride to the nation's democracy and rule of law.

- Sir Don Ubani; KSC, JP, is the Okwubunka of Asa, and the1998 Convener of PDP, Abia State.