By Rt. Hon. Gabriel Patterson Unyeowaji
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters in relation to a comment allegedly made by Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo – Asari, the President/CEO of Royal Fouche Security Limited, has threatened to neutralize him by viciously inviting him to a none existent battlefield.
In a press release by Major General Edward Buba, it stated that they will take out Alhaji Dokubo-Asari. This statement is a threat to democracy as it violates the Constitution of Nigeria. It is only a court of competent jurisdiction that can determine what will happen to any citizen of the Nigerian state.
The position of the Defence Headquarters without any official investigation of whatever it is that Alhaji Dokubo Asari may have said depicts complicity in the event that warranted the comment allegedly made by him. If this issue is approached correctly, the first step is to revisit the comment which is expressly a comment of self defence and homeowners right enshrined in the laws of Nigeria.
If I remember correctly, Alhaji Dokubo-Asari said that the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, has sent a helicopter that bears no insignia to be hovering specifically over his residence, in Obuama, Rivers State. There is no law in Nigeria that permits any aircraft to specifically fly or hover around a private residence without official permission as it violates the right of the home owner enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria that protects right to private and family life hence, sailent questions needs to be asked the Defence Headquarters such as:
1. Did the Defence Headquarters order the unmarked helicopter gunship to fly or hover specifically over the residence of Alhaji Dokubo-Asari?
2. If yes then for what reasons especially him being a provider of security in assistance to the Federal Government and if no then why the haste to rise in defence of an aircraft that has violated the Constitutional provisions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?
3. Why did the Defence Headquarters leave out the complain by Alhaji Dokubo – Asari about the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike is it that they’re protecting him and is it not clear that they’re deliberately after Alhaji Dokubo -Asari to murder him given that their statement bears no other humane intellectual argument other than to kill him?
4. Isn’t it possible that there are rogue elements in the ranks and file of the Defense Headquarters otherwise why the threat instead of approaching the issue through an official and diplomatic channel since the aircraft is in clear violation of the law and if so, is the Defence Headquarters not protecting such rogue elements who could have launched an illegal mission?
The Nigerian Military should know that it does not have parallel governing authority and power in this democracy and exercising such unilaterally undermines Nigeria’s democracy rather the authority and power it exercises comes from the laws of Nigeria as enshrined in the Constitution and the various acts of the National Assembly and there is nowhere it is empowered to threaten citizens of the country especially one who has contributed immensely to the country security wise.
Again, the Defence Headquarters should channel it’s professional skills of neutralization to tackle the banditry and terrorism that has been festering in the North for years. Also, it should focus same professional skills of neutralization to recapture the Boko Haram terrorists that it enrolled into it’s rank and file who have now absconded with sophisticated weapons from the armoury of the military and who are now at large and a source of severe danger to a large catchment of our civilian population.
Finally, the military should not involve themselves in politics of Rivers State or Nigeria in general but should remain neutral. The situation in Rivers State allows Alhaji Dokubo- Asari to be conscious of security of his life and that of his loved ones.
Therefore, it is vexatious for any aircraft whether military or civilian to be hovering over his residence specifically. Hence, it is out of place to threaten him over whatever he says (having a right to freedom of speech) in relation to the danger and insecurity to himself and his people triggered by that unmarked aircraft.
On this note it will be in order if Alhaji Dokubo – Asari files for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights against the Defence Headquarters because it has no right to act anyhow or recklessly. Also, the attention of the National Assembly, especially the Senate Committee on Defence, is to be called to invite representatives of the Defence Headquarters for questioning. We are in a democracy not in a military regime and as such no agency of government can hold the country to ransom.
Rt. Hon. Gabriel Patterson Unyeowaji
Igrigi 1 of Niger Delta.
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