KWANKWASO/US CONGRESS AND THE JOW JOW WITH JUNGLE JUSTICE

KWANKWASO/US CONGRESS AND THE JOW JOW WITH JUNGLE JUSTICE

By Bala Ibrahim

The ambition of the justice system, as highlighted in the law books I read, is to maintain social order and public safety by enforcing laws, upholding the rule of law, and resolving conflicts fairly. It acts to protect individual rights, provide justice for victims, punish offenders, and rehabilitate criminals to prevent future offenses. I am not a lawyer, but having practiced journalism for decades, I am very conversant with the meaning of the word, fair. Fair hearing, fair trial, fair presumption and fairness in the resolution of conflicts. By my understanding, the best process of resolving conflicts should involve peace or peaceful and mutually satisfactory solutions, through listening to the parties and negotiating with them in order to find a comprise or address the root causes of the problem. Ultimately, and without engaging in emotion, the goal is to reach a solution that satisfies all parties. That way, you arrive at a “win-win” situation, thereby avoiding conflict.

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America’s status, as the beacon of human rights, justice and democracy, is being contested, because of its regular prioritisation of interests over values. This deliberate bias of interest is making the meaning of fairness ridiculous. And by extension, putting a question mark on the historically projected position of the United States, as the beacon of justice and fair play. As I write this article, some American lawmakers have introduced a bill to the US Congress, seeking to impose sanctions on the former Governor of Kano state and former Minister of Defence, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, over allegations of violations of religious freedom. To the best of my knowledge, no one made attempt to hear from Kwankwaso. According to the provisions of the bill, Kwankwaso is identified as one of the individuals contributing to systemic religious “persecution of Christians that has persisted” in Nigeria.

Let me start by putting the records straight. I am not a supporter of Kwankwaso. We belong to different political parties and we have differences in ideological beliefs. But our differences not withstanding, I am totally in disagreement with the position of those behind the bill that is seeking to sanction him. It is wrong, very wrong and brazenly in conflict with the meaning of fairness. Even the local and international observers of events that are unfolding in Nigeria, would vehemently disagree with that claim. Kwankwaso can be crucified for some sins, political sins, but to implicate him in religious persecution is not only ridiculous but loudly laughable. Anyone familiar with Kwankwaso, knows that he doesn’t belong to the class of people engaged in religious fanatism. Far from that. It is probably an attempt by the powerful, to give the powerless a bad name, in order to hang him. And that smells like a jow jow with jungle justice, I think.

It reminds me of that old book, written by George Orwell, called the Animal Farm. The famous line from the book says, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” For some reasons, today, America is acting like a country that is in the script of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. The Animal Farm was written based on the Russian Revolution concept, by showing how those in power can be corrupt and how they can oppress the people they’re supposed to help. In todays world, the “Almighty” America is playing the bully, by hurting or attempting to hurt or frighten, some people or countries, so as to force them to do something that they do not want to do. Nigeria has since fallen into the category of those victims. And now, attempt is being made to unjustly, add the name of Kwankwaso.

It is heartening to hear that his movement, the Kwankwasiyya movement, through the NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, had issued a statement, describing the whole thing as a blackmail. “The months before the latest development, Kwankwaso had openly reacted when President Donald Trump re-designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious persecution. Kwankwaso cautioned against what he described as oversimplified characterizations of Nigeria’s internal challenges. Kwankwaso stated that it was important to emphasize that our country is a sovereign nation whose people face different threats from outlaws across the country.”-Johnson.

Indeed America is acting according to the 7 rules in the Animal Farm, which goes thus:
1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2 Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3.No animal shall wear clothes.
4.No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5.No animal shall drink alcohol.
6.No animal shall kill any other animal.
7.All animals are equal, BUT some animals are more equal than others.

I cant talk about MACBAN and the two others, whose names appeared alongside that of Kwankwaso, but despite my political disagreement with him, I can attest to the religious tolerance of Eng. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. So, the US Congrees men should put on their thinking caps, and know that the name to put in there, is not Kwankwaso.

KWANKWASO/US CONGRESS AND THE JOW JOW WITH JUNGLE JUSTICE