By Pelumi Adewumi, Esq.

Justice Onnoghen clocked seventy some days back. Do you remember him? He was the Chief Justice of Nigeria. He would have honourably bowed out from the exalted Bench today, unfortunately, this was not to be. Below is a piece I put together some two years ago when the brouhaha and national disgrace transpired right after the 2019 General elections. Ititled it:”The Peoples’ Debacle”:

“I would have titled this ” The PDP’s debacle”, or “The PDP’s Dilemma”, but I feel its Nigerians’ problem. Anyways, so I heard the PDP is preparing to head to court following their loss at the recently concluded polls. I can even hear their supporters cheering them on. They feel cheated, shortchanged, and they must get justice. Yes justice! So they head to court which is the last hope of the common man. Wait, did I say “hope of the common man”? Come o, is it the same court which had its head unceremoniously removed from office and prevented from inaugurating the various Election Petition Tribunals that were to preside over election petitions. Wait again, what did Nigerians, or even the PDP, which now seek justice do? Oh yes, I remember,

it declared a two day halt on their nationwide campaigns to “protest” the injustice, but continued thereafter. They continued I’m sure, hoping to win on the field. Now they lost and are back to face the consequences of not fighting the injustice through when they ought to have. They’re back to face the judiciary they left battered, crying to it for help, crying to it for justice.

The people too are angry and disgruntled about the conduct and outcome of the elections. Well, to them, their collective will has been raped. They want justice. But wait, what justice? Where will you find it? When everyone continued with their business when the Chief Justice was purportedly suspended. It was none of their concern. “Na dem dem affair. Let’s leave the fight to lawyers”. Some even laughed as they folded their arms to enjoy the fight. Now they want justice. They want their “will” restored. And I ask, How na? Anyways, wish you all good luck.

You see, we all as Nigerians deserve what we get. Let me quote a poem which aptly captures the Nigerian state. This was written about the cowardice of the German intellectuals following the Nazis’ rise to power and subsequent incremental purging of their chosen targets, group after group:

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me— and there was no one left to speak for me.

Now people are more than ever interested in who governs them, but are not interested in fighting to make it right. Following the outcome of these elections, they now want the international community to come to their aid. But you all maintained your peace when the symbol of justice was raped and the rapers got away with it…with all they did.

The so-called activists troop to foreign embassies protesting injustice expecting help therefrom. No, help can only come from you, you and you alone. Only the citizens can make it right. No one, no institution, nor foreign nation will fix it for you.

What’s my own sef, let me go and face my business as everyone else, after all, my country men and women will soon forget all these and move on as they always do.

Ehn, my Lord, standing before you is P.O Adewumi, Counsel appearing for the…”

By Pelumi Adewumi, Esq.