When will they invite people to talk about their Abido Shakers or Nwa Ikuku Anointed Oil? Ozii Baba Anieto ..

When will they invite people to talk about their Abito Shakers or Nwa Ikuku Anointed Oil?‏ Are they not all in the same category? When will these merchants of miracles demonstrate the efficacy of those sacramentals?- Ozii Baba Anieto ..

While I support the measures being taken by the Anambra State Government to curb insecurity in the state, it is important to mention that there is always a thin line between protection and abuse. Again, people who should know should not deny the subjects their rights—like in the case of Akwa Okuko.

The reason the Court of Law exists, and why court cases take a long time, is to ensure that no innocent person is punished. Even our fathers gave room for fair hearing, and it is the right way to go. In the euphoria of this moment, most of us will not care until the stone hits one of our own. I witnessed the Bakassi Boys and how all that were captured became guilty without being given a chance to defend themselves, and that is one path we shouldn’t take.

In the case of Akwa Okuko, the state played a circus with him. To start with, I don’t think it was right to video the conversation between Akwa Okuko and the Honorable Deputy Governor and publish it on social media.

And even without being a lawyer, I didn’t see where his rights were stated for him before the circus. No one told Akwa that he had the right to remain silent, and the right to a lawyer. (Even over 2,000 years ago, when Jesus Christ was subjected to similar ridicule, the state permitted his silence.) But Akwa was invited to a public office, and what the police are trained to do was instead done by a civilian.

Ask yourself: when will they invite people to talk about their Abito Shakers or Nwa Ikuku Anointed Oil? Are they not all in the same category? When will these merchants of miracles demonstrate the efficacy of those sacramentals?