That release of Lamido Sanusi’s passport

In any true democracy, a president who dares the independence of the judiciary as President Jonathan did in seizing Sanusi’s passport against the ruling of a court would have faced impeachment.  But this Nigeria, where government officials cite foreign references if they want to impose unpopular policy that will make the life of the citizens […]

In any true democracy, a president who dares the independence of the judiciary as President Jonathan did in seizing Sanusi’s passport against the ruling of a court would have faced impeachment.  But this Nigeria, where government officials cite foreign references if they want to impose unpopular policy that will make the life of the citizens unbearable e.g. fuel increase price. The return of the passport should be seen as righting a wrong done to a citizen; not a privilege from some overbearing state official. From all indications, the seizure was done not in the best of the country’s national interest but against it, a show of brute muscle and abuse of power to settle personal scores. This further goes to show to the weak that we operate the rule of jungle in our democracy rather than the rule of law. The weak can be trampled upon at will.  Is it because Sanusi has since become the Emir of Kano, and the Jonathan administration can do nothing about it, that it decreed that the passport be released to him? It looks like he was being harassed and hounded merely not for doing anything illegal, but because he did not do someone else’s bidding. The emir and all other Nigerian citizens who have suffered similar abuse of power deserve apology for unconstitutional and unlawful acts.  
It is a very serious offence for those entrusted with such powers to turn around to abuse and violate the constitution with impunity. The president may be a good person, with bad advisers. But we run an executive presidential system of government, so he must be blamed for allowing such callous and petty abuse of state power by his minions.
 
Khaled Maiwada Abdulsalam <[email protected]>;