* A Governor Can’t Just Issue An Instruction And Expect Compliance-Lawyer On Natasha
Stakeholders, including indigenes of Kogi have decried the continous negative news coming from the state in recent times, insisting that, it’s unfortunate that the middle belt, confluence state has been on the news block for ‘wrong reasons’
From last month’s jail break at Koton Karfe medium security prison, where officers on duty were overpowered, one killed, two others tied and about 12 inmates escaped, the state has been in news for negative reasons.
For inst, since 2012, nearly 700 inmates have escaped from the same prison facility.
Boko Haram members staged the 2012 prison break to free seven commanders. In the end, more than 100 inmates escaped from the facility during the attack.
Two years later, another violent attack on the prison facility led to the escape of 140 inmates, although 12 were recaptured while one died in the process.
In 2016, at least 13 inmates fled the prison. Also, in 2019, nearly 200 inmates escaped when floods sacked the facility. However, 100 of the inmates were later rearrested.
In 2021, gunmen attacked the facility, freeing about 200 inmates, among which 100 were later recaptured.
More worrisome, according to them, was the theory that, in the last month’s incident, inmates escaped through the tower without causing any structural damage, raising serious security concerns.
This is despite assurances from the state government that it is on top of the security situations in the state
“The theory that the inmates escaped through the tower without causing any structural damage raises serious concerns.
“This calls for a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the escape, arrest the fleeing inmates, and identify possible saboteurs within the system,” Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Femi Fanwo said in a statement.
Also elections in the state have been problematic, leading to massive destruction of property and human lives, most times they were held.
Currently, some farmers have been prevented from their farms by the marauding herdsmen, while involvement of youth in criminality and other societal vices particularly at the local government headquarters, are on the increase due to rising unemployment.
The dust of electoral victory of senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan through the courts is yet to settle as the constituents are allegedly seeking for her recall.
Of greatest concerns to the stakeholders are series of recent orders from Usman Ododo’s government allegedly banning political rallies and gatherings in the state, coinciding with the homecoming of Natasha.
The state police allegedly advised Natasha to shelve the rally.
However, it was gathered that the senator flew into the state to a massive reception by her constituents.
However, Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo insists that Natasha’s action was against the order by the Governor, adding that security agencies will determine whether Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan should be arrested or not for “violating” Governor Usman Ododo’s instruction banning processions in the North Central state.
“There was a directive from the state governor and the security agencies were told to execute the directive,” Fanwo said on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Tuesday.
“If someone has violated it, the security agencies do not need the governor again to give them another directive; they know what to do.
“Only the security agencies will be able to answer that (whether to arrest the senator or not); they know how they go about their operations. I am not a police officer but I am very sure that she should be asked a lot of questions about her incitements.”
But some stakeholders are asking whether Govermor’s orders or instructions are known to law and superceed the constitution that upholds freedom of association and.expeessions, among others.
Also, they faulted the Commissioner’s evasion of direct question to list how the senator flouted the order banning public processions, gathering as well as long convoy on the road, when event had taken place without the senator coming through the township roads with convoy, meeting allegedly held in her compound.
They further argue that, conceding that the governor as the chief security officer of the state was privy to some potential security threats ocassioned by the visit, the ideal thing is for him to direct security agencies to beef up surveillance and also ensures that no ugly incident takes place.
To, them, the assertion by Fanwo that the.state would have been in chaos in 4he event of clashes between the supporters of the senarorand others, seem, begging the question as what did not happen could not be assumed to have happened or likely consequences if it had happened. And, in any way, the relevance of security vote would have come to play.
Also, they added that the action may have thrown to the front burners the need for governors to account for the monthly votes.
Human rights lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, on Tuesday faulted the curfew declaration by the government as well as the state’s ban on all political rallies and gatherings in the state.
The Chairman of Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, Amoka Monday, has also imposed a curfew across the council area, citing security concerns following a ban on political rallies and unregulated public gatherings.
In a statement personally signed by the chairman on Monday, he declared that the curfew was necessary to maintain peace and order in line with the directives of the Kogi State Government and the state’s Commissioner of Police.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ogunye said a governor cannot just issue an instruction and expect compliance.
According to Ogunye, the constitution guarantees freedom of expression , peaceful assembly and association and movement, adding that, in a democracy, gatherings, rallies etc are essential for free and democratic principles and govt should not be so eager to constrain citizens.
Responding to Fanwo’s claim, the Lawyer says there is nothing like violation of instruction but laws, noting that gubernatorial instructions or ban should not be encouraged.
According to him, considering the political crisis and the challenges of the embattled senaror, the state government should, rather than ban ralies, provide security for the people, observing that , its action may not be legal.
This is because, according to him, the senator who may be coming to the state to explain to her constituents why the ongoing recall process should not be carried out, should be provided security even at the venue of the meeting, as the state continues with the task of providing security for the whole state.
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“In any case, the event has taking place and we are waiting to hear from govt the laws violated,” he said
Friday Ameh, Lagos based analyst said the state government should rather focus on providing the much needed governance, with the accompanying infrastructure that is much needed in the state.
According to Ameh, the state of roads in Lokoja, the state capital, is deplorable and residents are bracing up for the yearly hardships ocassioned by flooding on the popular ganaja road.
He added that situations and conditions of roads at the local governments are worse as erosion has taking over most of the headquarters.
“These are mere distractions and some of us, Kogites, are having the feelings that, the state may be heading back to the old difficult years. This is not to say we are highly optimistic, but as usual, to give benefits of doubt to the new administration. Although, we are still seeing old faces since the past eight to nine years in the adminostration, we agree with the dictum that, ‘ government is a continuum,’ but when the old hands seem to constitute clogs in the wheel of progress, then new and capable hands must be brought on board,” he said.
Other respondents that spoke under anonymity advised the governor to check excesses and rhetoric of some of his appointees, noting that they are not blind to developmental projects, when and where they exist.
“The period is nolonger for campaigning, but, real governance that should be felt by the citizens through infrastructural developments. We are tired of palliatives and government of exclusion and rhetoric,” an indigene resident in Lagos said.
