Security agents must abide by democratic principles

THE last few days have been allegedly characterised by clandestine nocturnal raid of activists by security agents. While such clandestine nocturnal activities could be reasonable in some situations, it is cowardly, uncivil, unlawful and disgraceful to deal in such a manner with harmless citizens whose only crime was demanding for good governance. So many comrades that were picked up in such a manner at ungodly hours of the night by the security agents have been unreachable and destinations unknown since they were officially kidnapped by the agents of the government. One of the worst things any government could do is to unleash the security agents, particularly the police, on the citizenry. When people lose the confidence in the ability of the police to protect them and are made to see the police as a tool of victimisation and repression, the consequence is usually very dastardly.

If the security agents must arrest anyone; particularly someone who does not pose any security threat to them for questioning, they need not do so with a fully armed battalion late in the night! The civil and civilised way under democracy is to go in the daytime with the appropriate warrant after the person had refused to honour an invitation. We are under a democratically elected government and the least expected from the government is regard for the civil rights of the citizenry. Civil society organisations in Nigeria have been like a vibrant tapestry, weaving together the strands of our country regardless of tribes and religions for the common good of our nation. They often act as the voices of the people, challenging injustices and advocating for the underserved. Those activities of the civil organisations in the past created the platform for the emergence of Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu as the President of Nigeria today.

Our president went on exile during General Abacha’s repressive regime. Those who stayed behind fighting the cause he led are those his government is also repressing today. What an irony!! Sadly, what is unfolding is a disheartening paradox. The government of today is becoming outrageously authoritarian. Our rule of law has made provision for everyone, including the president. He should please avail himself with the rule of law wherever and whenever he feels his right or the right of the country is violated by anyone or group of people. Security agents kidnapping people from their homes is undemocratic, uncivilised and unconstitutional. When security agents overstep their bounds, it is imperative for the government to intervene and hold them accountable in line with the democratic principles. The silence of the government on the actions of the security agents is raising a red flag about the intentions of the people in power. Cracking down on the civil society organisations and silencing the voices of the opposition could make the president feel good, but it would also deny him the useful and necessary feedback on his performance appraisal.

We must protect our democracy and prevent any political gladiator from plunging our country into anarchy. The elders of this country that are well-meaning should appeal to our president for caution and civility. We know without doubt that authoritarianism overtime begets nothing but anarchy, because history has proven it.  Some might have houses in other countries, but Nigerians cannot have a home elsewhere other than in Nigeria. The country is at the precipice. The president should be prevailed upon to douse the tension and suspend all repressive activities that could give the undesirable push to send the country crashing to the ground.

• Rabana writes in from Minna, Niger State.

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