How are you doing?

I was thinking earlier today about how when I was interviewed by my team for our two years in office documentary, I was asked a question about the lowest point of this past year in office, May 2020-May 2021. I thought this newsletter would be a good opportunity to expand on my response to that question. I had said it was the needless loss of lives during the End SARS protests. 

In my opinion, engaging in violence or supporting violence either actively or tacitly, often leads to more violence and when violence escalates, lives may be lost. These lives that are lost, we can never get them back. Even if the family is compensated, those who have lost their lives will not return.

This is why I advocate for keeping all actions in line with the law and using the law to protect the lives and rights of the citizens. No matter how we feel about any individual or group, their constitutional rights must never be trampled upon – including their right to peaceful protests and their right to a fair hearing.

If we make one set of rules for people who are our friends and create other rules for people we perceive as our enemies, then how are we different from hypocrites? We cannot judge people harshly because we don’t like them or be lenient because they are in our good books.

This is why Lady Justice is often portrayed as blindfolded. She is blindfolded because she really does not base her judgement on the status of the people brought before her. She examines all the facts of the case and treats everyone equitably. No one is declared guilty or innocent until their side of a matter is heard and they get the opportunity to defend themselves.

Yesterday, lives were lost in Ibadan in a manner that I would describe as needless. I promised that justice would be served. People have pointed out that the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of our Park Management System, Alhaji Lamidi Mukaila, aka Auxiliary is somehow involved. I have ordered an investigation and I give my word again that everyone involved in that incident will be brought to book. You can hold me to that promise.

Justice dictates that I should not take hasty decisions yet justice demands that we act swiftly. I will obey both sides of justice’s call. This is my pledge.

Please stay safe!