Barth Abang|4 October 2015|4:15am
The place of the citizen from ancient Roman example of a democracy to the fledging democracies of the West & USA has always placed high premium on the office of the citizen.
Public office holders appreciate the fact that they hold such public office in trust for the citizenry, showing in deeds & words that they owe the citizen a duty of care not minding religious inclination, party affiliations and tribal bias; but this can't be said of the Nigerian public office holder(s) who bestrode our political space acting like lords of the Manor.
The obnoxious section 308 of the 1999 constitution which gives them immunity makes them think citizens owe them their very existence. Citizens have been effectively railroaded into ethnic bigots, religious fundamentalists and regional champions making for only one loser THE CITIZEN.
As at today, Nigeria is sharply divided along ethno-religious lines.
This help keep us in checks & chains while our collective wealth is plundered. The intentions of the framers of the constitution was never to aid in the plundering of our collective resource without retribution but to guard against frivolous litigation thus the cliché, "Justice delayed is justice denied".
President Muhammadu Buhari wants to become the albatross of erstwhile public office holders but dines with a select few or as the Frenchman calls it "favouri". Albeit, for justice to be done, it must be done & seen to be done, justice must be visible & wear a human face.
Our Nigeria is potentially a giant but practically a walking corpse with the Nigerian public office holder being the Nigerian & the citizen -the "near Nigerian".
Barth Abang
Is a Public Affairs Analyst/Social Commentator
