First Baba Isa|26 October 2017
When Ifere was arrested last Thursday, Gestapo-Style, I was the first person to find out and I immediately put it online, raising a mighty outcry across the world for him.
As a lawyer and activist, when I weighed the quality and quantity of information I got I knew immediately that just the courtroom will not save Ifere. I knew the only way to go was activism. I knew we the people will be his salvation.
I cant bring to the public domain everything I was told. As a lawyer, I know better than that. But I can state categorically here that there was a well mapped out and fully funded plan to silence Ifere or jail him for trumped up charges of kidnapping, cultism and arm robbery.
But you and I did not let that happen.
The Cross River State Commissioner of Police confessed that since he became a cop, he has never handled a case like this. He received thousands of calls and emails from all of you.
Be proud. You are part of those who forced the buccaneers to take a chill pill. They dropped those horrendous charges and later arraigned him for practically nothing. He is free today because of you.
I thank you for all the calls and chats… Strategizing with me. I thank Agba Jalingo of CrossRiverWatch, Ukani, thank you. You played a role that is simply ineffable. See, now I don't even have the words to thank you anymore. Thank you for connecting me with Barrister Akwaji, who became the workaholic of our legal team.
To Barrister Akwaji, I say this season gave me a gift in you. Thou are indeed a rugged advocate. I love you bro.
Simon Utsu, Dr Odok, Inyali Peter, Kalita Joe Aruku, Prince Thomas Abi Jnr, Ogakwu Dominic… Hey, I should stop this, I can't mention thousands of names na… All of you were great. Thanks for sharing, for posting, for shouting; your voice counted.
I also thank people in the category of Ofem Ekapong Ofem and Emmanuel Dan, these guys didn't necessarily shout online but they took the fight to the lion's den. Ofem, I saw all the texts and calls you made to the powers that be. I can't talk about them here. I will just say thank you sir.
I thank Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, Chief Utum Eteng and all the other legal and political leaders; it was your battle and you won it with class.
I thank Queen Jessy, Ifere Paul's adopted mother… But aunty you can cry o. Lolz.
I wish I could thank each of you by name. But you are too many. I don't know you all. I can't name you all. But you know yourself, be proud of you.
The main reason I wrote this note of thanks is to remind you of what you did, of what you can do, of what we, together, can do. I hope you remember this every day of your life: when we stand together we can defeat tyranny and injustice… We can cause a LEADERSHIFT!!!
The victory always goes to the one who speaks out in times like this, not the one who keeps silent, not the one who tries to dictate to others the rules of talking while keeping silent.
Remember this. Always.
Thank you.
– FBI
