Nigeria: One country, two laws? – Abaribe slams government’s double standards

DDM News

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has sharply criticized the uneven application of laws across Nigeria, accusing the federal government of exhibiting a significant regional bias in handling security matters.

Abaribe’s comments come amid growing concerns about the fairness and impartiality of the country’s justice system, which he believes has led to widespread frustration and disillusionment among Nigerians.

Diaspora Digital media (DDM) reports how Abaribe pointed out the apparent double standards in the treatment of armed groups in different regions of the country.

He noted that while armed groups in the Northern region are often labeled as “bandits,” the federal government has engaged in negotiations with these groups, offering them amnesty and other concessions.

In stark contrast, he argued, unarmed freedom fighters in the South, who peacefully advocate for the rights and autonomy of their people, are labeled “terrorists” and subjected to arrest, imprisonment, or even extrajudicial killings.

He questioned the logic behind criminalizing peaceful dissent in the South while negotiating with violent groups in the North, suggesting that this approach undermines the credibility of the government’s stance on security.

Abaribe also criticized the actions of law enforcement agencies across both regions, highlighting the differences in their conduct.

He pointed out that police officers in the North rarely arrest or extort motorists, in contrast to the situation in the South, where citizens frequently face harassment and extortion by law enforcement officials.

Additionally, he noted that the Hisbah police, a religious police force in the North, have the authority to arrest Nigerian police officers for consuming alcohol, despite alcohol being widely available and consumed in many parts of the country.

However, Abaribe noted the disparity in the South, where vigilantes can be arrested and labeled criminals for consuming alcohol, further exemplifying the selective application of laws.

Abaribe also lamented the lack of accountability for the violence faced by southerners in the North, particularly when northern youths are involved in the killing of southerners.

He criticized the fact that perpetrators of such violence are rarely held accountable, while southern youths who engage in similar acts of violence are swiftly arrested and prosecuted.

Furthermore, Abaribe questioned why acts of self-defense are criminalized in the South, while violent actions in the North are often overlooked or tolerated.

In his conclusion, Abaribe warned that these inconsistencies have eroded the trust Nigerians have in their country’s unity.

He called for immediate reforms to ensure that laws are applied equally to all citizens, regardless of their region.

Abaribe’s statement underscores the growing dissatisfaction among many Nigerians who feel marginalized by a justice system that appears to favor certain groups over others.

He urged the government to abandon its selective justice system and adopt a more fair and equitable approach to law enforcement, stressing that a nation where laws apply differently to different people cannot thrive in unity.

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