So, on Thursday, July 18, what Edo people feared most, eventually reared its ugly face. It was a glimpse reappearance of the dreaded Lions and Tigers known for unleashing terror and violence on hapless people whose major preoccupation is how to manage and eke out daily bread in an unfriendly, unsmiling economy foisted on Nigerians by an APC government.
The judgement of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday which quashed the impeachment of Philip Shaibu, but which has since been quickly appealed and a stay of execution sought, provided the platform for the show of madness typical of the Lions and Tigers.
For Shaibu, “everything must be by fire and by force”. No, things don’t work like that always, except perhaps in a Banana Republic and Esdo State is not a Banana Republic.
For a society governed by law and order, resorting to self help, like Philip Shaibu did on Thursday in Benin City, is actually breaking the law and there are consequences for so doing. It was, therefore, very disappointing and disgusting seeing Philip Shaibu displaying his well known characteristic violent approach to all issues.
It’s a tragedy to be accused of being a thief and all of a sudden people find puppies and kittens with you when you’re not a farmer that is into animal husbandry.
It’s sad that Shaibu did not do anything to show the revered Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, that he has turned a new leaf.
The revered monarch had rebuked him a few years ago that he is a violent man and that he should call his boys to order. The revered monarch then asked “must everything be by force?”
How can Shaibu feature on a radio program, “Man Around Town” on Friday morning, just a day after instigating the violence the previous day and be boasting about his capacity for violence. Shaibu should know that the face of violence is repulsively ugly such that nobody is proud of it. But Shaibu, it would seem, is proud to be associated with violence. Otherwise, what exactly does he mean by “Dem know me. If I wan enter street, Police sef no dey fit stop me. I do am during military regime” as he boasted on Man Around Town program of Friday morning?
Before he goes into the streets again with no Police to stop him, let Shaibu know that the face of violence is horribly ugly. And he who perpetrates violence wears the same ugly face like it.
Orobosa writes from Benin City