There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice. – Charles de Montesquieu
Before the cock crows thrice, I refuse to stand on that path of infamy and cowardice where history will record me as being alive when a young man about my age was brutally murdered in cold blood when I had the weapon in my hands to free him from the cage of his oppressors.
Akpabio has proven again and again that he is a tyrant and “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent” (Edmund Burke). Like I told a gathering of Journalists and Civil Society Organisation when I visited Akwa Ibom State, Uyo in preparation for the mother of all protests that will tear down the evil reign of Gov. Devilswill Akpabio; that if President Goodluck Jonathan can be likened to the biblical Nebuchadnezzar, then Akpabio will pass for the Herod of Peter days. It was when Herod decided to play God that he died.
Herod Akpabio in his self exalted position has played God by refusing to listen to the cry of over 3 million youths demanding from across the length and breadth of the globe to release Odudu Ukpanah from the Ikot Ekpene Prison where he has locked him for seven bad months. If truly the voice of the people is the voice of God; it therefore pass that God has spoken to Akpabio and like Herod he has played God; but like Pharaoh he has refused to let Odudu go. One thing remains; he is going to die like Herod and the time is very close.
The only excuse keeping the young man in prison is a mystery chicken change of N2 Million which Akpabio claimed he gave to his late father when he paid him a visit, just few hours after the late outspoken politician left Akpabio’s house or office; some assassins visited him and snuffed life out of him. The question that can never be unravel by anyone except we decide to go the way of the forefathers is if truly Akpabio gave late Albert Odudu such money to treat his very sick wife. The so called money is what Akpabio claimed was taken by Odudu for which he killed his father. What an outrageous claim.
It is no longer news that Odudu is well bred and trained in the prestigious Coventry University, UK. I know how expensive the University is because I once applied for it many years ago, yet this is the same institution that Odudu’s father sent him to acquire his Masters Degree not in bead making or catering BUT Oil and Gas. And someone somewhere who has assumed the toga of immortality who goes by the name Akpabio stupidly tells Nigerians that the same boy whose dad spent over N3 Million for just post graduate will turn round to kill him for N2 Million which he never set his eyes on.
The plot is crystal clear that the sole aim of arresting and detaining him in prison is to be killed by the State; no more, no less. The killers who roam the streets daily fear that the only son will one day rise to demand for the blood of his father and haven watched so much of Nollywood movies where the son is killed after killing the father, the agents of State moved to carry out same scenario. No wonder Akpabio brought in the Tropicana Centre to enable Akwa Ibomites watch what triggers part of the evil in his DNA. Nollywood must be a bad teacher in this.
Could the father have been killed because he openly told Akpabio that the powerful Abak 5 which he belong and commands influence can never endorse him for his inordinate senatorial ambition? Was Albert Odudu murdered because he was a staunch supporter of HE Nsima Ekere for governor, Akpabio’s former deputy who was kicked out ingloriously? Was the late politician murdered by Akpabio’s cronies because of marriage gone sour? So many questions begging for answers.
As long as Odudu remains in prison, the conscience of Akwa Ibom and all its residents remain in perpetual bondage. Only his freedom can remove the chains with which they have been bound with. My greatest pain in this whole saga is that the so called human rights activists on twitter have all kept quiet in preference to promoting their preferred political candidate who have camped them in various hotels in the country to tweet and Facebook positive things on them.
These activists are people I call political bread and butter activist whose only claim to fame is national tragedy where they can easily whip up sentiments in Nigerians that are easily deceived to join the campaign, when actually it is meant to line their pockets financially, I am pained that some of the activists who ought to use their powerful Facebook timelines and Twitter handles to scream to Akpabio to release Odudu have suddenly gone dumb while they preach Goodluck/Sambo and Buhari/Osibanjo. The change they seek can never come to pass when the actual change should begin from releasing Odudu.
Or is it because Odudu does not have the political and media spread of Fejiro Oliver that they cannot fight for him? Is it because Odudu was not arrested like Yusuf Ciaxon in the heat of Boko Haram battle with SSS that we cannot march the street for him or spread the #ReleaseOduduUkpanah hashtag? I have said it before that selective activism is the worst form of activism. It is better one is not activist than to choose the battles to fight, only when it pleases our political camps.
Men like Abusidiqu, Ayourb, Ayo Sogunro and Peter Nkanga all on twitter will always have my hat doff off anytime for their steadfastness in using twitter to fight a just cause irrespective of who is involved. Ladies like Linda Ikeji cannot be forgotten for lending their voice and medium. History has recorded Elombah.com, Secrets Reporters, Premium Times, Sahara Reporters, News Express, Global Reporters, 247 Ureports, Daily Voice NG, Urhobo Today, Universal Reporters, Complex NG, Nigerian Voice, News Rescue and whole lots of media friends whose names shall be mentioned in subsequent write up for standing up to be counted.
The plans by Akpabio and his conspirators to murder Odudu should not be allowed to take place. The young man has been sick and it is heart rendering that he has not been allowed medical care for the past months. Odudu it must be noted has fainted in the prison and rather than take him to a good hospital for proper medical attention, the young man brought up with silver spoon was given their normal paracetamol.
As the mothers of all protests take place in Akwa Ibom State, Uyo on Wednesday being 7th January 2015, history will be at the door waiting for each of us to judge on the various roles we played. I refuse to be questioned by my daughter what my actions were when young men and ladies took the vibrant actions to vent their anger against a killer squad government. Never should a single individual hold hostage the will of an entire generation. If this moment will be the bullet that will pierce this heart of mine; I stand to be counted as one who died for a just cause. This is the bitter truth Akpabio and the oppressors must hear since telling them is the only way to guarantee that you are among the free men that walks planet earth.
You are only free if you can speak the word of Robert Heinlien “I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do. I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do”
This is the oath I take this day; “I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.”(Thomas Jefferson)
These little things matter…
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Fejiro Oliver, Editorial Board Chairman of Secrets Reporters, Media Consultant and Human Rights Activist is also the Co-Convener of Coalition of Human Rights Defender (CHORD) and can be reached on +2348022050733, +2348160067613 (SMS ONLY) or secretsreporters@gmail.com. Engage him on twitter on @fejirooliver86
