USA Africa Dialogue Series - On the Detention of Prof. Okey Ndibe

 

 

Dear All:

 

Why might a government be UNHAPPY with a mere public commentator like Prof. Okey Ndibe?  This may be because:

 

1.  he has (once or repeatedly) criticized a particular government policy;

2.  he told a truth (that the government would rather not let the world know); a lie or untruth (once or repeatedly) about a government policy or official;

3.  he (once or repeatedly) abused a particular high government official.

4.  he asked (once or repeatedly) for the removal of political support for a government-in-power - as in in the next elections.

 

None of the above should cause him to be stopped at the border when entering or leaving the country.  Criticism - even severe one - abuse, and preference of alternate government are part of politics, while correcting the lie or untruth are all that need to be done.

 

 

But why might a commentator be justifiably STOPPED at a border?

 

1.  He has REPEATEDLY (not even just once) asked for violent reaction (including mayhem and murder) to a government or its functionaries, and has demonstrated a followership willing to obey him.

 

This is INCITEMENT to violent or murderous cannot be tolerated in any society by the government-of-the-day, even if we agree that it is a fascist one. Even a progressive one will not tolerate it.  It is the only basis that I can see for a commentator to be STOPPED at the border, and should be charged for INCITEMENT for actual mayhem, not just warned.

 

And why might a commentator be on a WATCH-LIST at a border?

  

1.  He has ONCE or REPEATEDLY asked for violent reaction (including mayhem and murder) to a government or its functionaries, but has NOT demonstrated a followership willing to obey him.

 

In that case, when stopped, he should be told PRECISELY why he is being stopped.

 

Note that I have emphasised a MERE PUBLIC COMMENTATOR, not one, who, in addition to public commentaries, is

 

1.  a spy for a foreign government;

2   a gun runner with an intent to war against the government;

3.  a crook (financial, etc.)

 

Those who arrested Prof Okey Ndibe in Nigeria within the past few days should tell us PRECISELY why he was stopped, and who else is on the watch list that Okey was on.  Merely releasing him - welcome as it is - is clearly not enough.

 

Those are my thoughts; yours are welcome.

 

And there you have it.

 

 

Bolaji Aluko

Public Commentator

 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-
unsubscribe@googlegroups.com