NNamdi Kanu and the hypocrisy of a philosophy- Bala Ibrahim

Since the re-arrest of fugitive Nnamdi Kanu and his repatriation to Nigeria a few days back, a lot of seemingly absurd and completely contradictory statements have been coming from people that were hitherto assumed to be alright.

While I ignore the senseless sentiments of those attacking the action simply because Kanu comes from their region, as such, because of ethnicity, the real name of a criminal must be changed, I find most absurd and ridiculously unreasonable, the argument of some people, including the few liars among the lawyers, that are criminalizing the arrest of a criminal.

Mr. Kelechi Madu, the Solicitor General of the Province of Alberta in Canada, is one of such lawyers, whose position on the issue I view as weird.

These people are hypocrites, as they engage in the same behavior or activity for which they criticize others, who practice such, by claiming to be of higher moral standards.

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami has since replied Madu, by drawing his attention to the obligation of respecting multinational Treaties and agreements, where he said,

“It is important to educate the likes of Kelechi Madu that both Nigeria (his country of birth) and Canada (where he claims to be practicing law) are signatories to the Multinational Treaty Agreement where, among others, fugitive fleeing justice in nations with the similar agreement could be brought back to face justice. It is a pity that as a Solicitor General of a province, Madu failed to keep himself acquainted with the provisions of general laws of the country where he stays as well as international laws”. That is on the legal side.

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Because, unlike Malami, I am not a lawyer, as such cannot address legal matters, I would like to draw the attention of these hypocrites to the moral psychology of their hypocrisy.

Their failure to follow their own expressed moral rules and principles, as shown by their previous actions, has betrayed them as people who pretend to be what they are not.

When the Nigeria Police announced the re-arrest and repatriation of Abdulrasheed Maina, the former chairperson of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) from Niamey, Niger Republic, these same people that are castigating the government now for re-arresting Kanu, were hailing and applauding the government for following the law to the latter. The simple reason is that Maina is not their own.

By definition, moral hypocrisy is the motivation to appear moral, while, if possible, avoiding the cost of being moral. This is in opposition to moral integrity, which is the motivation to act in accord with moral principles.

Kanu and his supporters are engaged in the twin acts of moral hypocrisy and conflicting philosophy and principles of integrity.

Even where one chooses to overlook the inconsistencies, pretense, and constant complacencies of these moral impostors, the repulsive manner in which they talk, makes one see them as compulsorily reprehensible.

The very people that are advocating the repealing of those laws that make crime problems worse, are the ones that are defending fugitives, those behind fake drugs, illicit gun control, and the commission of felonies. Simply because those in the act are their own kinsmen.

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What is done to one person or situation should be treated the same way that another person or situation is treated. The adage is, What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has been pretending to liberate the Ibo race under Liberalism, which is a moral philosophy based on liberty, consent of the governed, and equality before the law. But in practice, Kanu is an immoralist, that spends the best of his time sleeping with women in choice countries and hotels.

Yet, because of sentiment, some people are seeking a change of the law, to exclude such fugitives from prosecution when they jump bail.

It is particularly encouraging to hear that, in addition to the previous charges, Kanu will be facing fresh ones, as announced by the Federal Government.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, disclosed that the new charge will incorporate fresh allegations against the IPOB leader.

The charge currently pending against Kanu at the Federal High Court in Abuja borders on terrorism, treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms, and management of unlawful societies. But Malami, whose office is prosecuting the case, alleged that Kanu had since 2017, after he jumped bail, committed more offence.

“He has, upon jumping bail, been accused of engaging in subversive activities that include inciting violence through television, radio, and online broadcasts against Nigeria and Nigerian State and institutions.

Kanu was also accused of instigating violence especially in Southeastern Nigeria that resulted in the loss of lives and property of civilians, military, paramilitary, police forces, and destruction of civil institutions and symbols of authorities”.

For a person pretending to be championing the cause of liberation, nothing more is needed to illustrate the hypocrisy of a philosophy.

Ibrahim, a media advisor writes from Abuja