Activist Berates Call for Crackdown on Critics

A Public Interest Advocate and Social Crusader, Darlington Onyebuchi Agoha has described as a patriotic spectacle, the call by the Save Nigeria Movement and Federation of Freelance Journalists for the DSS and the Nigerian Police to arrest the critics of the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu.

In a statement on Tuesday, made available to newsmen, Agoha wondered why Journalists, who defend the right to investigate public records are calling for the arrest of concerned citizens for asking questions.

“It is truly a ‘patriotic’ spectacle to see the Save Nigeria Movement and a supposed federation of ‘freelance journalists’ begging the DSS and the Nigerian Police to arrest people for asking questions. Usually, journalists defend the right to investigate public records; these ones are acting like a private security firm for Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu”.

“If his records for his Ph.D., LL.D., and CFR are as ‘unassailable’ as his supporters claim, why do they need the secret police to ‘fish out’ critics? Since when did verifying a public official’s NYSC dates become a crime that requires the DSS?”

“His supporters are currently celebrating a dismissal from the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) as if it were a total exoneration, but they are ignoring the fine print. The LPDC ruled that it lacks the statutory jurisdiction to investigate the matter because the alleged infractions—simultaneously attending Law School and serving in the NYSC—occurred before he was called to the Bar”.

“In simple terms, the panel said, ‘It’s not our job to judge what he did before he became a lawyer.’ It’s like a referee refusing to give a red card because the foul happened in the tunnel before the match started—it doesn’t mean the foul didn’t happen; it just means the referee can’t blow the whistle”.

“Perhaps if Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu’s supporters spent less time listing his alphabet soup of titles and more time showing a simple, clear timeline of his 2010–2011 NYSC service versus his Law School attendance, the Nigerian Police could focus on actual criminals instead of ‘fishing out’ people who can read a calendar”.

Darlington Onyebuchi Agoha
Public Interest Advocate & Social Crusader