On July 10, 2003, a sitting Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra State was abducted from his office in Awka, the state capital, by a group of over 200 policemen led by AIG Raphael Ige. Ngige was held during which he was coerced into signing a resignation letter.
Till date no one was prosecuted.
Obasanjo and Atiku should stop this holier than thou attitude.
Credit:Niyi Ooye
Lagos, Nigeria – Former Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, has recounted a shocking episode from his tenure, alleging that an armed assailant pointed an AK-47 at him while he was still a sitting governor. This incident, which allegedly took place under the administration of then-President Olusegun Obasanjo, has resurfaced amidst Obasanjo’s recent remarks lamenting the decline of democracy in Africa.
Ngige’s revelation has sparked renewed debate over the democratic credentials of the Obasanjo administration. Critics argue that if a similar incident had occurred in another country—where a sitting governor was threatened with a military-grade weapon under the watch of the central government—it would have triggered serious legal and political consequences, possibly leading to the resignation or prosecution of the president.
International Precedents: When Presidents Faced Consequences
History provides numerous examples where heads of state were forced to resign or face serious penalties due to actions far less severe than what Ngige described.
1. Richard Nixon (United States, 1974) – While no weapons were involved, Nixon was forced to resign over the Watergate scandal, which involved political espionage and abuse of power. If the mere attempt to cover up an illegal act could end a presidency, an incident involving an armed threat to a governor would have led to immediate impeachment and prosecution.
2. Park Geun-hye (South Korea, 2017) – The South Korean president was impeached and later sentenced to prison over corruption and abuse of power. If she was removed for financial misconduct, an incident where a state official was allegedly threatened under her watch would have led to far graver consequences.
3. Fujimori of Peru (2000) – Former President Alberto Fujimori was forced to flee Peru and later sentenced to prison over human rights abuses. If a governor had been threatened with an AK-47 under his rule, it would have likely been classified as a human rights violation under international law.
4. Omar al-Bashir (Sudan, 2019) – The long-time leader of Sudan was overthrown and later sentenced for corruption and human rights abuses. His government’s use of force against political opponents contributed to his downfall. A similar scenario involving a sitting state official being threatened with a weapon would have likely led to international condemnation and immediate calls for his resignation.
Double Standards in Democracy?
If a governor in any Western democracy had suffered such an ordeal, it would have likely led to immediate inquiries, resignations, and possibly international sanctions. However, in Nigeria, the incident was swept under the rug, and Obasanjo continued to serve two terms in office without facing any major political consequences.
Now, with Obasanjo positioning himself as a guardian of democracy, critics argue that he lacks the moral standing to make such proclamations. If democracy was truly upheld during his tenure, would a sitting governor have been placed in such danger without accountability?
As Nigeria reflects on its political past, the question remains: are former leaders held to the same democratic standards they claim to uphold? Or is selective amnesia allowing history to repeat itself?
Dr. Imran Khazaly
Headlinenews.news
