Much Ado about Elisha Abbo, the Nigerian Police and Nigeria.
By Emmanuel Maduneme.
Anyone who follows trends on Nigeria’s social media hemisphere would have found it nearly impossible to miss the utterly unbelievable and cringe-worthy video footage posted by Premium Times which showed a man in a hat, purported to be the freshly elected lawmaker Elisha Abbo, 41, representing a constituency in Adamawa State under the tricolor striped umbrella of the People’s Democratic Party.
In the video from what appeared to be a CCTV footage, Abbo who is alleged to be in the company of some inebriated ladies was seen assaulting a lady at a store that sells sensual merchandises -to be stated simply- sex toys. Senator Abbo seemed to be in the company of some Police officers as well, who stood idly by while the battery ensued and according to Premium Times, apprehended the battered victim. This generated a frenzied backlash from Nigerians both on social media and any other person who came across the video by chance.
Nigerians who still have a clear and unbiased understanding of what decency entails is incensed at the incident, and rightly so. A good number of Nigerians, both ordinary citizens, public officers and celebrities alike have condemned the act and unsurprisingly, are calling for Abbo’s proverbial head in a spike. Abbo has since responded to the allegation affirming the veracity of the video clip while stating that the incident occurred when he was yet to become a senator. He also went on to shoot himself in the foot by attempting to justify his irrational act of physical violence. There is no explanation whatsoever, which makes such an egregious, cowardly and despicable action permissible.
While I join in the denunciation of the act, and his eventual resignation, investigation, prosecution and possible conviction, there are a number of issues the incident has shone a light on.
Firstly, His claim that the incident happened before his election as a lawmaker only succeeded in adding insult to injury. It suggested he didn’t lose his decorum and mind after he became a senator because he never had one, to begin with. Thus, he cannot in good conscience continue to stand in the prestigious and cost-intensive Assembly as he lacked the requisite prestige and Nigerians cannot continue to remunerate someone who is apparently undeserving of his haloed position in the first place. This also served as a note of caution to anyone nursing an ambition, that actions of the past will certainly become a judge of your future, and will decide your reputation in the court of public opinion because social media will make sure of this fact. Unfortunately, a good reputation is something a slew of Nigerian politicians lack.
Secondly, Elisha Abbo is a byproduct of a protracted cultural norm that tolerates physical abuse of women, a culture that exists deep in the fabric of our common society. His attempt to excuse his actions further buttressed the fault in a popular African mentality which permits a man to chastise a woman like a child because he is intent on setting her aright.
Furthermore, it spoke volumes to the fact that the Nigerian Police is but a mere bodyguard who protects his masters from the public instead of the way around. It has shown itself once again to have taken an oath to protect the life and property of only those who can afford its services. The Nigerian Police has continuously demonstrated its resolve to be the uncompassionate mercenary impaled with frustration from serving his former masters- the people- and has gone rogue to seek out other means of survival, thereby rendering his services to the highest bidder. This legitimate hired gun has not hesitated in gunning down, torturing, and brutalizing his original masters. His black attire which should have served as a symbol of fear to his masters’ enemies has assumed the contrary of its purpose. Consequently, its popular quote “Police is your friend” has become an incomplete falsity which hides the remaining part of that statement that reads “Police is your friend only when it benefits”.
Finally, this incident teaches a subtle but essential lesson in the fight against wrongdoing existent in any form- graft, theft, and whatnot. One can only imagine what would have become of this allegation against a highly placed individual like Abbo if there was no concrete evidence like the CCTV footage to back the claims. A CCTV costs less than the allowances of a number of Police officers whose job is to ensure no one breaks into the office and carts away with 6.8 million Naira, while the innocent primate residents take the blame. A couple of CCTV devices could do a better job of preventing traffic offenders from violating the lights than twenty traffic wardens because there will be incontrovertible evidence to build a case. Perhaps this could motivate other commercial centers as well as government parastatals to install such devices as a cautionary step and seek more efficient ways of addressing security and administering governance.
Conclusively, if Nigeria was a socio-politically sane clime, the system will see Senator Elisha Abbo as a willing scapegoat to be made an example of and to serve as a loud statement that the feral mentality of normalizing physical violence, especially on women has no place whatsoever in Nigeria let alone within the system.
Emmanuel Maduneme is a communication scholar at the University of South Florida.Much Ado about Elisha Abbo, the Nigerian Police and Nigeria.
By Emmanuel Maduneme.
Anyone who follows trends on Nigeria’s social media hemisphere will find it nearly impossible to miss the utterly unbelievable and cringe-worthy video footage posted by Premium Times which shows man in a hat, purported to be the freshly elected lawmaker Elisha Abbo, 41, representing a constituency in Adamawa State under the tricolor striped umbrella of the People’s Democratic Party.
In the video from what appears to be a CCTV footage, Abbo who is alleged to be in the company of some inebriated ladies was seen assaulting a lady at a store that sells sensual merchandises -to be stated simply- sex toys. Senator Abbo seemed to be in the company of some Police officers as well, who stood idly by while the battery ensued and according to Premium Times, apprehended the battered victim. This has generated a frenzied backlash from Nigerians both on social media and any other person who came across the video by chance.
Nigerians who still have a clear and unbiased understanding of what decency entails is incensed at the incident, and rightly so. A good number of Nigerians, both ordinary citizens, public officers and celebrities alike have condemned the act and unsurprisingly, are calling for Abbo’s proverbial head in a spike. Abbo has since responded to the allegation affirming the veracity of the video clip while stating that the incident occurred when he was yet to become a senator. He also went on to shoot himself in the foot by attempting to justify his irrational act of physical violence. There is no explanation whatsoever, which makes such an egregious, cowardly and despicable action permissible.
While I join in the denunciation of the act, and his eventual resignation, investigation, prosecution and possible conviction, there are a number of issues the incident has shone a light on.
Firstly, His claim that the incident happened before his election as a lawmaker only succeeded in adding insult to injury. It suggests he didn’t lose his decorum and mind after he became a senator because he never had one, to begin with. Thus, he cannot in good conscience continue to stand in the prestigious and cost-intensive Assembly as he lacks the requisite prestige and Nigerians cannot continue to remunerate someone who is apparently undeserving of his haloed position in the first place. This also serves as a note of caution to anyone nursing an ambition, that actions of the past will certainly become a judge of your future, and will decide your reputation in the court of public opinion because social media will make sure of this fact. Unfortunately, a good reputation is something a slew of Nigerian politicians lack.
Secondly, Elisha Abbo is a byproduct of a protracted cultural norm that tolerates physical abuse of women, a culture that exists deep in the fabric of our common society. His attempt to excuse his actions further buttresses the fault in a popular African mentality which permits a man to chastise a woman like a child because he is intent on setting her aright.
Furthermore, it speaks volumes to the fact that the Nigerian Police is but a mere bodyguard who protects his masters from the public instead of the way around. It has shown itself once again to have taken an oath to protect the life and property of only those who can afford its services. The Nigerian Police has continuously demonstrated its resolve to be the uncompassionate mercenary impaled with frustration from serving his former masters- the people- and has gone rogue to seek out other means of survival, thereby rendering his services to the highest bidder. This legitimate hired gun has not hesitated in gunning down, torturing, and brutalizing his original masters. His black attire which should have served as a symbol of fear to his masters’ enemies has assumed the contrary of its purpose. Consequently, its popular quote “Police is your friend” has become an incomplete falsity which hides the remaining part of that statement that reads “Police is your friend only when it benefits”.
Finally, this incident teaches a subtle and essential lesson in the fight against wrongdoing existent in any form- graft, theft, and whatnot. One can only imagine what would have become of this allegation against a highly placed individual like Abbo if there was no concrete evidence like the CCTV footage to back the claims. A CCTV costs less than the allowances of a number of Police officers whose job is to ensure no one breaks into the office and carts away with 6.8 million Naira, while the innocent primate residents take the blame. A couple of CCTV devices could do a better job of preventing traffic offenders from violating the lights than twenty traffic wardens because there will be incontrovertible evidence to build a case. Perhaps this could motivate other commercial centers as well as government parastatals to install such devices as a cautionary step and seek more efficient ways of addressing security and administering governance.
Conclusively, if Nigeria was a socio-politically sane clime, the system will see Senator Elisha Abbo as a willing scapegoat to be made an example of and to serve as a loud statement that the feral mentality of normalizing physical violence, especially on women has no place whatsoever in Nigeria let alone within the system.
Emmanuel Maduneme is a communication scholar at the University of South Florida.
