GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT By Governor Joel Evans (GJE) I speak as a suspendee of circumstances, jostled up to the walls of uncertainties; a victim of unprecedented judgement, detained without trial, in a system dictated with rule by law, as opposed to rule of law. It is true and all self-evident that human progress is never automatic. Thus for every reform to be actualized, it calls for a proportional sacrifice to be offered. But that does not extend to a point where justice is dented, procedural legal action is bent, and law is re-defined to suit those in higher offices while oppressing, robbing and degrading those on the ground. In an institution of higher learning where you are deemed guilty until you prove yourself innocent, it is quiet an institution to be worried about. To be candid enough, there is no crueller tyranny and post-modern dictatorship than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice. It is true, atrocities did happen, property was dilapidated and a section of the university was literally, under ‘siege.’ Though it is also true that there was no proper investigation that was carried out on that eve of 4th December, the date when 9 suspension letters were drafted, signed and issued out in a very unusual manner. How did they come up with list of the suspended? Or is it that these names had been black-listed earlier before but the administration had waited for a ripe time for victimization? Why were the suspension letters issued out from the Security Office and not any students affairs-related office as the legal protocol dictates? Why was it that some couple of students, other than the first bunch of nine, receive their suspension letters later, after a number of days yet with the same charges and allegations? There must have been some interests being served, somewhere. Some interests are only known to me, ‘them,’ and perhaps, God. So many questions than answers! But who shall answer them? They have now weakened the system. No one breathes confidently. Fear has beclouded our conscience. The suspended students are now a reference point on how the system works. You cannot even dare to raise your eyebrows. Here, they render you guilty, without any right of appeal, any fair hearing, until the day they wish you prove your innocence. However, it is at times nice to accept the harsh reality about life. SUSPENSION IS REAL! Whether justified or not, it does exist. Next time you wish to express your dissatisfaction on anything, involve yourself with something revolutionary and not anything reactionary, like a looting spree. #Ubuntu
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 06:00:01 +0000