Comfort Obi

Tuesday. Policemen who behaved better than him by not releasing any shots or tear gas saved him.

The first time I watched the video, the platform from where it was forwarded to me miscaptioned it. The caption said it was Senator Elisha Abboh – the Adamawa Senator who beat up a sales girl in an adult shop in Abuja when he went to make a purchase.

Where I proudly come from, there is a saying that one does not know when to take, seriously, the cries of child who cries often. We had caught the Senator in a bad behaviour before. So, I believed he was the one. Not only did I forward the video to a couple of my close friends, I was preparing to slam him for another bad behaviour, and tell his zone why he should be recalled, and Adamawa people why nobody should allow him realise his ambition in 2023. The guy, after the adult shop incident, insists he wants to be Governor of his State. Such temerity!

When the correct version affirmed it was Justice Umar, I was diminished as a Nigerian. Yet, Justice Umar did not still understand the gravity of his bad behaviour. For, even with the viral video, he lied, and insulted my Race, the Igbo.

Instead of burying his head in shame, Umar allowed an ill- advised statement from his office. He lied that he did not slap the boy. He gave the impression it was the opposite. He gave the impression that he was the one attacked. And worse, he heaped the blame on a Race. “I was attacked by a group of Biafra boys”, apparently, referring to the Igbo! Why Biafra? What brought that jaundiced assertion up?

I have since watched that video a number of times, and listened to the voices. The commentator was not Igbo, and the crowd which witnessed Umar’s descent from the Olympian heights to the gutter, was a mixed crowd. But, to cover his shame, Umar had to insult a race. The guy doesn’t have the temperament of a Judge. No matter the situation, they are calm. They never allow their emotions rule them

Now, the Igbo know. Unless Justice Umar resigns from office, no Igbo should appear before him. He holds the Igbo in contempt. This kind of stupid assumption, and hateful categorization of a Race, is at the root of our crisis in Nigeria.

Finally, I understand that Umar went to report the poor security guard to the Police. I understand that the guy was picked up, and granted bail after the DPO watched the video. I cannot confirm.

But Justice Danladi Umar should not be allowed to get away with this bad behaviour. The security guard should sue him for everything he has got.