There is something deeply disturbing about a government that turns its power against the very citizens it was elected to protect. Yet in Nigeria today, this troubling reality appears to be unfolding with increasing frequency. When leaders become intoxicated with authority, the machinery of the state—particularly law enforcement—can be weaponized against the vulnerable. Nothing is more shameful.
The allegations involving Tracyniter Nicholas Ohiri and the Minister of Works, David Umahi, raise serious concerns that demand public scrutiny. According to Ms. Ohiri, she supplied goods and services to the minister over several years, but payment was withheld. She further alleges that after she rejected inappropriate advances, the situation escalated: instead of receiving compensation, she was reportedly subjected to harassment and intimidation through the police.
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Even more troubling are claims that she was arrested, detained, arraigned in court, and allegedly denied release despite being granted bail by a magistrate. If these allegations are accurate, they strike at the very heart of justice and accountability. What does it say about a nation when state institutions are perceived as tools for settling personal disputes or silencing dissent?
A debt reportedly exceeding ₦250,000,000 should be resolved through lawful civil processes—not through intimidation or abuse of power. Public office is not a shield against accountability. It is a sacred trust bestowed by the people.
These allegations must not be ignored. Government agencies have a duty to conduct an impartial and transparent investigation. If wrongdoing is established, restitution must be made, and appropriate consequences must follow. The integrity of public institutions depends on the principle that no one—regardless of rank or influence—is above the law.
Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive where fear replaces fairness, and where the powerful operate without restraint. Leadership demands character, humility, and respect for the dignity of every citizen, especially the poor and vulnerable.
Citizens, too, bear responsibility. We must insist on integrity when choosing those who govern us. Wealth and status are not substitutes for moral character. Before entrusting individuals with authority, we must examine their values, their history, and their commitment to justice.
The dignity of the common citizen must never be negotiable. A nation that permits the powerful to trample the weak without consequence erodes its own foundation.
If we desire a Nigeria built on fairness and accountability, then we must demand leadership that reflects those principles.
Written by Festus Edovia, ANIPR, FICM
