Hard drug policies, to be effective, must not harbour ‘sacred cows’. The barons, the couriers and the users are all liable. Hard drugs influence crime and damage the brain. Nevertheless, merely executing one hungry, jobless individual over hard drugs today might only lead to another recruitment tomorrow. Killing them may scare some, but providing more jobs and reducing the high cost of living could work much better!
My attempt at playing “the good neighbour” nearly landed me in okra soup yesterday. A fellow named Baba Ojo, who lives in that yellow house, suddenly fell ill. Consequently, I rushed to Mallam Abu and bought some tablets. What a wasted effort!
When Baba Ojo saw the malaria tablets, he gave me a “bombastic side eye.”
“Ah, wetin be dis?” he exclaimed, eyeing the small, white tablet with suspicion. “I no fit swallow dis thing, e be like stone! Shebi Senators say make we no take hard drugs. I no want go jail o.”
Despite my best efforts to use every bit of grammar I knew, including a smattering of Yoruba, I couldn’t convince him. Even assurances from concerned family members didn’t sway him. In his mind, if it’s hard like a stone, it must be the “hard drugs” the Senate vehemently opposes.
Just when all seemed lost, Baba Ojo had a stroke of genius. “I go cook dis tablet like eba, make e soft small before I swallow am!”
The Real Issue with Hard Drug Policies
So, the Nigerian Senate has condemned dealers, manufacturers, couriers, and users of “hard drugs.” However, will that law impact the “De main, De main” people in the business? Typically, the small fries—the couriers—take the fall. Meanwhile, the big guys hide behind their bags of money. You can’t see them; you can’t reach them.
Consider this: a suspected baron has faced arrest in the bustling city of Lagos. We all know Lagos blends chaos and creativity in a symphony of honking horns. Nearby, the trial begins. Witnesses “fumble and stumble” over their words, while evidence vanishes faster than a plate of jollof rice at a wedding.
As the trial reaches its climax, the courtroom fills with palpable anticipation. Will the BIG man face justice, or will he walk free?
The tension is as real as Tinubu’s economic trials. With a final flourish, the court delivers its verdict: The BIG man is too big to be jailed! Due to a lack of sufficient evidence, and a perceived waste of court time, he is declared innocent. His jubilant supporters cheer.
The Law and Its Implications
As the BIG man exits the courtroom, he smiles and adds a spring to his steps.
The fear of hard drugs is real, but the fear of a death sentence is even more significant. Even if a judge grows bold and sentences a baron to death, will the governor support it? After all, won’t money likely buy freedom? Making laws is relatively easy, but implementing them presents a significant challenge.
Implementing a death sentence for hard drugs could indeed be beneficial. At the very least, the law will create more engagements for the lawyers. The ever-earnest Barrister Ade, prosecuting, will present his case with the gravitas of a Shakespearean tragedy. Meanwhile, the quick-witted Barrister Obi will counter with a comedic performance worthy of a stand-up routine.
It’s not just the lawyers who will enjoy the show. Oh no. What about the colorful cast of characters that make up our society? From the stoic market woman, Mama Pepper, who loves gossip, to the overzealous youth corper eager to make a name among school kids?
Hard drugs are indeed harmful. They influence crime and damage the brain. Nevertheless, drug policies encouraging the execution of one hungry, jobless individual over hard drugs today might only lead to another recruitment soon. Killing them may scare some, but providing more jobs and reducing the high cost of living could work much better!
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