Release Okey Ndibe's Passports Now!

Okey Ndibe

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Jonathan, Obasanjo, Atiku, Ribadu, Ikimi : Call for the release of Okey Ndibe ‘s passports now and free him!

As past or present players in the Nigerian leadership on matters of national freedom and expression, and the need to erect the freedom of movement, speech, or expression in a young democracy like Nigeria, your immediate and collective voice is needed now to curtail official and tyrannical abuse as reported in the case of our brother, Prof Okey Ndibe, the famous author of the classic novel Arrows of Rain.

You will agree that as men who one way or the other want to ensure afree State in Nigeria especially at a time when the country cries for more bold words no matter how bitter or rancorous they appear. As you know in history if Ndibe was truly about writing words of insurrection or rebellion in order to take over the country he will not be home for a family visit. Dear Chiefs, could this whole matter be nothing but a clear sign of institutional stupidity?

With the national dilemma in the country, others like Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria in a lecture at the Faculty of Social Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,predicted that should the current social and economic woes continue, the people could seek self-help through violence, and bring the needed change that some in leadership have always resisted.

Also, with an air of frustration, a nationally revered Constitutional Law scholar, Prof Ben Nwabueze at a Book launch, in Victoria Island, Lagos, posited that adequate transformational change only taking place through Bloody Revolution.

Like these men, Prof Ndibe, is equally crying out frustration as it relates to the pain and pressure of a nation, and nothing else. No one, among these men is calling for physical violence , and certainly Prof. Ndibe as his collective line of words speaks for itself—a call for a progressive society in order to avoid going backwards.

Therefore this form of ugly treatment is bad.

Imagin this, on a man like Prof Ndibe; after almost 14 hours of stressful travel , with heavy luggage on his body, and lack of a functional lift to the SSS office , finds himself under abrupt questioning. Of course is it okay to question him, but it must be done under due process beginning from the time with his fist contact with
the nameless SSS officer. How Ironic that all these commotion will happen on Saturday, 8th of January, 2011, shortly before mid-night to a man like Prof Ndibe, a United States based Nigerian academician, writer, and speaker on progressive issues; when the nation is witnessing rampant and lawless killing, maiming , and kidnapping in the current electoral atmosphere.

From the point of psychological and criminal justice education the SSS appears to be hungry for professional development and training to avoid procedural mistakes like this one; and an unscrupulous press for the struggling Jonathan administration, and a bad international load on nation in political and security pain.

As Leaders you will agree that in the pursue of freedom of information and in the chase for a progressive nation that diasporan writers on political issues should be welcomed with open arms and not be treated with intimidation as in the seizures of passports. Let Ndibe go now, and tell the world that this is wrong, and that there is a better way to protect a young democracy like Nigeria.In the name and spirit of Anthony Enahoro free him now!

And by the way fix that broken lift leading to the SSS office! A message to the Jonathan administration and the airport management.


~ John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D , DABPS, FACFE, is a Forensic/Clinical
Psychologist and an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Behavioral
Science, North Campus, Broward College, Coconut Creek, Florida.
joshodi@broward.edu

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Honorable Fatima Raji-Rasaki the matter with Police is the lack of Psychological Connection and Clearance

Honorable Fatima Raji-Rasaki the matter with Police is the lack of Psychological Connection and Clearance



Madam, public service is all about attitude. Even when an individual is imbued with the best conditions of education, remuneration and lifestyle, if the individual’s mindset and outlook to his or her work and the community they serve, is representative of negativity and indifference, then the nation is in trouble. This is what you are dealing with in regards to the current brand of police workers and officers in your midst.



This is why a candidate for any national and state security-related job should to go through an extensive battery of intellectual, personality, visual-motor and ethical testing. Thereafter, routine and periodic psychological assessment should follow on serving officers in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) beginning with the lowest rank of constable to those at the commanding levels.



Also there are those who need to benefit from random testing and retraining depending on the test outcomes. Madam, take for example, the recent announcement of mass transfer of police personnel from the South-East to other geographical zones, following the kidnap debacle.



Of course, you can transfer the individual’s body but the same mindset remains active just like it has been, and with time that mindset is equally acted upon in any new environment. Such has been the case of the Nigerian security forces including the Police, Prisons, State Security Service, and others.



Madam, there is a reason why police psychological service within the police administration is important. For decades there is no independent or fully staffed doctoral level psychological testing and readiness unit in the Nigerian police force. None!



Madam and you wonder why, just last month in Abuja, why a police officer started shooting at a bus conductor after been asked for his 30 naira bus fare. Madam, that victim could have been my or your family member!



The formation, structure and functioning of attitude require special identification through the guidance of a licensed or certified Clinical and personality psychologist. Certainly, Police personality and competency testing must not be carried out by psychiatrists as they are by law and norm mainly involved in the medical model of verbally questioning, and mentally observing a client as well assessing their need for medication.



This understanding is important as the colonial mentality of sending troubled persons to psychiatrists mostly still persist in Nigeria. As a result there is little awareness of psychology in the institutional framework of the society. And by the way, these problems include the law making bodies like yours, where mental health course of actions are hardly raised or opined upon.



While there are some like you that see attitude change as indispensable in police work, the system remains closed minded to the methodological, clinical and ethical improvement that comes from the psychological measurement of a candidate preparing for a ‘life and death’ job.



Madam, we are talking about persons with the power of guns, sticks and badges, which could be misused by any ill-cultured persons attracted to security agencies like the Police Force, EFCC, SSS and others.



Madam not until you and your colleagues mandates Psychological systems in the Police force as expected in the 21st century, you are wasting your free time and space.



There are a few persons that see the clear need for psychology and have come to the realization for psychological clearance, and that person is Chairman Parry Osayande of the Police Service Commission. But the apparent loosely tight communication and relationship between the essential sub systems like the Ministry of Police Affairs and the NPF remain remains a strain on the entire system.



There are high level psychological experts (not the recent recruitment of persons with first degree in psychology, and calling them psychologist!) who are willing to exhibit patriotic, volunteer, and altruistic-related assistance. But they are ignored. Why, that is the way it is, in a system where strict rules of coordination, of ethics and shared understanding remain absent or lacking.



Madam, the work of policing certainly is demanding and risky, therefore one want officers who have the attitudinal power to relate with the people of the community. Since an attitude of good neighborliness makes fighting crime much easier. Madam, a monthly salary of at least 35,000 naira for a psychologically prepared constable would enhance the mindset of professionalism.



Madam, a systemic talk with the Chairman Parry Osayande will inform you that prior to an applicant being accepted into a police academy either as rank and file officer or as a cadet for inspector or superintendent position just taking an aptitude test, a physical exam, meeting the federal character or meeting entry qualifications like secondary school or others are not enough.



To be accepted into a junior or senior academy a battery of evaluations conducted by a doctoral and certified clinical psychologist is paramount. The number of test administered should cover personality, drug, lie-related test and other psychological related measurements deemed essential by the psychological examiner.



A detailed historical, personal, family and work background check is important. As a criminal background check is part of the pre-employment requirement, Madam you and others at the National Assembly, should provide the resources for the technology necessary for workable fingerprinting, and for data collection and banking of a citizen’s social history.



Madam, there is opportunity to advance the society towards peace and sanity, but it must start from your official end, and a cooperative relationship between the appropriate agencies will transform into the making of an officer with good attitude to security related services.


~ By John Oshodi


John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D, DABPS, FABFE, is a practicing Forensic/Clinical Psychologist, and the Interim Associate Dean of Behavioral Science, Broward College, North Campus, Coconut Creek, Florida, joshodi@broward.edu