The elder statesman Edwin Clark has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has endorsed this demand.

This is in response to a recent statement made by the former governor of Rivers State, who was cited as threatening to “put fire” to states under PDP rule.

According to the Coalition, it’s a national security concern.

CUPP harshly criticised the federal government for ignoring Wike’s outburst in a statement signed by Chief Peter Ameh, its National Secretary, and insisted that this demonstrated the problem of applying different standards.

According to CUPP, their stance is in line with Clark’s recent declaration, in which he called for Wike to be arrested and charged with treason right away.

“Recent occurrences in our country have brought attention to a troubling trend: the use of two different standards to judge the behaviour of citizens. According to CUPP, this discrepancy has far-reaching effects, undermining public confidence in institutions and stoking unhappiness.

“We must address this issue head-on and guarantee that all individuals receive equal treatment, irrespective of their social status or political affiliations.

The disparate responses to two recent occurrences are a stark illustration of this double standard. On the one hand, there was a rather quiet response to Governor Wike’s declaration that he would “put fire” to every state in the union.

“Those in positions of authority failed to sufficiently denounce this demand for anarchy, which has the potential to spark bloodshed and destabilise the nation. Conversely, people who engage in nonviolent demonstrations have encountered unfair treatment and severe consequences for using their constitutional rights.

“It is intolerable that there is this treatment gap. It conveys the terrible message that people in positions of authority can cause disruption without consequence and that common people will suffer consequences if they choose to use nonviolent forms of protest.

Such disparate treatment of people undercuts the rule of law and fosters an atmosphere in which some people feel

We must acknowledge the intrinsic importance of equality before the law in order to overcome this problem. No citizen should be above the law or below accountability, no matter what their standing.

“People like Governor Wike who say things that can spark chaos should be held responsible for their remarks. In a same vein, people taking part in nonviolent protests need to be safeguarded and shouldn’t be treated unfairly.

In the end, the imposition of double standards breeds animosity and division, endangering our country’s unity. As a society founded on the ideals of justice, equity, and fairness, it is our collective duty to demand that all citizens be treated equally. Then and only then will we be able to go forward as a team in search of a better future.