Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 General Elections, has vowed that those responsible for the ordeal of the teenage boy, Yusuph Quadri Alabi who, in raw admiration, stood in front of his Campaign vehicle in 2023, must answer to their acts of wickedness.
This is as Obi has promised Quadri that he would take up the responsibility of his education.
Quadri is a child of destiny. The teenager sprang to national consciousness when in 2023, amidst a mammoth crowd, managed to block Obi’s vehicle while the Labour Party Presidential Candidate was on a Campaign tour of Lagos State.
The picture captured of that incident was iconic. It melted hearts. The teenager, with his hands outstretched, gazing into Obi’s eyes as if his life is dependent on Obi, and a smiling Obi, looking straight back into his eyes.
Disarmed by the picture, a number of Obi’s fans and loyalists gifted Quadri with some money. But the gifts instead of bringing joy to Quadri and his poor family, brought sorrow.
In the Amokoko area of Lagos where he lives with his widowed mother, he became a target for urchins who wanted a share of the monetary gifts. His family was forced to buy a cow with which they hosted them so as to have peace. But the urchins wanted more. They threatened fire and brimstone if Alabi failed to share all he got.
In January, they carried out their threats. He was on his way from where he does some menial jobs when the urchins accosted him. They dragged him to the Amokoko Police Division and falsely accused him of being one of the bad boys who engage in street fights.
Surprisingly, the Police detained the 17-year old, and falsely filed a charge of armed robbery against him along with three other fellows he never met before. To nail him, the Police, also, criminally, falsified his age from 17 to 18 years.
Hauled before an Apapa Magistrate Court, Alabi was thereafter thrown into the Kirikiri Prison. For three months, he was there, just languishing until his story became public.
Lawyers picked interest with Activist-Lawyer, Inebehe Effiong as the lead. Obi, once he heard the sad fate which befell the teenager, picked more than a passing interest. He contacted Inebehe who was already on the case.
On Thursday, April 16, the Magistrate, based on the advice of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, threw the case out. The teenager is innocent, the Court declared.
Then the good news: Celebrating Quadri’s freedom on his X page, Obi decided to be responsible for the teenager’s education. In a discussion with Quadri when he was taken to Obi by Inebehe after his release, Obi said what was most important to the teenager was to go back to school and get educated. In Obi, once it concerns education, Quadri has found not only a father, but a mentor. Not surprisingly, Obi has taken up his education.
Disclosing this on X, where he posted the photograph he took with Quadri during the visit, where he, also, appreciated the Lawyers who fought for his release – Inebehe Effiong, Dele Farotimi, Hassan Nurudeen – Obi wrote: “I listened to Quadri today (Friday), and one thing stood out clearly: his unwavering desire for education.
“Despite all he has been through, his only dream is to return to school and complete his education and I will make sure he gets it.
“His determination is not just inspiring, it is a call to action, and I am committed to ensuring that he gets the education he desires and deserves.
“In addition, we must not stop at his release. Those responsible for this illegal incarceration must be held accountable. As we strive to build a Nigeria where fairness and integrity prevail, we cannot afford to allow such acts of criminality to go unpunished.
“I once again thank the Lawyers and everyone who stood and remained unrelenting for Justice.
“Together, we will build a Nigeria where education, freedom, rule of law, equity, and justice, care, and protection of the less privileged in our midst will stand as the foundation of our democracy.”
Meanwhile, on release on Thursday, Quadri and his mother slept in a hotel for fear of attack by urchins in his area. The ultimate is to relocate the family from that environment. Lawyer Inebehe, immediately, took that up with an appeal to good-hearted Nigerians to help with funds. And, within two hours of that appeal, the account which was provided, had already been credited with the sum of N3 million (Three million Naira, and counting).
