The recent decision by the Federal Government to withdraw the case against Comfort Emmanson, and the Ikeja Magistrate Court’s discharge and acquittal of her, is more than a personal victory, it is a defining moment that shows the undeniable power of unity in purpose.
Comfort’s ordeal began when she was accused in a manner that quickly spiraled into a legal battle. But when Nigerians, regardless of background, religion, or political affiliation, raised their voices in her defense, the system had no choice but to listen. This is the kind of collective strength we must harness if we truly want to see change in our country.
Yet, her story also exposes a deeper, more troubling reality. The question that lingers is this: how many other young Nigerians have suffered the same kind of irrational judgments from judges, passed down in the name of “showing they are working”, without public outcry to save them? Our correctional centers are already overpopulated, and too many cases that should never lead to prison end up destroying lives.
Imagine if Comfort’s case had not trended on social media, she could have been remanded for years in prison, forgotten, and silenced. This is not justice. This is why I believe it is time for a wake up call to the President of Nigeria: instruct the Ministry of Youths and the Ministry of Justice to actively advocate for the young people of this nation.
We must feel protected in our father’s house Nigeria. Justice should never be selective, and fairness should never depend on whether a case goes viral.
This is also a reminder that we, as citizens, must stop condemning one another without critical reasoning or giving each other the chance to prove innocence. Justice is about fairness, not about feeding a hunger for public scapegoats.
As we approach the 2027 elections, our focus should not be on tribe, religion, or party affiliation. It should be on rebuilding, rebranding, and restoring Nigeria to its rightful place as a nation of fairness, opportunity, and dignity.
When we are united, bad leadership cannot thrive. When we are united, we can hold power accountable. When we are united, we can protect the vulnerable and demand reforms that strengthen our justice system.
Let’s call a spade a spade. Comfort’s victory is our victory, but it should not end here. This is the time to change the narrative.
As an advocate for good governance and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), I see this as a call to action. If we are serious about building a Nigeria where human rights, dignity, and justice are non-negotiable, then cases like Comfort’s must serve as lessons. We need to reform how we handle disputes in aviation, workplaces, and public life ensuring that investigation precedes judgment, not the other way around.
The bigger picture here is unity. If Nigerians can rally together regardless of ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation to demand accountability and fairness, we can apply that same collective power to fixing our broken systems. 2027 must not be about tribe or party lines; it must be about rebuilding and rebranding Nigeria for the sake of future generations. Bad leadership survives when citizens are divided; progress happens when citizens unite for a common cause.
In my work advocating for good governance, I have seen how disunity erodes progress. This is why I am calling on Nigerians to rise above sentiment, reject divisive politics, and unite around shared values, justice, accountability, and national development. Since 1999, we have given every leader a chance. It would be unfair to conclude that President Tinubu is not working, but the truth is that many in his cabinet appear more focused on their own stomach infrastructure than on the welfare of Nigerians.
Nigeria belongs to all of us. The Ibom Air case has shown us that when we speak with one voice, change is possible. Now, the challenge is to keep speaking up, not only when cases trend online, but consistently, until justice and fairness become the norm, not the exception.
By Dr. Tofunmi Ogunronbi (Advocate for Good Governance & UN Sustainable Development Goals)
