The king promulgated the decree and his signet went on it as final, unalterable authority. Anyone who worshipped any power other than King Darius had to end in the den of lions. The king had no idea the princes targeted his best lieutenant, Prophet Daniel. By the time he found Daniel had to face the punishment because the decree had the force of the laws of the Medes and Persians.
No one including the king had the power to change such law found in the two by the time he found out, Daniel had to face the punishment because the decree had the force of the laws of the Medes and Persians. No one including the king had the power to change such law found in the two provinces of Babylon in today’s Iran.
I have no idea which concept of law fits an act which the law maker has no power to revoke. In my opinion such system nullifies concepts such as divine right of kings and infallibility of a ruler. Where own decree or pronouncement cannot be withdrawn or amended, law becomes more powerful than the lawgiver and by extension renders the lawgiver powerless and impotent.
One can guess the idea of an unalterable law must have haunted President Buhari who despite the pain and outcry around his country has stuck to his position in all probability with his 1984 experience as the backdrop. In 1984 he changed Naira in 12 days and resisted public outcry, pain, and loss of lives.
One can recall the case of Herod Antipas the Roman head of Galilee who in excitement and emotion of the moment directed his step daughter to make ANY request after her special dance. On guidance by her mother she asked for the head of John the Baptist on a charger. Herod Antipas regretted but his word had to stand (in antiquity cross fertilization of ideas were common more so expansion of empires dominated life at the time. What the Babylonians did influenced Rome).
The idea of unalterable laws in antiquity should teach present day leaders to be careful of decisions, acts, and pronouncements. A wise person said three things cannot be retracted once released: the spoken word, an arrow as well as a bullet in motion. Beyond these three in our daily lives human acts which are subject to control continue to play out but once embarked upon, have no way of being withdrawn. Imagine what happens after murder or adultery or stealing or something as minor as use of abusive words. In 99 out of 100 cases regrets follow and full reparation or reinstatement can prove impossible.
If President Muhammadu Buhari will write his authentic biography (few past Nigerian Presidents have), he must dedicate a chapter to what he should see as the lowest point in his eight-year rule. He has made the exercise of change of color of currency an unalterable law of the Medes and Persians to the point of outright disregard of his Supreme Court.
Nigerians had thought he would use the Supreme Court and say well, I had excellent intentions but for the sake of rule of law and my training as a soldier the order of the Supreme Court must be obeyed.
From antiquity to date unalterable laws come with pain. Prophet Daniel left the lions den unhurt but innocent members of the families of the jealous princes tasted the sharp claws and teeth of lions denied food for a purpose.
Today ordinary citizens of Nigeria have seen hunger, increase in the venom of diseases, collapse of small and micro businesses, and several indignities because of a policy action which has mothered several unintended consequences. And because of what he has already done Nigerians have no reason to look forward to reprieve on 22nd February when the Supreme Court may issue an order the President may feel runs counter to his dream plan.
Nothing new under the sun …