Random thoughts on Abuja and Boko Haram

Another major issue is the poor management of this unfortunate development by the government at the highest level in the country. I have written previously to suggest that it will appear that there is a growing conspiracy of silence at the peak of the nation’s political empire for the simple fact that these dastardly acts […]

Another major issue is the poor management of this unfortunate development by the government at the highest level in the country. I have written previously to suggest that it will appear that there is a growing conspiracy of silence at the peak of the nation’s political empire for the simple fact that these dastardly acts are limited in space even if the victims may be national in outlook. I have also written a couple of times to suggest that the manner in which these crises are handled by Abuja leaves much to be desired. Could it be true that those who sit on top believe that such unending violence is likely the best option to create more space for them to rule and plunder?

As a student of history, there are several suggestions that are often provided when anarchy and totalitarianism are about to be the hallmarks in governance. Stereotype the citizenry, create fear in the minds of people and intensify campaigns of hate against specific categories so that the conscience of the other people is directed towards hate of any groups or individuals that may so be stereotyped by the cabal in power. I am afraid that the statement credited to President Jonathan during that Sunday service marking the Armed Forces Remembrance Day either deliberately or otherwise was interpreted by several citizens to mean that the die is cast.

But one question which keeps bugging my mind is what kind of leaders would want to have chaos as the landmark while they hold fort? Even if as some opinions suggest that there is the deliberate game plan to balkanize the country just for the sake of control of resource, would it be appropriate to go that way with ocean of blood in the bowls of our leaders? In summary, I think the federal government of Nigeria is not managing the crises in the country with effective rectitude to get things right. Could the claim by many be true that in fact what we see happen by the day has some official undertone to it?

Nigeria is a federation and can best subsist as such. I am also of the view that presidential system of government might have reached its climax within the national political pendulum. Meaning that parliamentarianism may be a better option given the intensity of the aggressive competition for access and space amongst the various sectional elites within the country. However, these questions that continue to agitate my mind are worrisome and I will need someone to help me either answer or amplify them so that those who need to hear should hear and act fast before we all are condemned in a country that provided some of us with everything that we require to get to where we are in life.

Since the commencement of the Boko Haram crisis why has the President refused to visit Borno State? He was at the scenes of bombing at the NPF HQ and Madalla. He was in Jos. He even visited the scene of Ogunpa flood disaster in Ibadan. What is about Borno that is stopping the President from going to show compassion to the people? Surely it cannot be because it is ruled by an opposition party? All that the President has sent to Borno have been soldiers. Surely, the President can do much better, more so that he was there to ask for their votes. Why has the ruling party hounded the state for so long? Are they desperate to add Borno as a trophy by all means necessary, including the use of the Boko Haram crisis?

Then, what is the true story about the alleged Boko Haram suspect allegedly arrested in the Borno governor’s lodge? What was the level of involvement of the suspect in Boko Haram activities? At what point did the police begin to trail him? When did they lose him? When did they re-connect with him? Why was he not picked earlier? Was such a man actually arrested or a scene was just created at the Borno lodge in Asokoro? I view what happened as a climax of security breach and the implications are tremendous. I am of the strong view that the Federal Government must work more proactively to beef up security in the crises ridden areas especially and the country in general.

As I have often argued, a more humane approach to the insurgency may yield more positive results than this military campaign than most often than not consume very innocent souls. Is it not the western legal system that opines that it is better to set several guilty free than to punish an innocent? I am worried and I am sure as I did said in the beginning of this piece, several Nigerians are, too. We want to see the end of this abracadabra. God bless Nigeria and Nigerians.