Re: Dastardly, cowardly massacre at Ozubulu

The Page 3 editorial comment published in the Daily Trust on Sunday of August 13, 2017 is very commendable.  In so many killings or people murdered in many areas in the country, we expect beautiful comments from the press and concerned citizens of the country. The question is why things never put in place until […]

The Page 3 editorial comment published in the Daily Trust on Sunday of August 13, 2017 is very commendable.  In so many killings or people murdered in many areas in the country, we expect beautiful comments from the press and concerned citizens of the country.

The question is why things never put in place until something happens negatively that action would be taken when the worst has happened? For Nigeria and its leaders, this has been happening for long without of an iota of change for the better.

Thus, in witnessing this kind of unfortunate saga, the governors will instantly appear to be disturbed and worried, thereby, instituting a commission of inquiry to investigate and report back to the government.

Ironically, many panels of inquiry were set up, good reports released and followed by white papers acknowledging the panels. At the end of the day, you cannot pin point a person or group of people arrested in connection with the uprising not to talk of prosecuting them. Who were they?

It happened during Shagari era in the 1981 when the notorious religious person in the name of Maitatsine brought the activities of Kano municipal under threat and standstill.

Commission of inquiry was set up by the federal government and reported back to the government in which a white paper was released. The federal government, up to this time of the day kept mute because there were important personalities involved and revealing such people would make the heaven falls.

Recently, it happened in southern Kaduna in which Governor Nasir el-Rufa’i visited the areas and vehemently informed the people that all those involved in the clashes, maiming and killings of innocent lives will be severely dealt with no matter how influential they were in the eyes of the public.

It happened there and stopped at that moment! There are so many instances where the leaders talked, boasted and threaten some people for prosecution. But that is the end of the matter.

Nigerian leaders neglect that it is your action that will make you great, not your command of word threats. 

Look at what happened in Taraba state just of recent? Do you think the story would change? It would follow the same trend and tradition knowing full well the actors, the arsonists, the planners! At the end of the day, nothing good will coming out of the investigations. 

The memories of late Muhammad Yusuf’s episode is still fresh in our minds feeling the repercussions of the incidence carried out in the last 8 years ago in present day, Borno state.

Yet, the Nigerian leaders do not seem to have learnt a lesson as the calamities do not, normally falls on either one or more of their family and friends. 

For example, when Obasanjo was in charge of the country’s affairs, it did not take long to recover the vehicle of his daughter snatched away by armed robbers across the Seme border with Nigeria.

How many people are now being kidnapped daily? How many were prosecuted, jailed or eliminated in order to serve as deterrent to others?

We should treat everyone equally without discrimination, or, make a bed for the children of other people in the place where our children sleep!

If care is not taken, the small fire that started from the forest will be the one to spread across the land with a view to engulfing everyone without discrimination.    

Abbati Dankanti Gumel, Kano.