THE international media searchlight has been beaming on Nigeria in the past week - characteristically for negative reasons manifested in the resurgence of die-hard religious fundamentalists who caused the nation to witness the avoidable deaths of hundreds of thousands of our compatriots. The fanatics were simply unlucky to have been recruited and brainwashed into believing that their own brand of jihad is holy and in the best interests of the nation. How wrong could a feeble mind be? The major pre-occupation now is: what do we do to save the other followers of Mohammed Yusuf's unfortunate doctrine, those who missed arrests after being led blindly into the valley of the shadow of death? There should be many more in the shadows.
The Cable News Network (CNN) had a feast running the gripping footages, almost on hourly basis, of the tragedy of a failing state still struggling to find out what she wants to do with herself in the face of mounting security, political and economic challenges. The print media too would not be outdone as The Times of London wrote the country off in a stinking editorial no true Nigerian would and should be proud of. That piece had all the ingredients of the comments on the Nigerian leadership reminiscent of the inglorious and devilish days of the maximum ruler Sani Abacha, a General in the Army who suppressed every voice of dissent. At will, he stung like a scorpion and brought pain and misery to many families in his failed attempt to perpetuate his unwelcome hold on power. But in His wisdom, God the omnipotent took away that despot unannounced and unsung.
Titled 'Nigeria on the brink', the Times said in part: "What happens in Nigeria ...distorts the oil market, drives international criminality and open gates to extremism and terrorism." The conclusion was unambiguous: "Nigerians are desperate to see better government in Abuja. The onus is now on President Yar'Adua to overcome doubts about his democratic legitimacy, grasp the urgency of Nigeria's situation and save a failing state before he is swept away by violence, despair or another coup."
The local media too have said so much about the need for the president to save this crumbling edifice. What is totally unacceptable in The Times leader is the option of a coup. It is a past we, as a people, would love to forget in spite of the difficult terrain we walk at present. As obtained in normal democratic settings, we would prefer to vote out a non-performer when the opportunity presents itself, to inviting men in jackboots to come and 'chop' again. We can only hope we don't get consumed by these mounting challenges. One would have no option but to concur with Rev. Fr. Matthew Kukah's submission in a recent interview with a weekly news magazine that what we are saddled with are only political office holders and not leaders, considering that they seem to have no clues to the woes befalling the country.
The handling of the fire stoked by Boko Haram sect by the security forces, especially the police extermination of the captured leader of the group and the alleged financier Buji Foi (or Fai) who was a top political office holder in Borno State, leaves much to be desired. Simply put, it is extra judicial killing which is not sanctioned by the Constitution.
Typical of the police, the nation was initially fed with lies that Yusuf was killed trying to escape arrest, until facts proved otherwise. Now the police is setting up an inquiry to ascertain the circumstances of the executions. What then could have prompted his killing just few hours after his capture by soldiers who were drafted to contain the violence that got out of control of the police? The undue haste to take credit for the death of a most wanted fundamentalist has put the police in a big mess that must be explained, having robbed the nation the opportunity to extract useful information to assist in monitoring the sect and others in the mould of Boko Haram who might also be working at wreaking further havocs. No one is fooled to think that the nation has seen the last of religious fundamentalism in the northern part of the country.
In the course of the mayhem or shortly before then, the chief of the state security service reportedly denounced the complacency of government in giving prompt attention to briefs on threats to security in various parts of the country. He has not refuted it neither has the government queried his claims. If that is the case, why are we always talking about failure of intelligence after every tragedy, regardless of the capacity of the security agents to face insurgents? By the way, who is this 'government' that has turned deaf ears to security alerts? I guess it can't be any other than the National Security Council with (who again?) Yar'Adua at the head of the team. I may be wrong but whoever this 'government' exhibiting lukewarm disposition to security matters is should be told in clear terms of failure of duty.
The nation has been told that Boko Haram has been under watch for quite some time before the members struck last week, first in Bauchi State before the offensive launched in Borno, Yobe and Kano. Borno, of course, recorded the heaviest casualties having played host to the sect's leader and the operational base.
Happily, the insurgency has been reasonably contained and the security agents are believed to be doing mop-ups. But the police spokesman in Abuja Emmanuel Ojukwu has put the membership of the sect in the region of 1.5 million! This is where the real job is: where do we place the rest hundreds of thousands of the fiery adherents who also have the capacity to regroup and unleash similar atrocities in the near future?
I believe this is where re-orientation comes in for the multitude others that would be identified. The governors and elders or leaders in the northern states have a lot to do to lift the masses out of the pit of ignorance which the system has confined them with the assistance of fundamentalists like Yusuf. That western education which is their problem must be made to be their saving grace. Much of the mismanaged public funds could be used to arrange mass literacy classes for as many as are willing to have it. Poverty and unemployment have been identified among the afflictions of the youths. But they are not peculiar to that part of the country alone. Rather it is a general disease in the country.
Embarrassed by recurring religious upheavals in the region, the Northern Governors' Forum met on Monday in Kaduna and resolved to fashion some laws against sectarian violence. Laws are desirable but the situation on ground goes beyond legislation. The fundamental problems of ignorance of the masses that is at the root of the current crisis must be tackled while youths must be gainfully employed.
Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, the current chairman of the forum said activities of the sect were not acceptable in the 21st century when other nations were making scientific progress and technological breakthroughs. That is the point. He also advised governor-colleagues to take security council meetings very seriously. We hope they will do just that ... if only they would spare a little percentage of the huge security votes they always mismanage for their political ends. The votes are largely unaccounted for.
The police as an institution needs reformation and reorientation that will emphasise sanctity of a life until he is proven guilty for an offence requiring death penalty. The authorities may also need to consider community policing to bridge security lapses. But the greatest challenge is how to advance the welfare of the people with basic things of life and provision of employment opportunities for all. That is a way out of the depths to which our values have sunk in recent times.
