No thanks to the rampaging streak of a so-called ragtag, bloodletting Sect with some warped religious ideology, swathes of the Nigerian territory (North East) - Chibok et al are marooned from the rest of the country.
Born in Adamawa state several years ago, a place I still have a strong affinity for, I vividly recall I and my entire household sleeping under dogonyaro trees from dusk to dawn with our doors wide open without worrying about threat to our lives and properties. No sane person can try that adventure in any part of Nigeria anymore.
What do you expect in a clime where political expediency, flimsy sentiments (it's our turn, it's their turn, na mu ne) and ethnic affiliation overrides competence in choosing who becomes say, a National Security Adviser, a Minister of Defence, a Service Chief or an Inspector general of Police. Mull over this probable scenario: Mr. President and his pundits saying - 'okay, Boko Haram is a creation of some northern blokes, let's assuage them, sort this problem out by appointing one of theirs as Minister of Defence or a National Security Adviser'. Pronto, a powerful religious leader or party chieftain props a candidate for that office and the deal is done. It's secondary if the appointee has the clout or not.
Granted Mr. President and his top military, security apparatchiks are not expected to be at the front lines in the fight against Boko Haram but truth be told, the buck ends on their table since they are directly and indirectly vested with the responsibility of protecting the Nigerian federation. It is not enough to strap a suffix/affix of Commander-in-Chief or Chief of Army Staff etc to ones name, the occupier of that office must also justify the use of such titles and live up to the dictates of such a lofty office. Back in the days, when a regular combatant makes a promise, he keeps it even at the expense of his life. Not anymore! Senior military officers are now worse than Goebbels, politicians who talk from both sides of their mouth.
Enter a Chief of Defence Staff - Air Marshal Badeh whose village was overran by Boko Haram. Same man that boasted shortly after his appointment that Boko Haram will soon be history, according to him by April 2014. This is December! Even claimed he knew where the abducted Chibok girls were held and promised they will soon be released. Lately he announced a charade "419" cease fire with Boko Haram, the Sect capitalized on that interregnum to up their game. From one opprobrium to the other.
Need we mention the newly appointed IG of Police, a lawyer we are told, who remains unapologetic in the face of his faux pas - not recognizing Aminu Tambuwal as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The IG understandably qualifies as the 'Chief Law Enforcer' of the federal republic, does he also double as the 'Chief Law Interpreter' of Nigeria, an authority hitherto vested on the judiciary?
Recall how the minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro oversaw a botched recruitment exercise into the Immigration Service during which hundreds of thousands of innocent Nigerians were fleeced and life was snuffed out of about 20 hapless prospective enlistees. Typical of events in Nigeria, the matter fizzled out sooner than later. Mr. President promised to compensate and reserve employment slots to families that lost their loved ones. It's business as usual, the Minister continues to cling to his exalted position.
Whereas the Service Chiefs, non-fighting generals were rewarded with national honors for the 'good job they are doing' - junketing, carousing and ensconcing themselves in air conditioned offices, armor plated state-of-the-art automobiles and spewing blatant disinformation as press releases with the attendant allowances and estacodes, some not-very-lucky-and-not-well-connected scapegoats - junior officers and soldiers have been killed, court martialed or dismissed since this Boko Haram quagmire started. 12 Soldiers have since been sentenced to death by firing squad by a court-martial for mutiny, some say for firing at GOC 7 Div, one Maj. Gen. Ahmed Mohammed (N/7915). A question that begs for answer is: was the GOC derelict, complicit in any way? If yes, was punishment meted to him or was he given a Soft landing?
Erstwhile Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ihejirika managed to keep Boko Haram at bay, then the Sect operated in the fringes of Sambisa, Balmo forests and seldom engaged the Nigerian military in direct combat nor did they take and hold territories as they are doing now. They basically maneuver their hit-and-run tactics. One cannot fathom how the game changed after Lt. General Kenneth Minimah took over as Army Chief. A coincidence? Even northerners that lampooned, derided Ihejirika are now coming round to give him credit for reining in Boko Haram while he held sway. Leadership newspaper of 12 December, 2014 reports that northern youths under the aegis of Yan Kishan Arewa opines that "under Ihejirika, no town was captured by Boko Haram.
Wondering if these geezers, sitting ducks in the military, security hierarchy, whose villages have been overrun by Boko Haram, have a tinge of shame? Are these trained officers, national award recipients not shamefaced that a so-called ragtag Sect is daring, taunting and in some occasions, outmaneuvering the military of the giant of Africa? Military strategists agree that you don't win a battle by continually been on the defensive. Rather than take the battle to the doorstep of the enemy, the public space is inundated with trite and ineffective excuses, alibis. Today they say, ''oh, we are fighting an unconventional warfare''. Another day they say ''the military is not well armed'', "America refused to sell arms to us" bla bla bla as if it is only the US that sells arms. You seldom need red tape to purchase arms from the Eastern Bloc. Now that $1 billion dollars have been appropriated to the military, in addition to trillions of Naira expended before now, let's see who, what they will blame their nonperformance on. The latest alibi from President Jonathan is: "Internal, external forces are sabotaging anti-insurgency War". Of course there must be folks, countries that don't want your progress. That explains why you have a pot pourri of military/security, intelligence agencies and resources to sort that out. Since you admit that external and internal forces are hampering your efforts, that means you know those forces. So why can't you tackle them?
If Boko Haram is not lacking in weapons and a wheeling dealing former Niger Delta militant, one Mr. Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo can comfortably source seven decommissioned, modified Norwegian battleships, what excuse has the Nigerian government got for their opprobrious inability to acquire needed weaponry for the military? In addition to protection Nigeria's waterways and its crude oil pipelines which he has in his kitty, perhaps it is high time Nigeria's defence purchases is outsourced to Mr. Tompolo since he is good at it? By the way, what is the work of the Nigerian Navy? Can someone please tell us if oil bunkering has slacked since Mr.Tompolo was given the multi-million dollar largesse to stem the tide? Moving on...
Few examples from other sphere. On 20th May, 2014, Al-Shabbab launched a kamikaze assault on Somali parliament building. Scores were killed in that attack. Thereafter, Somali's national security minister - Abdikarim Guled resigned. Prime minister Chung Hong-Won of South Korea apologized and tendered her resignation sequel to a ferry mishap. The then Home Minister, Shivraj Patil and the national security adviser, M.K Naraganan both resigned in the wake of the terror attack on Mumbai. Recently, Kenyan President - Uhuru Kenyatta fired the minister of Interior, one Joseph Lenko after a recent Al-Shabbab attack that left 36 dead. The Kenyan Police Chief - David Kimaiyo did not wait to be pushed, he jumped, tendered his resignation. Lately too, the Police Chief of the Afghan Capital - Kabul resigned after Taliban gunmen killed three members of a South African family. After less than two years on the job, America's decorated veteran, Chuck Hagel is stepping aside as the US Defence Secretary. Some say he jumped, others claim he was pushed. Whichever way, he left the office. Now to one of our neighbors - Cameroon. President Paul Biya sacked two senior army officers - Colonel Youssa Gedeon and Lt. Col. Justin Ngonga aftermath of the abduction of Cameroon's deputy Prime minister's wife by Boko Haram.
When will folks at the helm of affairs in Nigeria start taking responsibility for their actions and inactions? Why is it a rare feat for nonfeasance public officials in Nigeria to humbly and voluntarily quit in the face of ignominy? In saner climes, public officials voluntarily quit in the face of embarrassment or when they run out of ideas. Not in Nigeria where many a times, such officials are shielded by an "oga-at-top".
Nigerians demand that square pegs be put in square holes. This tradition of 'na mu ne' (Hausa word for our own person, cronyism) MUST stop in Nigeria. Let's give the job to whosoever can, will and MUST do it irrespective of his religious or ethnic affiliation. My humble self and indeed many Nigerians don't give a hoot if the President of Nigeria and his Vice hail from one family, like in Poland where twin brothers - Lech Kaczynski and Jaroslaw Kaczynski were simultaneously President and Prime minister. Nigerians yearn for detribalized, incorrupt, urbane, foresighted, decisive leaders who have the balls to wield the big stick if and when the need arises.
Nigerian voters must not hesitate to make clean this crop, haze with their votes during the 2015 general elections. Please let's relegate tribal, religious sentiments, personal ego and vote for the best candidates irrespective of party affiliation.
Peace is a sine qua non for development and prosperity. This unprecedented atmosphere of instability and wanton insecurity is stifling Nigeria and Nigerians.
Enough of this bloodletting! NIGERIANS UNITE AGAINST INSECURITY AND TERRORISM!
When will folks at the helm of affairs in Nigeria start taking responsibility for their actions and inactions? Why is it a rare feat for nonfeasance public officials in Nigeria to humbly and voluntarily quit in the face of ignominy? In saner climes, public officials voluntarily quit in the face of embarrassment or when they run out of ideas. Not in Nigeria where many a times, such officials are shielded by an "oga-at-top".
Nigerians demand that square pegs be put in square holes. This tradition of 'na mu ne' (Hausa word for our own person, cronyism) MUST stop in Nigeria. Let's give the job to whosoever can, will and MUST do it irrespective of his religious or ethnic affiliation. My humble self and indeed many Nigerians don't give a hoot if the President of Nigeria and his Vice hail from one family, like in Poland where twin brothers - Lech Kaczynski and Jaroslaw Kaczynski were simultaneously President and Prime minister. Nigerians yearn for detribalized, incorrupt, urbane, foresighted, decisive leaders who have the balls to wield the big stick if and when the need arises.
Nigerian voters must not hesitate to make clean this crop, haze with their votes during the 2015 general elections. Please let's relegate tribal, religious sentiments, personal ego and vote for the best candidates irrespective of party affiliation.
Peace is a sine qua non for development and prosperity. This unprecedented atmosphere of instability and wanton insecurity is stifling Nigeria and Nigerians.
Enough of this bloodletting! NIGERIANS UNITE AGAINST INSECURITY AND TERRORISM!
Written by:
Don Okereke
(Security Analyst/Consultant, Writer/Blogger, Change Agent, Advocate, Ex-serviceman)
www.donokereke.blogspot.com
Twitter: @donokereke
donokereke(at)gmail.com
*This article is a sequel to my earlier piece titled: "Stop The Back-passing, Finger pointing, Please Take Responsibility and Step Aside"
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