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The insecurity across the country can no longer be taken as a joke. The terrorists are daily becoming more daring in their murderous attacks. Good enough, the secret security agency has been forthcoming with alerts on some of these deadly attacks and yet they were not repelled. That is why any prior notice of attack or intelligence should not be treated with levity. That is why the recent notice, which appeared like a Nollywood movie, in which some terrorists have vowed to kidnap President Muhammadu Buhari and the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, in their ongoing murderous siege on Nigeria, especially the North West region and some parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, should not be dismissed. The terrorists, who abducted Kaduna train passengers some months ago, have threatened to abduct governors, government officials and other leaders if the government fails to meet their demands.
Although the government has in its usual manner dismissed the threat, some concerned Nigerians think that the issue should not be trivialized or dismissed just like that. It calls for more lethal attacks against the terrorists. Let the security agents take the war to the terrorists. The terrorists should not be made to appear superior in this war. It is a war they ought to be the underdogs but now they appear to be having the upper hand. It is only in Nigeria that terrorists determine the terms of negotiation with the government. Government must not negotiate with terrorists. And it is sad if they do so from the point of weakness. The general insecurity across the country is a signal that the times are ominous. Nigeria’s security has never been threatened like this before, not even in the years of the Nigerian civil war. Those in government must realize now that there is indeed fire on the mountain and nobody appears to be safe any longer, including those in government who move with siren and fast-moving security vehicles.
This is not the time to be overtly defensive or living in denial. It is also not the time for rhetoric or playing on words. We should begin to call a spade a spade as far as the threatening insecurity is concerned. We are indeed living in perilous times when bandits are given chieftaincy titles and given new wives so that they can secure some endangered villages in some parts of the country. Across the country, it is no longer news that Nigerians now pay various taxes to non-state actors, who are in charge of those conquered zones.
The recent closure of all Federal government Colleges located in the FCT and immediate evacuation of students is a sign that the security situation is deteriorating on a daily basis. Despite security alerts that terrorists will attack some parts of Abuja, they actually attacked the Kuje Medium Correctional Centre and freed dangerous criminals in a commando fashion. Those in charge of security at the correctional centre could not repel the invaders and they operated with ease for hours unchallenged in the manner of the same drama that had earlier played out in Owerri Correctional Centre and others before it some years back. While the terrorists are gradually taking over some ungoverned and even governed spaces across the country, the politicians are more interested in politics, in 2023 elections. While the country is under threat, the President went to Liberia as they mark their 175 years of independence. The growing insecurity is no longer a joke. The handshake has already passed the elbow. Handling the terrorists with kid gloves or with carrot is no longer tenable. The Federal Government must now wake up and bare its fangs and decimate the terrorists before they carry out their threats of taking over Abuja. It is also doubtful if this government can still do any magic to contain the spiraling insecurity in the remaining months of the administration. Recall that this is a government that promised to rid Nigeria of insecurity, fix the economy and tackle corruption when it was inaugurated over seven years ago. With less than a year to go, the government has not fulfilled most of its promises to Nigerians.
Therefore, the senators’ threat to impeach the president is rather coming too late. It will not achieve anything significant for a man, who will leave office come May 29, 2023. I think the lawmakers should prioritize on how to make good laws, which will ensure good governance and enthronement of credible leaders through the ballot. The lawmakers have not done enough in making laws that will make Nigerians enjoy the dividends of democracy such as having decent jobs, living wages, good roads, good governance, potable water, steady electricity supply, qualitative healthcare delivery system, good education, adequate nutrition and housing.
Lawmaking should go beyond fixing jumbo salaries and allowances for themselves and being head of juicy committees and other inanities. Lawmaking ought to be seen as a serious business, it is about what benefits their constituencies, the people they represent and not about themselves and their families and friends. Unfortunately, some federal lawmakers do not know what happens to those Nigerians they represent in terms of security, welfare, health, education and other needs. They only go to them when election is approaching and when their votes are needed to put them in power, to give them access to the national cake and other goodies of democracy. Those senators and reps who neglect their constituencies are as guilty as President Buhari on certain things he should have done right but didn’t, and as such must cast the first stone. The issue of insecurity in the country has even gone beyond Buhari though the buck stops on his table. Instead of dissipating much energy over Buhari’s impeachment, efforts should be geared towards making the country governable. The current structure of Nigeria will not make it work. The present security structure of Nigeria with a centralized policing system cannot guarantee overall security. The existence of some regional security outfits points to the fact that the Nigeria Police Force is ripe enough for decentralization as obtainable in other federations. The centralized governance, where the federal government controls 68 items on the exclusive legislative list is a recipe for disaster; it is a recipe for anarchy and failure of the nation. Nigeria is one of the most insecure countries in the world and the poverty capital of the world.
We are one of the most terrorized nations in the world. For over five months, the country’s public universities had been closed over welfare issues by striking varsity teachers and other workers. Our inflation rate has climbed the roofs and youth unemployment is rising on a daily basis. Yet this is a government that came to power on the mantra to provide millions of jobs every year to Nigerian youths. It is unfortunate that the APC government promised so much and offered so little in terms of fulfilling those promises. This is why Nigerians must open their eyes and vote for credible and transparent leaders in 2023 election. The tasks ahead are daunting but with good and focused leadership, they can be solved. Before the terrorists would strike again, let the government prove that it has not abdicated its responsibility of ensuring the security and welfare of Nigerians.
If the security agents are focused, and if they are adequately equipped and remunerated as well as being highly motivated, they can still be in a vintage position to repel the terrorists. The allegations of sabotage in some of the terrorists’ attacks must be properly investigated. Having fifth columnists in a troop can actually ruin their efficiency in operations and expose them to harm and avoidable danger.
