The Politics Of Insecurity In Our Nation

RAYMOND OISE-OGHAEDE

The spate of unabated killings in some parts of the country in recent times is gradually undermining the efficacy of our democracy; and, the trend is not subsiding despite outcries and condemnations from different quarters. The situation is getting worse by every passing day and, it is worrisome that all efforts of government towards tackling the menace seem not to be yielding immediate results. Our gallant security personnel have been overstretched (even outside the scope of their conventional duties) in the past couple of years with one crisis or the other springing up intermittently. More worrisome is the fact that the crises have assumed dangerous dimensions as they have been tainted with tribal, religious and political flavours which have tended to causing disunity amongst the people. It is therefore, not surprising that mutual suspicion is now the order of the day.

The Christians and indigenes in the affected areas are no longer at ease as a result of the perception that they are the prime target of attacks; while, the Hausa-Fulani Muslims who are seen as sympathizers of the ‘herdsmen’ (the alleged perpetrators) are also not finding things funny. Though, the casualty figures are tilting heavily to the side of the former; the true identities of the perpetrators remained vague and debatable. If at all, they are herdsmen as is generally believed; they are definitely not the ‘familiar herdsmen’; these ones are people who are out to destroy humanity and their means of sustenance. The latest incident in Plateau State where over 200 people were killed and several properties destroyed is a pointer to a pre-planned and organized operation which could only be carried out by sophisticatedly armed mercenaries.

In some of my previous reviews, I had posited the probabilities of these crises having political undertones considering the timing and similarities with the countdown to the 2015 general elections. Interestingly, this assertion has been attested to by the government with further averment that some corrupt and desperate elements in the society are determined to discredit and halt its anti-graft war. Whatever be the case, the onus is on the government to unmasked the perpetrators and bring them to justice with a view to finding lasting solutions to the menace.

Thus, rather than apportioning blames, our leaders should be decisive in their responsibilities of securing the lives and properties of the citizenry. This is the time to disregard sentiments and selfish considerations for the good of the nation. There is a need for the collective and conscious efforts of all well meaning Nigerians regardless of their tribal, religious and political affiliations to come together and rally round the government to fighting this wanton destruction of lives and properties squarely.

Sadly, cogent and patriotic advices of some of our statesmen and other concerned individuals are being waived off on the basis of sentiments and political differences. In the same vein, members of the opposition are not also helping matters as they are capitalizing on the situation to woo the electorates ahead of the 2019 elections. The tacit justification that the present ruling party also benefited from similar circumstances to ride unto power in 2015 is unreasonably indefensible, because innocent lives are at stake. Unfortunately, the masses have been turned against one another and their latest stock in trade is fighting wars on social media and all available platforms to drum up supports for their different myopic considerations against the `national interests`.

Surprisingly, some top government functionaries are also guilty of compounding the unpalatable situation with their utterances and body language. Many are still basking in the euphoria of the US president’s commendation of our government’s war against corruption without discerning his condemnation of the killings of Christians in some parts of the country. This criticism is an indictment of failure of government to live up to its responsibility of securing the lives of its citizens. It is on record that hundreds of people have been wasted and still counting; so, rather than celebrating nothingness, concrete efforts should be made to bringing the menace to a permanent end.

Though, some of us are convinced that this government has been doing a lot in the last three years to move the country forward; these unfortunate incidents are capable of rubbishing all its achievements. The recent approval of N10 Billion for the rehabilitation of Benue communities is commendable but, questionable because, no amount of money can replace the dead. Presently, similar amount is also being demanded for the `Plateau Massacre`; but, one wonders how beneficial it would be if we continue to lose invaluable lives and properties to the ‘fight against corruption’ only to use the recovered funds for rehabilitation? What then happen to the unredeemable lives lost in the process? If the government must fight corruption, it must also have the capacity to curtail and crush `the fight back of corruption`; because, anything worth doing, is worth doing well.

Consequent upon the foregoing, the government should be more decisive in its efforts to bringing perpetrators of these crimes against humanity to books to serve as deterrent to others. There should be a deliberate efforts (through the arrests, prosecution and conviction of perpetrators) to disabuse the minds of the people from the erroneous innuendo that the government is tacitly shielding the killers. Furthermore, machineries should be put in place to eradicate the activities of cattle rustlers and forestall vindictive attacks on innocent villagers.

In addition, the government should convoke a joint session with the leaderships of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs and, representatives of the Council of Traditional Rulers from each State of the Federation to deliberate on the security concerns and subsequently release a communiqué on way forward. This will go a long way to neutralizing the mutual suspicions that have pervaded the country and also pave ways for ceasefire.

Also, leadership of all the political parties should rise above ‘partisan considerations’ and convoke a joint session to deliberate on the state of the nation and equally release a communiqué to condemn the killings and other vices that are capable of truncating our democracy. They should also call on their respective teeming supporters and members of the public to embrace peaceful coexistence and eschew violence and other societal vices.

Members of the National Assembly representing the affected areas should be tasked with the responsibility of liaising with stakeholders in their constituencies to unearth the root causes of the crises and making formal and all encompassing recommendations to the relevant NASS Committees for follow up with the Nigerian Police and other security outfits for further actions.

Also, all security operatives should maintain highest standard of professionalism and be apolitical in the discharged of their duties to avoid improper conducts and the insinuations of conspiracy and partiality.

The Editors Guild and other relevant bodies and associations should also ensure thorough monitoring of the activities of print and online media towards ensuring that they strictly adhere to the ethics of the profession to forestall being used by unscrupulous elements to causing disunity amongst the people and destabilize the nation. Provocative, inciting and, unguided reporting should not be condoned.

Finally, the people should endeavour to desist from hate speeches and the throwing of tantrums on social media and other platforms. Rather, we should imbibe the habit of engaging in constructive criticisms and objective discussions to proffering workable solutions to ending the killings and other vices in our country. We should be our brothers’ keepers and always report suspicious people and movements to the relevant security agencies.

I am convinced that, if the above recommendations are strictly adopted; there would be light at the end of the tunnel.

 

 

Oise-Oghaede is a Public Policy Analyst/Commentator. He writes from Surulere, Lagos and can be reached on 08023116867 and 08099405562