By Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi

Regrettably, we had to postpone the Apostolic Round Table (ART) North West Conference scheduled for Wednesday, 17th – 19th February, 2021, in Kaduna due to circumstances that border principally on logistics, especially insecurity.
Our outreaches to other Northern zones are also on hold until the current insecurity situation improves.

Superlative mobilisation and preparation by the Congress of Northern Nigerian Christians have been in progress and Online registrations recorded from the 185 local government areas in the North West is a good testimony of their commendable efforts. But life comes first as security of life and priority must remain the priority of government, organisations and individuals.

Prior to 2015, Nigerians were unanimous in their decision to rid the country of insecurity. They frowned at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan-led administration’s inability to tackle the menace of Boko Haram at the poll. This principal reason threw President Muhammadu Buhari, a retired general and former military head of state, up as the man for the job.

Though Buhari is a man not known for charisma, he was charismatic with his inaugural speech at the Eagle Square on May 29th 2015 when he promised to be for nobody, but to be for everybody.

The declaration seems to resonate with the nation’s need for a leader for all who would lead from the front. But Nigerians were wrong, as the president is absent from the field and in silence most time when his voice should be heard.

Buhari’s performance is disappointingly disheartening. The level of insecurity in the country has not only risen but also criminals have become lords and laws unto themselves.

Bandits are running their businesses with little or no challenge from the government. They hold regular meetings with representatives of our government. Yet, there is no improvement as if government officials are stakeholders at increasing their profits. Dens of kidnappers liter the country.

Wadume remains an embarrassment to APC, the military, our government and Nigeria as a nation. The man who promised to be for nobody has, in unmistakable terms, proved to be for criminals of the Fulani descent who are bent on their criminalities and allegedly being aided by government and its agencies.

Change of strategies by Boko Haram is more of a proof of government culpability as they boast of reduced activities of Boko Haram while ignoring their tactical offshoots of killer herdsmen who are on the prowl wrecking havoc on famers and farming communities across the country.

In one day 97 farmers were slaughtered in one fell swoop and our Presidency had the effrontery to say that it was because they didn’t obtain military permission to go to their farms. What hopelessness from a government that has been canvassing diversification into agriculture as a major means of revenue generation.

A serious government is known for two basic things: Citizenry protection (security) and the economy. But our government fails to protect the farmers as citizens and contributors to the economy.

The business arm of Boko Haram hides behind banditry and kidnapping, overseeing illegal mining of mineral resources across the country. The gold mining industry in Zamfara State is within their grip. Several communities in the North West zones are levied in different forms, from paying to hold marriages and other unthinkable and outrageous levies.

Maybe, if the Southern Kaduna community that held a marriage ceremony which was invaded by herdsmen, killing several persons had paid a marriage levy, instructions would have gone from bandits to their foot soldiers, the herdsmen, to spare them. Could failure to pay farming levy be the reason for grazing animals on farmlands and if the farmers revolt they are killed?

A senator of the Federal Republic representing Osun State, Chief Adenigba Fadahunsi once cried out over the illegal mining of gold by people of northern origin who are backed by the military humiliating and harassing the natives.

From the palace of the Sultan in Sokoto to that of Alafin of Oyo the cry is the same. From the courageous Christmas homily of Father Matthew Hassan Kukah to the adventure of Sheikh Gumi into the forest of the bandits, one thing is clear. Nigeria must be saved now or else, Chinua Achebe may become a prophet, who prophesied, there was a country!

We cried as we walked. The cry was deafening in Benue. Everyone in the world heard, except our president. But how about the Presidency? The institution was unfairly on silent mode till the president got to know three months later.

Three months is the process time of emergency information in the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. Little wonder insecurity has taken almost six years without solution in sight. In the 21st century when New York is a click of a button in distance to Abuja, Benue couldn’t be heard from Abuja until three months later.

Our descent into a state of anarchy was a long walk. Our President, Muhammadu Buhari spoke no words of comfort to victims to assure them of his presiding over Nigeria. Neither were criminals perpetrating carnage confronted by those bearing the order of our commander in chief.

Our space is vacuum of command. Law and order are on vaccination for self help. Our people are forced to turn and brigandage is celebrated, an hero is made out of one Sunday Igboho, while the government watches “helplessly.”

In the midst of these we were compelled by reports associated with the growing tension in the country occasioned by the evacuation order issued to Fulani militias hiding in the forest of South West Nigeria, who hitherto had monopoly of violence across the country, until we got pushed to the wall to postpone a political education conference meant to equip our people towards making informed decisions in 2023.

The North is known for prompt reprisal attacks. But for that not happening is a surprise, and should get anybody worried. The hegemony of the North is an asset to leadership, but unfortunately most time wrongly invested. The streets in the North is at the mercy of the elite and political leaders.

A war can be ordered at 6 am prayers in the mosque and ended 8 pm same day. That is how loyal the streets are to religious leaders who are parts of the oligarchy system that runs northern Nigeria. Buhari’s victory at the poll in 2015 is a testimony.

The war of words and ethnic jingoism have left the streets to tabernacle in our state houses. It’s of course very troubling that His Excellency, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, reiterated the position of “Progressive” Northern governors who, in their reaction to the Governor of Ondo State, disappointed Nigerians.

How can a governor speaking for a group of governors order those who are already carrying AK47 to the knowledge of the world to carry same in self defence? Bala Mohammed unwittingly gave legality to illegality.

Though His Excellency Rotimi Akeredolu’s reaction is worrisome, his colleagues from the North failed woefully as statesmen to critically analyse the situation and step up their game to proffer solutions; but unfortunately like common streets’ urchins are inciting violence.

It is in the light of this that Kaduna that has been the theatre of genocide of Christians unattended to by the Chief Security Officer of that state, His Excellency Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, is considered unsafe to host ART- The Spirit of LAGOS in the present circumstances.

The position of Gov El-Rufai isn’t any better than that of Bala Mohammed. One would have thought that those who are ambitious of becoming our president would have at least hidden their nepotism, but the blue blood won’t allow them.

We can no longer pretend that ours isn’t a failed state. 2015 to 2019 was somewhat better, because the 8th Assembly led by Saraki and Dogara were alive to their responsibilities at checking executive recklessness. The failure of the 9th Assembly led by Lawan and Gbajabiamila to serve as stop gap has encouraged the docility of the president.

This is the reason both the people and their governors are resorting to self help in the face of the failure of law and order.
My advice to all Nigerians is to remain calm wherever they are and to shun the incitement from those who should lead us to peace but are calling for war.

To the 9th Assembly, it must be sounded that the onus is on them to check this anachronism from degenerating into war by serving an impeachment notice on the president. A stitch in time saves nine.

Dr. Akinyemi wrote via bolajiakinyemi66@gma.com

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