After the total collapse of security leading to a massive exodus from hinterlands and urban areas to municipalities and satellite towns for safety and resettlement, there is no doubt that Nigeria is at a crossroads. The Northern states are worse hit by the general insecurity in the country because of insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, arson etc.
The Southern states of Nigeria are not better because of agitations for disintegration, attacks on government’s institutions, assassination, armed robbery etc. Undoubtedly, with the ongoing activities of IPOB and OPC in the South East and South-West respectively, there is a serious build up for civil unrest and mayhem paving the way for the obvious disintegration of Nigeria.
Unfortunately, there is nothing concrete in terms of security measures put in place by either Government, Non-Governmental Organisation or the International Community to salvage the country and halt these ugly trends. For these reasons, Nigerians are advised to resort to citizen action and extensive prayers.
Recently, a governor of a Northern state enjoined both Muslims and Christians to return to God so that the insecurity situation will come to an end. After all, Nigerians are the most devoted Muslims and most practising Christians in the World. And our resilience is comparable to non among citizens of other nations.
President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR is disturbed about these unwanted situations but appears not determined in tackling them. At the highest provocation, penultimate week, he, however, made it clear in taking decisive action in a language that secessionists, militant groups, insurgents, bandits, armed robbers and their sponsors understand better. He promised to make them suffer the consequences of their actions.
We hope these categories of Nigerians in collaboration with foreigners will not wait for the dangling hammer before they discontinue their nefarious activities. Hope they will understand that peaceful growth, not violence is the key to progress.
Many patriotic Nigerians especially senior citizens like members of Northern Elders Forum, and analytical minds including Professor Wole Soyinka and this writer, are equally disturbed with the intensity of wanton destruction, maiming and killings happening every day. Professor Soyinka described the operations of IPOB in the South East as a replica of Boko Haram’s insurgency in the North East.
Boko Haram are deadly and their operations are the most barbaric and deadlier in the history of Nigeria. I lost a brother, an uncle, a university coursemate and few friends to Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri. Again, 36 of my relatives were chased out of Baga Town and their houses burnt down completely. They are now super IDPs for not committing crimes.
There is a video clip trending in the social media chronicling position and suggestions of Chief Femi Fani Kayode (FFK) on what is happening particularly the insecurity situation. People’s attention has been drawn to it and some people including myself reacted.
My reaction is out of patriotism and not for the pursuance of vendetta. I have nothing personal against FFK. I am neither the mouthpiece of President Muhammadu Buhari nor his Media Adviser or Minister of Information. Those are designated officers expected to react vehemently. Unfortunately, they don’t engage such people or react to serious issues affecting the welfare of citizens unless on selected few with a vested interest.
As mentioned earlier in my recent article. There is no grounded politician, an expert on strategic communication or those versatile on bureaucracy and administration around President Buhari, particularly among his personal staff and aides to see him through the murky waters of politics and barrel challenges of good governance and insecurity confronting Nigeria.
I’m always desirous to confront national issues reasonably and boldly too and disagree with people who are bias and unfair about their analysis. I totally disagree with FFK on this and many urgent matters of national interest because of his inconsistency, sheer arrogance, hate speech and double standard.
FFK is always critical about Northern Nigeria, Islam and Muslims for reasons best known to him. He finds a perverse pleasure in upsetting Northerners. He is very controversial and indulges in unnecessary controversy on chosen issues. More often, he does that deliberately without any sound technical advice or a point to make.
Is it not unreasonable to compare and equate the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with secessionist and a leader of an ethnic militia? FFK had unprofessionally classified the country into four and allotted each to President Buhari, Nnamdi Kanu, Ganiyu Adams, Sunday Igboho and Dr Mailafiya.
He argues that those are controllers of power block and leaders of their ethnic groups. He advocates for a roundtable discussion among them for amicable solutions over the current civic unrest ongoing in some parts of Nigeria. He insisted that was the way to go.
FFK’s predictions are synonymous with the prophecy of doom. Therefore, they hold no water and are not intellectually sound and reasonable enough to be digested. We should reject them and stop considering such myopic views in order to avoid further complications.
He posited that we don’t only rear livestock in the North, but we mingle together and have intercourse with cows. According to him, this informed our blindness and lack of coherence over cattle, saying that Northerners can be compromised and sacrifice everything to keep cows.
He, however, wrote the above statement personally to me via WhatsApp platform, abused my person and threatened to get at me, lambasted the elders and leaders of the North. Unknown to him that rearing cows are not the cultural heritage of all ethnic groups in the North. He also forgot that there is no Northerner worshipping cow including those rearing them. Our entire populations are Muslims and Christians and we worship only one GOD. There is no nudism or religion of Judaism and Buddhism in the North.
I told FFK enough of this nonsense and lots of his fabrications when we met physically at PDP National Convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in 2019. I quickly invited Chief Tom Ikimi to intervene and call him to order on unguided utterances. I also spoke to Dr Doyin Okupe soliciting for the same intervention, but to no avail. Later, I realised is not worth wasting my time because he is not a leader and cannot be seen as a catalyst in conflict and negotiation matters in view of his psychometric disposition and pervasive nepotism. Henceforth, he should not be taken seriously.
GOD save Nigeria!
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