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Is the north beginning to wake up from their slumber? by Lateef Adewole

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Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto says no Ramadan lectures this year

The Insight by Lateef Adewole

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”― Edmund Burke

It was unbelievable to my ears and sight as I listened to and read different comments, reactions and vituperations that followed the gruesome massacre in cold blood, of 43 farmers (or 67, according to Sen. Shettima) in Zabarmari village, Jere Local government area of Borno state. This is a village that is just about 20 km from the state capital, Maiduguri.

What surprised me most was the calibre of the people who made these comments. They are from the north and are very important personalities and groups. It’s shocking that a time would come where prominent socio-cultural groups like the Northern Elders Forum will have the “guts” to call for the resignation of President Buhari, hinging their position on his failure and that of his government to protect the citizens of the north, considering that that is the first constitutional responsibility of any responsible government. The current administration has woefully failed in that respect, not only in the north but across the country.

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The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, was quoted to have said; “Nigerians have become so much terrified, as nowhere is safe; the home, the farms and the roads. Bandits now rule in many communities; they set rules that must be obeyed.” With this coming from such high place, one should know that it has reached that threshold. To be fair to him, he has been one person who regularly spoke up about these challenges facing the north and the country at large, though, in more subtle and diplomatic ways.

The one that surprised me most was the speech of immediate past governor of Borno state who is now a senator. He said that; “Last weekend’s beheading happened about 20 kilometers from Maiduguri. Boko Haram insurgents are virtually ruling all our rural areas. They kill and abduct people at will. They’re targeting farmers and this will create hunger in the North. Government officials keep saying that Boko Haram has been technically defeated. This claim is not true.”

A virtual meeting with former Heads of State presided over by President Buhari at the Council Chambers in the State House, Abuja land border anti-corruption

President Muhammadu Buhari

Was this not the same man who defended the president numerous times even when his people were being killed by Boko Haram before? He made that statement in his presentation on the floor of the senate this week, and that was not all. He also said; “If the president insists that the security chiefs are doing their work well, then the logical implication of such assumption is that the president himself as the constitutional commander-in-chief of the country has failed in his most rudimentary assignment of securing the nation”.

I never knew I would see the day these people will “grow such balls” as to call the president a “failure”. That used to be sacrilegious in the north. So many others too numerous to recount here showed their anger about what happened and is still happening, because people were still being killed in Kaduna, Sokoto, and different parts of the country. Life has no meaning in Nigeria again. It could be lost anytime, anywhere, anyhow!

When allegations about Boko Haram “governing” a section of the country was raised in the past, this federal government was quick to dismiss it, but with these coming from those who matter and whose constituencies are directly affected, it’s like there is nowhere to hide any longer. Imagine Governor El-Rufai complaining of governors being only “Chief Security Officers” on paper and calling for state police and even local government police. Wonders shall never end! The chickens have finally come home to roost.

Sincerely speaking, writing about insecurities in the north today was something I never planned. I was almost giving up on it. The reason being that, in the past three years, I must have written about four or five articles bothering on general insecurities that we are experiencing in Nigeria, and two to three of them must have been specifically targeted at the situation in the north.

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Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna is having a hard time dealing with communal clashes in Kaduna

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna

To the extent that sometimes ago, after I wrote the last one, a commentator, who is a friend asked; “wetin be your own sef?” As the Yorubas will say; “alara ni ara o ro oun, iwo ni oku aisun, oku aiwo” (when someone didn’t complain of being sick, why wish him quick recovery?). This has been the perception about how the north treats the insecurities affecting them.

Truly, why do I get bothered all the time? I am a Nigerian. The north is part of Nigeria. Northerners are my brothers and sisters. I lived, worked and travelled across the northern states for about ten years. And historically, northern Nigeria used to be the safest zone in this country in the past. One could go around anywhere, anytime, and travel across the states without any fear. Apart from the intermittent religious crisis that happened every now and then, the region was relatively peaceful. But all that is lost now.

As I write, I have families, friends and former colleagues still scattered across the 19 northern states, living and or working there. Many were born and grew up there. By virtue of my living for that period in the region, many of my bossom friends are northerners. And with the insecurities that pervade the region, they are also vulnerable and could fall victims. So, why won’t I cry out? Just being human, why won’t anyone be outraged when human beings like them were slaughtered like goats? This latest killings were deliberately made horrendous like that by slitting their throats, to instill fear in the hearts of the people, given the circumstance that preceded the incident.

It was reported that recently, the people saw a suspected Boko Haram member in their community, they disarmed, arrested and handed him over to the military. That was their offence. And this was made reference to in the video released by the Boko Haram where they claimed responsibility for the massacre. They warned other communities which might have any intention of going against them, that such fate awaits them. That is psychological warfare.

Boko Haram has conducted random attacks in Borno State

Boko Haram has conducted random attacks in Borno State

Moreover, there were claims that the community knew of the impending attack, informed the military but nothing was done to protect them. That was bad taste and bad optics. This might affect the citizens’ trust in the government’s ability to protect them, thereby making them amenable to subtly support the insurgents, either out of fear of the insurgents or out of anger against the government. Or avoid giving needed support in the form of information to the military. This is not good at all.

It is said that insurgents and bandits now rule and set the rules in many villages and communities in the north. This is contrary to the usual rhetorics from the government. “Afefe t’ife, a tiri furo adiye” (the wind has blown and the orifice of the chicken has been exposed).

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For some years since the coming of this administration, as the insecurities escalated across the country and particularly more pronounced in the north, the majority of the people who have continuously raised the issues and cried out are from the south. While the north was turned into a killing field in just four years, the people of that region were mute. Only some lone voices from the north were heard and they were considered “traitors”. Why? Because, their “brother” is the president, hence they were not supposed to complain or criticise him, even when all was obviously not well. What kind of jaundiced thinking is that?

I read that Senator Ndume of the same Borno state even apologised for his criticisms of former President Jonathan while he was in office. I could remember vividly how there was massive gang-up against Jonathan and his government from the north, a purpose for which boko haram attacks served well. At that time, the killings were never has massive as this, granted that the attacks by the insurgents spread across many states and as far as the FCT.

The bombings of United Nations building and Thisday Dome, Yayan and Madalla, Kano massive attacks, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and all over the place. The Chibok girls kidnap was the straw that broke the camel’s back. All these happened under Jonathan. And they were terrible. However, the insurgents were eventually pushed back and confined to the three states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. The 17 LGAs said to be under the control of boko haram were liberated before 2015 general elections, may be temporarily.

But at least, elections were recorded to have taken place in those areas and they massively voted for President Buhari and APC. So, it will be disingenuous to claim otherwise. Except of course, those 2015 presidential election results from there were fake. There was constant attacks on Jonathan by many prominent northerners individually or as groups. The Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Elders Forum, Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, and many other socio-cultural organisations had their voices loudly heard criticising Jonathan and condemning his government.

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However, there was not as much as the “democratisation” of crimes as we now have. The bandits did not take over the forests. Killer herdsmen were not as dastardly in their attacks as now. Kidnappers did not take over all the roads like this. Abuja-Kaduna road was still passable. Dignitaries and VIPs did not have to struggle for trains with the “commoners” just because they were scared of driving their luxurious SUVs to their villages by roads, even with escorts in the entourage.

I knew because I used to drive through those highways and roads across the north by virtue of my work then, which involved a lot of traveling. I drove myself and most times, alone on those road trips. Things have gone so bad now; no one is spared, poor or rich, politicians or commoners, security agents or “bloody” civilians. We are all vulnerable. The most disheartening thing is that, we have a retired General as our president and C-in-C. Nigerians are feeling helpless.

In the face of all of these, you will hardly hear of people from the north speak up or cry out. They would rather die in silence, bury their dead and move on. Life continues. But it is the people from the south like me who endlessly speak up. But how were they seen too? They are called wailers, haters of the president, bitter opposition party members, sour election losers, and all kinds of unprintable names. But that did not change the truth. It seems the situation is becoming overwhelming for the north now.

There have been recommendations that were constantly made as ways forward to the crisis but the government never listened. Governor Zulum of Borno state reiterated some of them and more, while addressing the federal government’s delegation on condolence visit to the state. He advised that government should seek help by engaging mercenaries. This might be a bitter pill for the government to swallow considering that the same people in government now, abused Jonathan for doing the same thing and went ahead to terminate their contract after getting to office. It seems the dog may have to go back to its vomits.

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Also, most Nigerians have called for the sacking of the service chiefs. They are tired people whose retirements were long overdue. There is a need for new hands with fresh ideas in fighting these criminals. We all saw the viciousness with which the insurgents were decimated immediately Gen. Buratai and other security heads were newly appointed. It was so impressive that the government went about town that Boko Haram was already defeated or “technically” so. I guess fatigue set in a few years later and the law of diminishing returns happened, and we are where we are now. Their continued “sit-tight” imposed by the president is a disincentive to the other lower officers. Many lost hope waiting for their chance to reach the pinnacle of their careers and lead their respective forces. Many were retired prematurely.

The time for state police has come. It is obvious that the federal police with one central command in Abuja is no longer sufficient to protect the whole country. The germane issue of restructuring will continue to be a recurring decimal. It is at the root and heart of the problems bedeviling us as a country. Why is this so difficult really? Who is afraid of restructuring?

In all, it is good that the people who wear the shoes are beginning to voice out where it is pinching them. Afterall, you cannot shave someone’s head in their absence. Although, to some of us, an injustice or injury to one is an injustice or injury to all, which has informed our continuous monitoring and assessments of the government’s performances, commending where they have done well and calling their attentions to where they are failing. It is a duty we owe our fatherland, we owe ourselves. We don’t have any other country we can call ours.

May God continue to protect us and guide us aright.

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God Bless Nigeria.

Lateef Adewole is a political analyst and social commentator can be reached by email lateefadewole23@gmail.com or via WhatsApp +2348020989095 and @lateef_adewole on Twitter

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