“I WILL hit the ground running”.
Mr president sure did and we all are running with him.
This piece is going to be a jumpy record of things that have gotten Nigerians to a certain level of anger.
The failure of governance in Nigeria manifests in the declining capacity of political leaders to recognize systemic risks such as election fraud, terrorist attacks, herder-farmer conflict, armed banditry, and police brutality and put in place the necessary measures to navigate these challenges.
Let’s go down memory lane.
The Kano January 2012, Boko Haram multiple attacks – imprinted in the minds and hearts of the people that witnessed it, to be told as history for the generations to come.
The first ever Boko Haram attack in ancient city on 20 January 2012: At least 185 killed in Kano following coordinated bombings and gun battles as claimed by the insurgent group.
Then came the second, third and gradually, we lost count. Other states recording theirs too. Soon, it’s no longer NEWS when there’s a new blast, you just check if family and friends are safe, say a silent prayer,and you go on with your activities.
Kidnappings were usually heard in the south-south when the militants of the Niger Delta took total hostage to protest the inequality in the region.
According to the militants, Nigeria is built at the expense of the region which serves as the cash cow for the whole country, that’s on the occasion kidnap is heard of in Nigeria and the movies, where it all seemed impossible. Today, we are living that horrible impossibility, people used to be afraid of mere hearing of the word “kidnap” but the world we live in today, “if it’s not you or your family, you just say a brief prayer and carry on with your life.
May Nigeria not happen to us.
Twenty years ago, one’s greatest fear when traveling was to be met by armed robbers on the road, but now armed robbery is old fashioned, kidnapping is the new order of the day. Kidnapped, traumatized, brutalized and abused. Where’s our government? At the top, doing nothing at all. Do we have a functional government at all? Yeah it’s called democracy.
When people got tired and came out to protest, to say their mind, ENOUGH, Akpabio said while on the streets, they will be in their homes chilling. How insensitive! Ohh very sensitive I meant and caring thing to say to the people whose families have been affected, kidnapped, abused and killed and also can’t afford 3 square meal. It’s either 0-0-1,1-0-1, 0-1,-1, well as the situation warrants.
Let’s quote Late Gen Sani Abacha:, “any insurgency that lasts more than 24 hours, the government has a hand in it.” No doubt..
BELLO TURJI, Man of the moment, the self appointed chief of Army staff, releasing video after video, statement after statement with no fear or whatsoever, doing giveaways on tik tok but it’s Dan Bello, a public commentator and comedian the APC chairman is concerned about, that should be caught and jailed, really?
Upon all the calamities Nigerians are facing, it’s a skit maker that’s your major concern? Oh I forgot, there’s no freedom of speech in my dear country, that was how Dadiyata, a journalist was allegedly nowhere to be found. Ja’afar ja’afar can’t come to Nigeria freely all because they spoke about injustices.
That was also how in the previous government when a boy made a comment on X, was dug and abused, just because he made a comment on the Obasanjo internet. Why can’t the same energy be channeled to bring out these people in the bush? They are not hidden, they move freely with no atom of fear. Fear who to begin with? Their sponsors? Ah!
To be continued…
- Kabara, is a writer and public commentator. Her syndicated column, Voice, appears on News Point Nigeria newspaper on Mondays. She can be reached on hafceekay01@gmail.com.