President’s Move: Better Late Than…

The imposition of a state of emergency in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa States last Tuesday must have taken many critics who may have concluded that the presidency was a toothless bulldog, by storm. Though belated, the President’s action would not have come at a better time than now. This is because in the past few months, starting with the gruesome murder of some 13 policemen on official duty in Bayelsa State, it appears the hoodlums in whatever territory and going by whichever appellation they desire, seem to want to provoke the government into precipitate action, by targeting security agents. Killing security agents that were out to protect law-abiding citizens is, without doubt, one heinous crime which any responsible government  cannot afford to tolerate. Justifying the invasion of Odi in the first tenure of Chief Obasanjo as President, the then Chief of Army Staff, CAOS, General Victor Samuel Malu observed that ambushing security officers was an unforgiveable crime, hence, his forces when shot at by criminals, had to “charge” through the ambush, as a show of strength and higher fire power, in its bid to get at the criminals who had the temerity to not only wield firearms illegally, but to use same to snuff life out of security agents on duty.

This background provides quick support to the action of the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan in declaring a state of emergency on Yobe Borno and Adamawa States. Not just for the cold blooded murder of policemen out to set things right, but as an indication that enough was enough with the level of provocation which the Boko Haram insurgents and their sponsors have posed the federal forces over the past three years, during which over 5,000 Nigerians have been dispatched to their early graves. Let whoever could stomach a situation whereby his relative who sets out for work as a policeman or security agent, for that matter, would never come back in the name of national duty, fault the presidency on this score.

On Tuesday, last week, Bama, Borno State was on fire following an attack by Boko Haram insurgents, who torched a police station, prison yard, and attacked a military barracks leaving 55 Nigerians dead, among them 22 police officers and 14 prison officials. Acting with the well known impunity for which Nigerians are legendary, a new cult group, Ombatse, the following day, ambushed a contingent of security officials in Elakyo, near Lafia, the capital of Nassarawa State. The security team was said to be on a mission to arrest the leader of Ombatse. At the end of the successful ambush by this group, whom only God knows who gave them this expert training; over 60 members of the team were killed while reports indicate that the cultists could be holding over 30 officer’s hostage in their secret camp, here in Nigeria! This unbelievable account of lawlessness and the cumulative negative impact on the image of Nigeria, the psyche of the people and the security operatives must have forced the President to take last Tuesday’s action. However, before the announcement of the emergency rule, it was clear that the Nigeria Governor’s Forum and the Progressive Governor’s Forum both kicked against any possibility of such action in the affected States in order to stem the already degenerated security situation in that part of the North. But they stopped short of suggesting other ways besides mere dialogue on how the security agencies would stop this high level of deliberate carnage that has been going on for years. True, a state of emergency is bound to spell untold hardship on the entire population that is bound to loose much of its freedom in many spheres of life. Movement would be restricted, businesses would be shut and all that, but whatever sacrifice anybody could make today is necessary to guarantee a safer tomorrow. It may have been politically expedient to retain the political class in the affected States. But since anything worth doing, at all, is worth being done very well, the Presidency should have shoved aside the politicians temporarily though, because of the clash of interest which the present arrangement is bound to throw up.  Besides, the political class there do not deserve their positions since they have been unable to proffer any solution to the destabilizing tactics of Boko Haram, which we believe is encouraged by persons in the States they govern.

Given Nigerian situation whereby we think in terms of the 250 ethnic groups in the country rather than facing strict objectivity for positive results, the armed forces must be told that the world is watching them as they move in to restore peace in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.

The incident of Bama where over 100 persons were allegedly killed in an operation by the International Joint Task Force, should not be allowed to be repeated anywhere in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States while the emergency situation lasts. The armed forces are expected to display high level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties in order to win the support of the local populace without whose cooperation they may find their duties difficult. The task of restoring peace and rebuilding the economies of the States where Boko Haram holds sway is a daunting one. But with the co-operation of all stakeholders, time and posterity would certainly prove that Jonathan was right in declaring a state of emergency in the three States against feeble opposition.