Boko Haram And Emergency Rule

A lot has been said about
the Islamic Terrorist group-Boko Haram Since  2010 when the group launched  a wider attack  on the nation and her citizens,  the  news media  and social media  have been inundated  with stories  on the inhuman  activities  of the out-lawed insurgent group and advice, suggestions on how to end the menace of terrorism  in Nigeria,
But we cannot help  but continue talking  as long as the insurgents keep making life hellish  for harmless  Nigerians. We    will definitely continue writing, hoping that some day,  the right things will be done  both by government  and the governed to put an end to this nightmare. One of such is the dilemma over the extension  or not of emergency rule in  the three most affected north  eastern states of Borno, Yobe  and Adamawa.
In a few days, it will be one year since President Goodluck Jonathan  declared state of emergency in the  three worst hit States, following the resolution of the Senate. Hundreds  of lives were wasted daily by the insurgents, worship places,  markets, Police stations were bombed,  schools were attacked, making the declaration of state of emergency in that zone inevitable, so as to stem terrorism and bring back peace in the area.
One year down the road, there are varied opinions on the effectiveness of this measure and whether or not the emergency rule has out-lived its usefulness.  While the military and many Nigerians seem disposed to the renewal of the emergency rule upon its expiration this month, others like the governors of the affected States and Northern Elders Forum (NEF) consider it unnecessary.
In a recent interview with a national daily, the NEF, through its spokesperson, Professor Ango Abdullahi alleged that the security challenge in the North was politically motivated and that an extension of emergency rule would be basically for political gains.
“As far as we are concerned, the announcement about this entire emergency rule and so on, appears, to be politically motivated. Perhaps this is the reason why they are not taking adequate measures to make sure that there is adequacy of troops, equipment and motivation. From all the statements that are coming out, there is a political motive behind the insurgency and he way I is going. So to us, there is now an indication that this politics is being played by the administration to force itself into power in 2015”, Abdullahi said.
In the same vein, Adamawa and Yobe State governors, Adminal Murtalla Nyako and Alhaji Ibrahim  Geidam, while reacting  to the  call by the former Federal Commissioner of Information and Ijaw National  Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, for he extension of the ongoing State of emergency in their states and Borno as well as their suspension from office as governors, described such step as unconstitutional,  undemocratic and counterproductive.
Speaking through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Ahmad Sajoh, Nyako said, “Our position is that we do not support the renewal of the State of emergency in the North-east in general and in Adamawa State in particular. It is under the state of emergency that more people were killed in our state when compared to the period when there was no state of emergency. It is under the guise of the state of emergency that those who have unleashed violence on our people have carried out the most daring attacks”.
One cannot agree less with these northern leaders that the emergence rule has not live up to expectation especially not with the bloody massacre of school children, the recent attack of Nyanya motor park, Abuja which  killed and maimed hundreds, and the abduction of over 230 students of Government Girls College, Chibok, Borno State, many of whose where about is yet still unknown.
That notwithstanding, when the implications of non-extension of the emergency rule in these crisis states are weighed it will still be in the interest of the states, their citizens and the entire country to have the emergency rule in place from a longer time. The northern elders have been complaining of inadequate troops on ground, and one cannot but imagine what will happen if these soldiers are totally withdrawn.
Some times, it is amazing when people blame the federal government for every problem in the society. There is certainty no way, the federal government alone can tackle the growing spate of insecurity in  the country. The contribution of all and sundry is needed to achieve this. This is certainly not  the time to  trade blames but a period to  join blames but a period to join hands together to fight the menace. As the Swalili proverbs says “If birds travel without coordination, they break each others wings”. If only politicians will  heed the president’s appeal at a meeting last curb  insurgency.
Most importantly, our political office holders should not forget that they were elected into office to protect the interest of the people. If therefore behoves on them to take decisions that will be of benefit  to the generality of the people regardless of their own selfish interest.  Instead of canvassing for a complete removal of state of emergence which will leave the  harmless citizens once again at the mercy of the blood-thirsty terrorist, the north-east  governors and indeed all northern leaders should seek for a change in strategy that can work side by side with the emergency  rule.
The military should also justify the confidence reposed on them and the huge sum  spent on the war on terrorism  by ensuring that they carry out the duties effectively.

Calista Ezeaku