In the build up to the 2011 Presidential election, some unscrupulous elements had vowed to make the nation ungovernable if they lost. Could the bombings be a fallout of that election and threat? Who will be left to govern if all Nigerians are killed through one form of bomb blast or another?
Wednesday 25th of June is one day most Nigerians will never forget in a hurry. Nigeria was to play its final group match against Argentina in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Everyone was on edge and were glued to their television and radio sets to watch or get live commentary on proceedings on the pitch of play from far away Brazil. A draw or a lose could send Nigeria out of the tournament if Iran beat Bosnia in their match that was been played simultaneously.
As the match ended and Nigerians congratulated each other on our qualification for the knock out stage, the news of a twin bomb blast in Abuja and Adamawa filtered into the air and turned what should have been a big celebration into a mourning ceremony. The bomb blast in Abuja was at Emab Plaza, a crowded and busy shopping complex, killing about 20 people and injuring about 17 others.
The group discussions quickly shifted from the World Cup to that of anger and sympathy on the death of yet another set of innocent victims. The question on every lip was ‘when will this end, when will Nigeria be free from bomb blast and bloodletting’. Bombs now seem to go off at will in Nigeria and the efforts of our security agencies seem to be accomplishing very little. From Abuja to Jos, Kano to Borno, its has been one sad tale to another.
I was in Abuja on Monday March 17th when the Nyanya bomb blast incident occurred. Few hours after the bomb blast, it was business as usual. Driving through Abuja, I was shocked to see uniformed security operatives carrying on as if nothing had happened. Even citizens seem to have accepted bomb blast as our fate and something that is normal. On getting to Utako, a very busy area of Abuja, I was shocked to discover that we could park our car in the premises of a transportation company, disembark and disappear without anyone searching or asking us any question.
Our security agencies may be overwhelmed with the security situation but in what ways are Nigerian citizens helping or not helping improve the security of lives and property around us? How long will terrorists continue to have a field day all around us as if they are ghosts, not human? What did Nigerians do to deserve this level of bloodshed, one that seem to have taken grip on our dear nation, Nigeria.
In the build up to the 2011 Presidential election, some unscrupulous elements had vowed to make the nation ungovernable if they lost. Could the bombings be a fallout of that election and threat? Who will be left to govern if all Nigerians are killed through one form of bomb blast or another? Some Nigerians choose President Goodluck Jonathan over other candidates in the 2011 election, is bomb blast and terrorist attacks the price those Nigerians have to pay for exercising their fundamental human rights in voting a candidate of their choice? Is terrorism the answer to defeat? In a democracy, the ballot determines victors, not guns and violence.
Terrorism is the friend of none and enemy of all. Terrorism knows no tribe or religion. Terrorism does not discriminate against North or South, Christian or Muslim. Nigerians must stand up as one against this wave of terrorism that is threatening to wipe us all out. Terrorists speak and understand only one language – VIOLENCE (carnage and destruction). Nigerians must stand against this act and expose those that sponsor them. Nigerians must stand against those that incite us against ourselves and the government. Nigerians must stand against those that use the cloak of religion and ethnicism to divide us. Nigerians must stand against those that are fueling all forms of crisis, no matter how highly placed they are in society. You may not like the person of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan but courtesy demands that you respect the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Most of those inciting Nigerians and beating the drumbeats of war have dual citizenship and have houses overseas. Their families do not live in Nigeria, and they themselves will hop on the next available flight out of Nigeria once violence breaks out. They have nothing to lose.
Has the government at the center done enough to stem the wave of terror and have they delivered on the much talked about ‘dividends of democracy’? In my opinion, not quite. They have made some stride but so much more still needs to be done. That though is not enough reason for us to be incited by some failed politicians who have lost out in the power game, along with their paid goons on social media.
What then must the government do to avert further lose of lives and property? Nigerians are tired of speeches and visits to scenes of bomb blast by Mr. President. Nigerians are tired of this ‘medicine after death’ approach. Nigerians are tired of watching as their brothers are slaughtered daily, either through bomb blast or so called cattle herdsmen. It is time for the government to rise up to the occasion and bring down the full weight of the law against the perpetrators and sponsors of terrorist activities. The 2011 election is over, we have a President and he must rise up against this insurgency. That terrorists are having a field day in Nigeria, especially in the nation’s capital, is an indictment on our Armed Forces and security agencies. If Abuja is not safe with the concentration of the rank and file of security personnel, where else is safe? Mr. President must take decisive action against those that are hell bent on tearing us apart and destroying our nation.
The government must do everything possible to endear citizens to its side. The confidence of the Nigerian people are at the lowest ebb. A lot of people have lost fate in the Nigerian project. This must not be allowed to continue. For Nigerian citizens to identify with this government and join in the fight against terrorism, we have to be carried along and confidence built in us. We must be seen as stakeholders in the Nigerian project and information should be shared among Nigerians. The security agents cannot defeat these terrorists alone. They need Nigerian citizens to stand with them, share intelligence and provide the necessary backup that is demanded from its citizens. Our security agencies need to start treating Nigerians with dignity and respect. Security agents should come down from their high horses and interact more with citizens.
The government needs to embark on massive awareness and sensitization campaign nationwide. Let’s stop living in self denial. People should know what to expect and how they should respond in such circumstances. This sensitization should not be a ‘one off’ exercise but a continuous process.
As a matter of urgency, a well equipped call center manned by well trained personnel/professionals should be set up with a toll free number. Nigerians should be able to share information with security operatives without fear. The Nigerian Police in particular needs to stop heating up the polity and refrain from harassing innocent Nigerians. They should harass terrorists, not law abiding citizens that are struggling to make a living.
As a matter of urgency, a well equipped call center manned by well trained personnel/professionals should be set up with a toll free number. Nigerians should be able to share information with security operatives without fear. The Nigerian Police in particular needs to stop heating up the polity and refrain from harassing innocent Nigerians. They should harass terrorists, not law abiding citizens that are struggling to make a living.
A security App can be developed for a two-way communicative response between citizens and security agencies. The Police Community Relation Committee as well as other citizens network organizations should be strengthened and empowered.
As the 2015 election fast approaches, Nigerians must remain vigilant at all times. Terrorists are humans and live amongst us. Let us identify those who are bent on destroying our nation and expose them. Presidents will come and go but Nigeria and Nigerians will remain. Lets take a cue from the legendary Juju musician, King Sunny Ade who sang ‘Nigeria yi ti gbogbo wa ni, ko ma gbodo ba je’ (Nigeria belongs to all of us and we must not allow it to be destroyed). We can all put hands together to make Nigeria great again. Let’s say NO to terrorists and terrorism. Let’s say NO to Boko Haram
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Paul Utho tweets from @PaulUtho
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Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of TNN Africa
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