El-rufai’s Farce and Tales of BH ‘Fighters’ without Arms

Ring true BY Yemi Adebowale               Phone 08054699539

Email: yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

One man that has been a big disappointment in this political era is Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State. Persistent attacks and kidnappings by terrorists in this state have exposed his incompetence. The latest from calamity El-rufai is the decision to indefinitely shut all schools in the state due to unending attacks by terrorists. His government argues that the closure was to secure the lives of students, teachers and other stakeholders in the education sector, and that security agencies were currently carrying out operations against bandits to improve the security situation in the state. One of El-rufai’s aides added: “The Kaduna State Government is concerned about the safety of lives and property and will give clearance for the schools to reopen as soon as security improves.”

]Closing all schools is not the solution to the unending killings and kidnappings in Kaduna State. Yes, there will be nobody to kill and kidnap in Kaduna schools again, following the closure. But the truth is that in Kaduna State, terrorists persistently kill and kidnap people on the roads, highways, homes, farms, offices, schools, churches and mosques. So, with the schools shut, terrorists targeting people in schools will join those targeting homes and these other places. Highways, communities and the rest will record more attacks. It is as simple as this.

I thought El-rufai should know this.
For me, emphasis should be on total destruction of terrorists rampaging in Kaduna State. It should be about securing Kaduna citizens wherever they are, or will the Kaduna State Government also shut homes, offices, places of worship, highways, farms, to curtail killings and kidnappings? El-rufai should put pressure on the federal government and also proactively use his security vote, to achieve the objective of total elimination of terrorists in the state instead of this cosmetic step of closing schools.

It is also pertinent to note that Kaduna is a garrison state, with huge number of military formations. El-rufai has to seek for wisdom, coupled with his security vote, to mobilise the huge military formations here, for real assault on the terrorists.
This governor has similarly messed up on the issue of ransoms to kidnappers. My dear El-rufai, it is not enough to say that you will not negotiate with terrorists or pay ransom. Of course, many of us are against negotiating with bandits. We support you on this. But what have you done for over six years to protect your citizens and ensure the release of hundreds still with kidnappers? Honestly, I can’t see any serious action in this direction. Kaduna State is under siege by terrorists. As of this morning, about 83 students of Bethel Baptist School, Damishi, Kaduna, are still in the dungeon of bandits.

545 people were killed by bandits in Kaduna State in the first six months of this year. I am talking about human beings here, not animals. In this same Kaduna State, 1723 people were abducted within the first six months of this year and ransom running into billions of Naira paid. What we have in Nigeria today is a federal government that can’t protect its citizens. The state governors have also failed woefully to protect citizens. El-rufai is a big disaster in this direction. This governor has never been there for anybody in this state. He enjoys showboating and persistently spins rubbish, without offering relief to victims of unending killings and kidnappings in his state. This is the tragedy of the Nigerian nation.

Today, I will leave El-rufai and those running the show at the centre in Abuja with the words of the President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Olasupo Ayokunle: “On many occasions, when I read of ‘unknown gunmen’ it ends there and I wonder whether it is not the duty of those governing us to make sure that the ‘unknown gunmen’ are ‘known’ and brought to book! The people causing trouble are not spirits, so, it should not be too difficult to apprehend them and bring them to book. If there are people sponsoring them, a thorough investigation should be able to fish them out and cause them to face the wrath of the law.”

On the flip side, one of the weird stories from the Nigerian Military this week was that 335 Boko Haram fighters and 746 other family members of the fighters, adult women and children, surrendered to the Army. But I was shocked that the so-called fighters surrendered without coming along with their weapons. They can’t be fighters without weapons. Are they really fighters? I did not see a single weapon in the footage shared by the military this week. The whole thing is looking creepy. Were they fighting with bare hands or, is the Army telling us that the Boko Haram fighters returned their weapons to their commanders before heading to the camp of the troops of operation Hadin Kai in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State to surrender? If the weapons of the terrorists that surrendered are still with the commanders, then, this country is still in trouble.

Again, I saw the terrorists that surrendered being celebrated by the military. We were told that the Chief Bomb Expert of the terrorists known as Musa Adamu a.k.a Mala Musa Abuja and his second in command, Usman Adamu a.k.a Abu Darda along with their families and followers are among those who submitted. By Thursday, we were told that a senior commander, Amir Adamu Rugu Rugu, his three wives and children had also surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Gwoza. Rugu, who is responsible for the deaths of troops and commuters around Mandara hill and Sambisa forest in Gwoza, also surrendered without handing over his weapons.

I saw new clothes, assorted food items, groceries and toiletries given to the repentant terrorists, their families, and then, their placards begging Nigerians to forgive them. The Army told us the fighters would undergo some rehabilitation process at a government facility before reintegration into the larger society.

Honestly, if these guys are indeed ex-Boko Haram fighters; if they are the guys with blood of innocent civilians and soldiers on their hands, then, for now, they should be in detention, helping the military with information to end this Boko Haram madness. This is clearly not the stage to start giving them food, new cloths and drinks. This is not the time to be talking about rehabilitation and resettlement for these fighters. They should be in prison, helping the military with information to dislodge thousands of Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters scattered in the North-east, terrorizing this country. The Nigerian Army must not be seen celebrating and sharing photographs of the so-called terrorists who submitted. I heard the acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division and Commander, Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai Brigadier General Abdulwahab Adelokun Eyitayo, telling the repentant terrorists to “also try and talk to their brothers and colleagues in the forest to come out and embrace the new life of peace and rehabilitation.” That’s the military begging terrorists. Some things are clearly not adding up in this war against Boko Haram.

Run, Osinbajo, Run!
Last Sunday, I spent time watching supporters of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, under the aegis of Osinbajo Grassroots Organisation, at a forum in Abuja, urging him to run for the presidency in 2023. The group, set up to motivate the vice president to run, during the second edition of Osinbajo Day, described the vice president as “a neutraliser and stabiliser”, who provides backbone for President Muhammadu Buhari.
Some of them carried placards with inscriptions such as: “In Osinbajo, we see a loyal leader”, “2023: Let Osinbajo lead”, “Nigerians love Osinbajo”, “Great Nigeria, Great Nation, Great Osinbajo”, “Thank you, Buhari for giving us Osinbajo”, and “Osinbajo: The future beckons.” These guys have chosen, at personal sacrifice, to build a movement around him.

I don’t understand the meaning of most of those things written on the placards. For me, Osinbajo is highly under-utilised in this government. Only toadies will claim that this professor is playing a major role in the Buhari government. Osinbajo has the ability to do a lot, but unfortunately sidelined by his boss and the cabal running the show. This is the truth that must be told.

Nevertheless, I agree that Osinbajo has all it takes to lead this country in 2023. He has both the mental and physical capacity for this job. More so, he is a peace builder. Osinbajo’s sense of humility is also a big plus. These are the things that should be stressed; not creating the impression that he is being properly utilised by the Buhari government. Yes, Osinbajo can offer great things to this troubled country if he is the President. We can indeed entrust the future of this country to him. This is my humble submission. My dear Osinbajo, run like a titan! Many of us are desperate for a new Nigeria. This country is in a big mess.

Ideal President Should Be in His 60s? No, IBB!
I just laughed when former military President Ibrahim Babangida proposed that the President Nigerians should elect in 2023, in order to save this country, should be in his 60s. My dear IBB, leadership is not about age. It is about capacity for a job, both physical and mental. President Buhari has failed to deliver, not because of his age. It is simply because he lacks the capacity for the job. Buhari’s extreme clannishness has also been a big drawback. Nelson Mandela took office as President of South Africa at the age of 75. He delivered. Mandela’s records are indelible. Mahathir bin Mohamad of Malaysia came back in 1988 at the age of 93 to serve for the second time, laudably, as Prime Minister. So, it’s not about age, but capacity for the job. We have young men like Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State that have messed up our system. So, we should be looking for a man with capacity, capable of uniting this country, not “somebody in his 60s.”

As the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Kaduna State chapter, Rev. Joseph Hayab noted: “What Nigerians need is a leader that can deliver the goods and take the country out of its present security and economic challenges. The age of whoever will become Nigeria’s leader should never be an issue for debate because Nigerians must never allow anyone that does not have good leadership credentials and capacity to be their leader just because he is a young or old person. Our concern should be for everyone to look for a good and detribalised Nigerian who can fight insecurity, stop corruption, and move the country forward.”

Babangida also punched holes in rotational Presidency, saying it would deprive the country of quality President. Rotation is the tonic that has sustained Nigeria’s democracy so far. Besides, there is no part of this country that can’t supply quality candidate for the office of the President of Nigeria. In my own little Ikorodu town in Lagos, we can safely supply dozens of world-class candidates for the office of the President. This country is blessed. Unfortunately, these high quality men are hindered from getting to positions of authority by devious people who dominate Nigeria’s political landscape at all levels.