Buhari, Enough of Rhetoric, Terrorists Enjoying Free Rein

Ring true BY Yemi Adebowale

Phone 08054699539

Email: yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

The visit of Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State to President Muhammadu Buhari last Monday provided the President another opportunity to continue with his rhetoric while terrorists continue with their free rein nationwide. Killings by extremists are unending in Sokoto State.

Few days back, 23 travelers were burnt alive when the vehicle they were commuting in was ambushed by the terrorists; that was why Tambuwal was at the Villa. As usual, Buhari vowed that terrorists would be smoked out across the country.

Posting photos from his meeting with Tambuwal on his Facebook page, Buhari wrote: ‘’Governor Aminu Tambuwal briefed me tonight on the security situation in the State. I assured him of the commitment and support of the federal government, towards the full restoration of peace and security. I have the full assurance of our security chiefs that these heartless bandits and criminals will be smoked out, wherever they might be, and brought to justice. We will not rest until this is achieved.”

After the terrorists killed the Sokoto travellers and some other outlaws killed a commissioner in Katsina State, Buhari dispatched “a high-level” five-man security delegation, made up of the heads of the nation’s intelligence and security services, to the two states, with a mandate for quick recommendations on how to end the carnage. The President said he was expecting an immediate situation report and recommendations on actions to effectively deal with the worrisome situation.

Haba! Which situation report and recommendation does our President need again before tackling terrorists? Huge recommendations and reports on how to end this bloodshed are on his desk, gathering dust. I’m not sorry to say that Buhari takes only verbal actions against terrorists.
I often wonder why Tambuwal and governors from other troubled states run to Buhari. Our President derives so much joy showboating. He has nothing, in practical terms, to justify these “vows” to crush terrorists ravaging Sokoto State for almost three years, with several local government areas under the control of the outlaws. Daily, scores are killed, many abducted and houses burnt in these places.

Few days after killing the Sokoto travellers in Isa Local Government Area, the terrorists returned to Sabon Birni LG, killing and maiming. Last Sunday, no fewer than 20 villagers were abducted in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

While the President was grandstanding last Monday, terrorists were on the busy Kaduna-Zaria highway, inflicting pain on Nigerians. The attack occurred at Kofar Gayan on the outskirt of Zaria. They shot sporadically at vehicles in order to immobilise them and abduct passengers. Many were killed and scores abducted.

Most states in the North-east, North-central and the North-west are in a big mess, with unending killings; blood of the innocent flowing. Boko Haram and ISWAP are controlling territories in Borno and Yobe states and collecting taxes unhindered. Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Zamfara Kebbi, Benue, Kogi, Plateau and Niger states are under the servitude of outlaws. According to figures from the Nigeria Security Tracker, a project of the Council on Foreign Relations, an American think tank, no fewer than 3,125 innocent persons were killed and 2,703 abducted by terrorists in the last 11 months of this year in Northern Nigeria. These frightening statistics were compiled from reported killings. Hundreds of other killings by terrorists in Nigeria are unreported. An aggregate by the Kaduna State Government shows that 888 people were killed in the state between January and September 2021.

There are no consequences for these killings. Months after terrorists downed Nigeria’s fighter jet in the Zamfara State forest, thus, threatening the sovereignty of this nation, there are still no consequences for the guerrillas. It’s so difficult to comprehend that several months after a Nigerian Air Force fighter jet was downed in Borno State, the military is still struggling to locate the crash spot. They can’t even account for the pilot and co-pilot on that crashed Alpha jet. Boko Haram’s claim that it shot the jet is real.

Scores of Boko Haram terrorists celebrating on the Nigerian soil with video of alleged triumph, while wielding AK-47, Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) and other artillery equipment, was depressing. Massive military equipment displayed by these terrorists is real. It is dizzying seeing non-state actors with such equipment. The outlaws are evidently waxing stronger while the Buhari government goes about with trickery that no Nigerian territory is under the control of the guerrillas.

This is the level the Nigerian state has degenerated in the six and half years of Buhari. The security glitches under his government are ceaseless and consuming too many innocent lives. The security and welfare of the people is no longer on the priority list of this jaded federal government. Terrorists roam in hundreds while state security agents move around in tens. So, how will the state curtail the terrorists? Rapid response to attacks hardly comes. What a country!
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, was right when he blamed those in power for the increasing cases of banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and armed robbery in our beloved Nigeria.

In his 2021 Easter message titled, “Before our Glory Departs”, Kukah remarked: “Taunted by Boko Haram, ravaged by bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, and other merchants of death across the nation, there is collective fear as to whether Nigeria’s glory is about to depart! Retired military and intelligence officers lament over what has become of their glorious profession as they watch the humiliation of our military personnel.

“Traumatised citizens are tortured daily by bandits. The nation has since become a massive killing field, as both government and the governed look on helplessly. A thick and suffocating cloud of desperation, despondency, desolation, gloom, and misery hangs in the hot air. We have no message and have no idea how long this will last. Our people seek solace and protection, but frustration and darkness threaten to drown them. Is their government on AWOL? Sadly, human life is hemorrhaging so badly in Nigeria, but the greatest tragedy is the death of empathy from those in power.”

There were protests, and rightfully too, in Kano nine days ago over killings in the North. Last Wednesday, a group under the banner of #NorthIsBleeding, were stopped by security agents from fresh protest against unending killings in the region. One of the conveners, Barrister Abba Hikima remarked: “Nobody is sleeping with his two eyes closed right now and nobody is doing anything about it. Our leaders don’t seem to care but only concerned about things that are not important – book launch and others.”

Indeed, the Nigerian state, under Buhari as leader, is a disaster. It has never been this weak. Nigeria can no longer protect its citizens. Buhari’s level of ineptitude is terrifying. I am tempted to ask our President to wake up. But, honestly, I doubt if this can ever happen within the 17 months left of his tenure. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently said expecting Buhari to do anything positive about unending killings is akin to beating a dead horse. I fully concur. We are in a big mess. Only a miracle can save this country.

Akande’s Needless Attack on Adebanjo
Of all the debris in Chief Bisi Akande’s book, “My Participation”, the one I find most repulsive is the attack on 93 years old Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere. I always describe Adebanjo as “the last of the original Awoists.” His success lies in his constancy, firm commitment to ideas rather than opportunism, courage in the face of intimidation and his life of sacrifice and simplicity. Nobody can take these away from Pa Adebanjo. Not even Akande’s trash.

Adebanjo’s qualities pour. He is a thorough and progressive politician, elder statesman, patriot, nationalist, one of the most remarkable politicians of his generation and a voice of reason in the Nigerian politics of the 20th century and early 21st century.

Akande’s claims that Adebanjo selected himself to represent the Yoruba people during Goodluck Jonathan’s National Conference because of generous allowances and that he begged Tinubu to build a house for him, are all balderdash; just bosh.

Akande roguishly characterised Adebanjo as a blank politically-minded leader who recognises readily and always that he never has what it takes to aspire for high political positions. He imprudently adds that Adebanjo “constantly harbours lumps of yellow hate-bile in his heart for any co-political leader with brighter chances for any major public office within or outside his political party.”

Adebanjo’s response to Akande was fitting. He has clearly explained how he built his house in Lekki, Lagos State and authorised the EFCC to verify. He further challenged Akande to clear the air about the source of funds for his properties in Osun State, Lagos, Ibadan and London.
Earlier on Tuesday, on Arise News interview, Adebanjo declared: “He (Akande) is too junior to me to be commenting on political matters. He is a political neophyte. He is already known to me as a pathological liar… And those of us who know him also know. He is just an apron string of Tinubu. I signed his papers to be governor. And the condition we gave him to become governor was that of sovereign national conference for the restructuring of the country to federalism. That was the condition he was elected in 1999 and he reneged on that.

“But telling lies is the one I don’t know and I don’t know how a man like Akande, who claims that we all come from the root of Obafemi Awolowo, can be taking pride in his participation in the government of Buhari, who they know is a disaster; all those who supported him initially are now regretting. There is no sensible man who will come out now and say he is proud of Buhari. It shows the type of character Akande is. So, he is too junior for me to be commenting on what he said.”
This missile is food for thought for Akande. He should just sit down in one corner and digest it.

Maiduguri Still in Darkness
The beleaguered city of Maiduguri has been in darkness for over 10 months due to the tenacious sabotage of power towers supplying electricity to this town by Boko Haram. This is one big security failure that has persisted for too long. There is so much pain in Maiduguri. Here, the few that can afford it, power their homes and offices with generators. The state’s secretariat and some government offices also get some hours of supply from generators. However, many other public institutions like hospitals and schools struggle for power supply.

Two years back, the terrorists bombed two of the power towers along the Damaturu-Maidugiri 330kV transmission line, plunging the Borno State capital city into darkness. This was barely three days after electricity was restored. It was restored again in March this year and bombed once more just a week after the restoration. The other line feeding the city from Damboa was destroyed by the terrorists years back. The towers are obvious targets for Boko Haram; yet, for years, an effective security arrangement can’t be put in place for them. In this modern security era, we should be talking about protecting the towers with drone from a preemptive and properly staffed control centre.

Borno elders must wake up and pressure the federal government to do the needful. They must speak out about the darkness in Maiduguri. I’m shocked that Governor Babagana Zulum is not making noise about this agony. For how long will darkness continue in the stressed city of Maiduguri? What a country!