The unfortunate and avoidable killings of over 60 Nigerians on exploration at the Lake Chad basin by Boko Haram terrorists is a sad reminder of how innocent Nigerians die everyday in the troubled Borno state. What is most disturbing aside the gory massacre is how the military, government urge oblivious Nigerians to the snapping jaws of terrorists killing beast. The politicization of the war to suit political climes, platforms and personae is sad and very unpatriotic and pursued at the expense of valuable Nigerian lives.
The military under the administration of president Mohammadu Buhari is doing a good job of dissipating Boko Haram terror organization but to say the war was over is political balderdash aimed at impressing gullible Nigerians instead of patriotic effort aimed at ending insurgency. It is sad the way and manner authorities peddle fake news and then believe it will change reality of security situation on ground. The administration must understand that it can not always be politics after 2015, especially when it comes to security. Despite all the media antics, terrorists are already in Maiduguri metropolis unleashing hell on the hapless.
If Nigerian government and indeed the military were truthful enough, killing of staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), security operatives and University of Maiduguri lecturers would have been avoided. Apparently convinced that Boko Haram has been “technically” defeated, the people killed didn’t expect a brutal end while on national duty of oil exploration. The military may have apologized for misleading Nigerians on irresponsible claim of “rescuing” victims of Boko Haram onslaught, it does not however change the fact that many are now aware that most of their position on the war against terror may have been falsified.
The victory claims on the war effort against terrorism in the north mean so much to the ruling party but the danger of misleading information far outweighs temporal praise. I can understand the cleavage based importance of oil exploration in the chad basin. It is important for the north to wean itself of dependency on the “unstable” south crude especially as secessionist call is reaching critical mass. The blind urgency against glaring security situation is indeed too much to fathom. In countries where government consider safety of their citizens above unnecessary propaganda, such expedition would either be put off until Borno state and its environs are rid of terrorists or very competent security network be put in place to check attacks, which are not only on “soft targets’.
We must realize that those killed are not just Nigerians but fathers, brothers, uncles to so many people who are presently mourning their loss. We must also understand that the three Nigerians captured are human beings whose lives hangs on a balance and their survival is not even guaranteed. We must realize that exploration of the Chad basin for hydrocarbon can wait. It can continue once it is less risky to send human beings there. The fortunes of crude oil based economy are in tatters as some countries are already at conclusive stage of banning vehicles powered by diesel or petrol. Therefore, besides insensitivity to loss of lives, efforts targeted at diversifying the economy from crude oil dependence may be a ruse after all.
The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has acted appropriately by urging the military to intensify efforts at releasing the lecturers abducted by Boko Haram. He should however ask for a re-evaluation of the security situation before sending people there for oil expedition in defiance to the recent attack. There is no need to grandstand against a hydra headed monstrosity, there is need for tact in the fight and the way information is served the public. Information is powerful and may destroy if it is deployed mischievously.
The present administration must understand that Nigerians are taking stock of their activities. Their weakest link is the cluster of wrong information. It may be recalled that they soared like eagles in tactful use of information to win the 2015 election. They have however lost direction, creativity and tack in managing information now that the people need them to work the change after so much talks. As the APC led administration grinds towards the end of its first term, people are increasingly disappointed in the pace made towards dividends of democracy and in fair dissemination of information.
Nigerians are not happy, most are more despondent than they were in 2014. Until the ruling party realize it has talked more than it has made considered and informed efforts at moving Nigeria out of the misadventure of former president Goodluck Jonathan administration, then efforts at bringing them is in futility and the future of Nigeria hangs in shattered strings of tower of Babel builders.
Written by Israel A. Ebije.
ebijeo5@gmail.com
@ebijeisrael.com
