“Necessity is the mother of invention”. By this popular maxim, it simply means that a prolonged problem will at a point activate human creativity to get it solved.
Though the solution may not be the best to it, when supervisory authority becomes irresponsible, an out law will fill in the gap, for there is no vacuum in power.
Chief Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi, a legal luminary and Icon, once echoed Fidel Castrol of Cuba when he said: “In a state of lawlessness, it is illegal to be law abiding.”
This is where we find ourselves as a nation, the herdsmen banditry, kidnapping, though a spiral part of an orchestrated evil championed by the Boko haram group, the effontry with which they carry out 13th century Arabian invasion of a sovereign state without an attempt to check, curtail or confront them till they spread across our nation shows governments’ culpability, which necessitated Sunday Igboho’s heroism.
The records are staggering, over 14,000 killed in the middle belt of Nigeria, with the Fulani having an upper hand, due to glaring image of Federal Government’s complicity, Benue imbroglio leaves humanity thoroughly embarrassed.
How can we ever forget that the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces issued a directive to the Inspector General of Police who blatantly refused to carry out the President’s directive and got “commended” for it in the public?
The herdsmen have since trampled on Benue, Nasarawa and have moved down South East and South West; they strategically positioned themselves in the forests from where they come out to carry out kidnappings on the adjoining roads and targeted arson in neighbouring communities of the forests. Victims range from the ordinary citizens to some privileged individuals.
Culpability of the Government seems proven by her docility. While Northern Governors and political elites are pleading the course of Bandits and their religious leaders led by Sheikh are on “holy” missions to the forests of bandits, running errands between bandits and Government, southern agitators like the Eastern Security Network (ESN) are not as lucky as their Northern counterparts. Governor Uzodinma would rather have ESN wiped out than plead their cours. So, he called for military intervention.
Sunday Igboho represents a phenomenon whose time has come. How do you explain ESN rampaging the South East forests in search of herdsmen just immediately after Igboho’s exploits against the Fulani were reported?
The Shasha market fracas between the Yoruba and the Hausa Fulani requires more than sending a former minister to Igboho to broker what appears like unofficial deal for which the minister is very well known for.
The composition of our National Security Council has come under heavy criticism, and conclusively it can’t give peace, progress and development unless tampered with.
Former Military Administrator of Ogun State, Navy Commodore Kayode Olofinmoyin (rtd), has condemned the composition of the National Security Council for being heavily skewed in favour of one particular section of the country.
Olofinmoyin made the explosive remarks at the Leaders, News House, Peace, Unity and Security Lecture Series chaired by former Governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Boni Haruna at the ECOWAS main auditorium, Asokoro, Abuja.
Commenting on the theme of the discussion: ‘Sustainable Peace: The Divide of a Growing Nation,’ Olofinmoyin described the make-up of the national security structure as a clear example of political inequality in the country and one of the reasons that are elevating ethnic tension in the country.
He described as unhealthy for national unity and peace a situation where nine out of the eleven members on the National Security Council are from the Northern part of the Nigeria.
“We are practicing the Presidential system of government which promotes equality and the rule of law. But if you don’t guarantee equality like we don’t in Nigeria, you cannot have peace, you cannot have progress and you cannot develop.
“Let me go straight away to address Mr. President. People have said with the political inequality as it is in Nigeria today, you cannot have peace. I cannot have trust in the government. Let me give you a very good example because security is the first thing. And then people must separate your security infrastructure – the security team,” Olofinmoyin said.
He further said aside from the President, the majority of the members of the security councils, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari; the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen Bashir Magashi (rtd); the Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen Attahiru Ibrahim; the Director-General, Department of State Services; Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi; the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Mr. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo; and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu are all Northerners.
He said the only Southerners in the council are the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj Gen Lucky Irabor and the Chief of Air Staff AVM Isiaka Amao.
“So in your National Security Council of 11, you have nine northerners and two southerners. Look, I am telling you as a practitioner, a former governor of a state, a General, and I am 70 years old, when you go to such meetings, those two southerners are just there as onlookers. Who is going to believe in the outcome of such a security meeting and you say it is national,” Olofinmoyin said.
He said the prevailing herdsmen clashes, spate of killings and kidnapping occur because of the ethnic imbalance in the national security council, while asking the federal government to correct the inequality as it is a sure way to guarantee peace.
Close to season of outlaws, and Republics within a Republic that is far from being Federal, the Sambisa, then the 2 Republic in Zamfara, Fulani republic in oduduwa forests, The Igangan republic and the spread of Sunday Igboho’s influence.
The Government must act now, by implementing 2014 confab report and create the platform for dynamic dialogue among the people, jaw jaw is the only known antidote to war war. We must make investment in compassionate communication to build a compassionate communal relationship where citizens will look out for each other.
Sunday Igboho is a phenomenon for self help and in the midst of helplessness such can only grow, spread and become the norms if unattended to.
This must be nibbed in the bud by urgent recomposition of the National Security Council to elicit hope and grant confidence; then alone can we begin a new narrative. As it is now, nobody wants to listen to this Government. Credibility is the biggest social capital for any Government, when this is lost, authority of the government will be called to question, except the government acts now, a season of outlaws, and revolutions championed by brigandry looms.
