When an elected government decides to spread falsehood to the citizenry over the state of the Nation or things, knowing same to be false or recklessly careless about the authenticity of the information, then such a government qualifies to be dubbed irresponsible.
The Nation had heaved a sigh of relief when various highly placed government and military spokespersons confidently told millions of distraught Nigerians that the reign of Boko Haram’s terror was over. Nigerians were elated when they were also told that their over 200 hundred missing daughters were in fact on their way back home.
The ceasefire deal was announced by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, whose military had failed to defeat a little insurgency in the Northeast of the country. The insurgents or terrorists have inflicted heavy damage on the Nigerian Nation since 2009 when it started its campaign of terror. Thousands of civilians, especially women and children have been treacherously murdered in the process. Boko Haram has severely bruised the soul of Nigeria.
As things stand now, it is ether the government intentionally decided to give Nigerians false hope or it was recklessly careless or negligent as it said to the people that there was a ceasefire when in actual fact, there was none, and there is still none.
Since that unilateral declaration of ceasefire, Boko Haram has continued its killing spree unabated in Borno and Adamawa states. It is reported that dozens of young girls had been kidnapped and 350 children are now missing. Last Sunday, there was another bomb blast at a motor park in Gombe. Scores were again killed.
With this kind of backdrop, juxtaposed against the jostling for party nomination forms by the political leaders, one cannot but ask if they are living in the same country with the people. There is a feeling of callous indifference at the top. Instead of people resigning because of failure to guarantee the primary duty of government, which is to provide security of lives and property, they are scampering for new offices and seeking the extension of their mandate. These leaders are so much detached that they have certainly lost touch with reality.
The Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, in a new video, denied that his group had agreed to a ceasefire with the Nigerian government. He said that the government lied. He ruled out future talks and dashed the hopes of the Chibok Parents and Nigerians when he categorically said that the girls will never come back as they have been married off. Shekau, speaking in Hausa, said: “We have not made ceasefire with anyone… “We did not negotiate with anyone… It’s a lie. It’s a lie. We will not negotiate. What is our business with negotiation? Allah said we should not.”
He also said he did not know Mr Danladi Ahmadu, whom the government claims is a representative of Boko Haram, with whom the brokered the ceasefire that never was.
It should have embarrassed Jonathan’s government when it later turned out that there was in fact no ceasefire. Instead an aide to the President on media, Doyin Okupe was still busy telling CNN that there was a genuine ceasefire and that the attacks taking place, after the ceasefire, were being carried out by splinter groups within Boko Haram. And he had talked authoritatively. It is a further indication that Okupe is among those carried away by life in unexpected paradise.
What is more embarrassing for Nigeria and Nigerians is the fact that our multimillion dollar military cannot quench the insurgency in the North East. Before now, the excuse the military has given was that it was a war against terror – a sort of unconventional warfare against unidentified enemy. But this seems no longer to be the case. Our military fully knows were Boko Haram fighters are. In fact, they have seized some Nigerian territories, such as Gwoza and Mubi and brought it under its control. The newspapers reported recently that the group has, true to its aim, introduced Sharia law in Mubi and several persons have been amputated according to that law for sundry offences.
The chicken have come home to roost. Our military is badly equipped because of mindless corruption. Over the years, the defence budget, which is now in trillions, has been seen as cake to be shared by top military brass and their collaborators in the corridors of power.
Let it be known to my fellow countrymen and women: the truth of the matter is that, due to corruption, our military does not have what it takes to face Boko Haram. It is a shame that a mere terror group has more superior weapons than the army of the 7 world. This is why you see our military officers refusing to risk their lives in fighting Boko Haram.
This is also why the Nigerian government is desperately begging Boko Haram to embrace peace. The Borno Deputy Governor, Zanna Mustapha, based on the ease the group is conquering and occupying towns and villages, estimated this week that the entire North-east zone could fall under Boko Haram’s reign in a matter of weeks unless the Federal Government steps up its measures in the fight.
I would wish the political class considers this a clarion call to serve their fatherland. This is not a time for partisan politics. They owe Nigerians the duty to unite in fighting the war that has been waged against our nation.
Nigerians are being amputated and beheaded in their own country and the leaders are busy talking about election. Which silly election. What is required now is a cohesive battle against this aggressors called Boko Haram. Otherwise, our leaders will wake up after election day and discover that they have aspired to lead a country that once was, but never is anymore.