For over 14 years, Nigeria has remained embattled, fighting against all manner of internal crises, ranging from Boko Haram terrorists that sacked villages and towns in the North East, and West, the insurgents in the North Central that operate in the form of herders, who go about killing, maiming, grabbing lands and taking innocent people hostage while demanding huge ransoms from the families of their victims. The kidnapping in the South West, the unknown gun men that have practically shut down the South East for sometime, and also the oil pipeline vandals in the South-South region have compounded issues in the country.
Till date, thousands of Nigerians, those sacked from their ancestral homes; in the North West, Central, and East are still living in the Internally Displaced Person’s (IDP) camps, without any hope that they would return anytime soon to their villages, after all promises being made of bringing them back to their home lands failed. The military and other security agencies of government on daily basis are confronted with what has turned to a guerrilla warfare, unfortunately. The state as it stands has lost count of the numbers of those killed, yet, the battle is not over; surprisingly, after colossal waste of human and material resources by the previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari, who, instead showed sympathy for the insurgents by feeding and clothing them with the tax payers’ money.
It aches that some politicians in the corridors of power are calling for amnesty for the remnants of Boko Haram while those they displaced are living in the IDP camps across the country. Besides the fight against Boko Haram and other killer groups that have emerged to worsen Nigeria’s woes, a nation still struggling economically has resorted to serious hunger and sufferings that the country has never before been known for. The economic hardship the country is experiencing has forced many of our citizens to leave the country in droves, both the skilled and unskilled. Many have also perished in the Atlantic Ocean on account of going to Europe and America in search of greener pasture.
It is on record today that the number of Nigerian medical doctors abroad outweighs those at home and still counting, simply because of collapsed infrastructure and lack of conducive working environment at home. Government insensitivity and corruption in the system has worsened the situation. That two Nigerians were found, and rescued alive on the rudder of an ocean going vessel in Brazil after sailing for days in a bid to escape the hardship here at home, again, points to where we are as a country. It was the former military head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon during his nine-year rule that told the world then that Nigeria’s problem was not money, but how to spend it.
The reverse is the case today. That said, the Nigerian people have become more sensitive to their environment, especially after the conduct of the February general elections which nearly tore the country apart. Interestingly, the country is healing gradually from the visibly ethnic and religious polarisation that seek to threaten its fabric. The people’s voice therefore must be heard on issues concerning their survival and wellbeing. The mistake any leader would make, going forward, is to think that the future of the country can be toyed with. That is why the young administration of president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that is barely three months old should look inward and ensure that the feelings of the Nigerian people on burning national issues should be taken seriously, no matter how the authority looks at it.
Therefore, Nigerians are in unison that the development in Niger Republic where the military recently took over the reins of power is purely their (Niger) internal problem that Nigeria should desist from interfering. In the past, Nigeria had played big brother role in countries like Sierra Leone, Liberia, even in South Africa, during the apartheid regime, but regrettably, has nothing to show for all those efforts made to restore peace and order in those countries, instead the Nigerian citizens are harassed, dehumanised and their businesses destroyed at the slightest provocation in some of these countries and on the continent.
The regime change in Niger, largely has been roundly welcomed by the people of that country. This shows that the efforts of the regional bloc, like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to restore civil rule after almost three weeks that President Mohamed Bazoum was deposed, may not be feasible now. While we understand ECOWAS’ position on the matter under the Chairmanship of Nigeria’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we want to emphatically state also that we cannot cry more than the bereaved. The people of Niger have moved on. ECOWAS should therefore continue to engage the military diplomatically rather than resort to use of force, the consequences which may be unimaginable.
The advice of the Nigerian Catholic Bishops to the president to stand down on the use of force to address the political log jam in Niger is timely and commendable. Efforts should be concentrated to solving Nigeria’s internal political, economic and social problems rather than confronting a neighbouring African country militarily that is harbouring some of our compatriots who for many years are living in that country with their families as a result of Boko Haram onslaught. The removal of oil subsidy has exposed the poverty level in the land. Therefore, government should concentrate on the distribution of palliatives which it promised the people and not waste our common patrimony on military intervention against a country that is not a threat to Nigeria.
That the Niger military did not allow United Nations and African Union delegations entry is a confirmation that they don’t need us this time. We should keep our big brother role in the cooler. The Nigeria Military is over stretched, having failed to root out Boko Haram completely. Any attempt to deploy them for further military engagement, this time against a sovereign neighbouring African country and organised army that has pledged allegiance to defend the new military government may spell doom for the country whose citizens are practically saddled with so much economic and political problems. Energy should be dissipated internally to revamp the ailing economy and to restore hope in the polity. Waging war against Niger under the present circumstance should be avoided.