Preamble
- Two wrongs don’t make a right
- Regardless of the validity of reasons, war and violence do not represent a better alternative. If in doubt, consider Syria.
- The Security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of Government - Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Let me emphasize from the onset that
this is a speak-the-truth-to-power piece and there will be no attempt to be
politically correct because we can do nothing against the truth but for the
truth. However, I do worry that the main person that needs to hear this truth has
a persistent ear infection (pun intended). I therefore plead with those that
have his ears to relay this message to him verbatim, they should please remove
the garb of sycophancy and say it the way it is to him. This is our collective
public service.
Apostle Johnson Suleman of the Omega
Fire Ministries recently made remarks about the killing of herdsmen if they
come near his church due to the report he got earlier from a friend that they
are planning to attack him. Expectedly this has generated a lot of
controversies. The Department of State Services recently attempted to arrest
him in Ekiti. This was resisted. If the Buhari led government have been up and
doing, there would not have been any need for this brouhaha in the first
instance. Section 14(2)(b) of
the 1999 Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria states that "The
Security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of
Government".
By
happenstance or perhaps not, since this present administration began, the
Fulani herdsmen have been emboldened, killing and causing mayhem across the
length and breadth of this country. The best that has been done is to issue
statements and life goes on. While we may be quick to caution our religious and
political leaders to be careful not to make sensitive statements, let us also
be quick to ask this government for accountability regarding the provision of
the constitution that guarantees our safety and welfare. Are these herdsmen ghosts
or witches on broom with Harry Potter kind of skills such that the Nigeria
Police force, the officers of the DSS or even our military cannot apprehend?
How come there has been no single arrest or conviction since this madness
intensified under this present administration? Is the life of a cow worth more
than that of a Nigerian under this administration? Would it not have been
fantastic if the DSS can also move swiftly to arrest the herdsmen the way it
trailed the Apostle to Ekiti? Once upon a time, as a perpetual presidential
aspirant, President Buhari once said “If
what happened in 2011 (alleged rigging) should again happen in 2015, by the
grace of God, the dog and the baboon
would all be soaked in blood’’ why didn’t the DSS invite or arrest him then for that
sensitive statement? These are questions begging for answers.
This is my
submission; regardless of the Apostle’s statement, when senseless killings and
violence against a people by another people linger unabated with laughable
statements culled from prepared templates by the government as the only
response, eventually, the theory of self-preservation and balance of terror
will perpetuate itself. This is the bitter truth and this is an expected end.
The President must therefore resume from this ill-timed albeit entitled vacation
to confront this malady headlong. As human beings, intrinsic self-preservation
instincts lead to self defence from perpetual attacks, this eventually
engenders the balance of terror. This ensures that both parties have equal
respect and/or disdain for each other knowing that an offensive action will
lead to an equal and opposite reaction. Nigeria will not get to this point provided
we have responsible and capable leadership and our preachers and other men of
influence will not need to burden themselves with balancing the truth and
political correctness when they are compelled to make statements on the state
of the nation. President Buhari’s primary Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is
found in Section 14(2)(b) of
the 1999 Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria (The
Security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of Government).
Has he met it? Every morning he wakes up he should ask himself this question
and not listen to sycophants around him that may be telling him all is well.
On a last note, no Nigerian should be
above the law, not even the President for this is what guarantees justice and
fairness therefore regardless of status and magnitude of followership, when the
state invites anyone, that invitation must be honored. No one should overtly or
covertly display any air of self-confidence that gives the impression that he
is above Nigeria or when he is arrested Nigeria will burn. On the other hand,
the men of the DSS can do better next time and act more professionally. They
should have formally invited the Apostle rather than storming Ado Ekiti to
arrest him Gestapo style. This is 2017 and not 1984.
follow @AbayomiGOmotayo on twitter
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