The last few days have seen Nigerians more agitated than ever before. I can’t remember when we had everyone within the country and outside engrossed and animated as we have been in the last one week over any issue. Even the race to 2027 and second term frenzy and daily defection of politicians to the ruling APC, have taken the backstage.
Ironically, whether we are against the US President, Donald Trump’s threat to go after those killing Christians in the country, or against it, what cannot be contested is that our problem is self-inflicted and as they say in sports, this is an unforced error. We brought this upon ourselves, and being in denial is not patriotism if we want to rid the country of terrorism.
Therefore, whatever actions we choose to address the long wanton killings of Nigerians will go a long way to determine how the rest of the world would perceive us.
It’s unacceptable to keep touting our sovereignty as a nation when we cannot protect our citizens from invasion of foreign gunmen and murderers.
This nation has been suffering from unrestrained attacks from outside of our borders by bandits, insurgents and killer-herders, that we have been told are non-Nigerians. If our sovereignty can accommodate gunmen who have been killing our people unabated, why will it not allow foreign support to rout these murderers?
What we demand from our leaders is the safety of our lives and property. This is not asking for too much.
Now, because our leaders have remained indifferent to the plight of the people, especially in the last 10 years, either because they are complicit in one way or the other or a case of gross incompetence, our land has become a place where anything goes.
Just a few tweets and posts on social media by President Donald Trump of the U.S., we are agitated and suddenly insisting on the nation’s sovereignty. We actually lost our sovereignty when we threw our doors open to all kinds of criminals.
Where have we been all this while that our borders were thrown wide open for armed groups and militias to invade our land, acquire our citizenship, displace our locals and occupy their land and vote in our elections?
All those kicking against intervention of the US, where were they when the Buhari government was explaining away the killings of innocent Nigerians. Where were the sympathetic Islamic scholars when Nigerians were being extrajudicially murdered over alleged blasphemy?
So, for anyone who means well for the country, the key issue now should be how to secure our land and people from those aggressors from outside of the land.
The same neighbours that the late President Muhammadu Buhari prioritised providing infrastructure to, at the expense of other parts of Nigeria, have now closed their borders with Nigeria. What can be more humiliating? The same neighbours that have looked up to Nigeria as big brothers are now making mockery of our inability to show leadership.
The only option we have, if there is any genuine intention to end these insecurity challenges, is to embrace America and others interested in assisting us to chase these bandits from this nation. Why did these bandits choose to settle in Nigeria? Doesn’t the fact that they are not in other neighbouring countries not suggest that they have found fertile land here to perpetrate their nefarious activities?
How is it that it’s now that America has threatened to flush out these killers that China is talking tough and pledging to protect our sovereignty? Is China, in reality, more friendly to Nigeria? Are the Chinese not complicit in some of the illegalities in Nigeria?
This is not the time to talk tough; this is not time to engage in diplomatic forays or exchanges; we are in need and should be humble enough to call for support. We are not advocating American invasion in the country, but we are asking for their active participation to precisely take out these killers and their sponsors, so that all those who have something to hide can be exposed.
There are so many sympathisers and sponsors of these criminals in and out of government. That explains the frenzy. We do not expect anyone who has no link with these murderers to be jittery by the simple explanation of Trump threatening to go after murderers. Only the guilty should be worried.
Denying that there is genocide against Christians is chasing shadows and is not the solution. Hunting those behind the killings is more proactive and the only way to lasting peace. Some of the things said by Trump while designating Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern,’ should not come as a surprise, after all, those were the very same narratives of those in government now as opposition prior to 2015.
We need help and it must come from those willing to help us take back our communities from these vandals. Only a neutral party can do this and not those who are guilty or complicit. Not those who have made an industry of our misfortunes, not those who are their sponsors and sympathisers that have infiltrated our public spaces as political leaders; they will always act as a mole in this war.
Thankfully, President Tinubu in his first public reaction acted more maturely by reaffirming his commitment to defeating terrorism and strengthening diplomatic ties with Nigeria’s global partners.
The president’s said, “We are engaging the world diplomatically, and we assure all of you that we will defeat terrorism. The task ahead is to move forward with clarity of purpose guided by the Renewed Hope.
Let’s hope that this promise will not be a repeat of various promises made by his predecessor in office. Emphasis must at all times be on securing the nation. It will be self-evident for all to see when we achieve that. We cannot continue to condone indolence in the name of fighting terrorism when the enablers are in government.
This is not the time to play politics or to seek political correctness or to be preoccupied with securing a second term. This is the time to tell the world that we are serious and are prepared to finally deal with the problems of insecurity dispassionately.
Only then can we be taken serious as a sovereign state and a people with purpose. The time to act is now and it must be swift and decisive.
By Charles Okoh @TheIndependent
