Chidi Amuta in his essay on “Military in Governance” in the Post Express of July 2, 1997, noted “In the world of General Abacha or, indeed, every proper solider, reality is summed up in the image of the battlefield, a world in which there are two categories of people, enemy and friend.” He went further: “beauty consists of ruins, what Shakespeare called architecture of ruins, a landscape of shattered homesteads, severed limbs, tattered lives, ravaged farmlands and looted barns …if there is any legacy that real soldiers in the strict prosecution of the professional campaign are supposed to leave behind, it is legacy of orphans, widows and devastation.”
Today in Nigeria whether in the print, electronic or social media the gory stories centred on deaths, blood and sorrow. Stories depicting the inhuman and barbaric descent of a nation where life means nothing and every living soul is a moving corpse. The daily stories emanating from the Nigerian press including social media nowadays centred on how many souls have been lost so far and not how many have been saved. The nation daily graph indicator of windows, orphans, widowers and unprecedented mass destruction of infrastructure, goods and services is on the rise–no thanks to Boko Haram and its allies, the bandits, the kidnappers, the assassins, the cultists, the herdsmen and other groups in this game of man-inhumanity to man.
Ironically, while developed nations of the world are striving to improve the lot of mankind scientifically and otherwise and some committed and focused developing ones trying to make impact, Nigeria by design or default is investing on destruction of human souls and infrastructure to the satisfaction of few with obsessive and insatiable ambition.
Today, Nigeria, the so called giant of Africa and the biggest Black race is measured more in terms of consummate holocaust or theater of the absurd to a promising nation. Despondency, despair and hopelessness have subzumed hope and aspiration. Thousands have perished in a circumstance they could not comprehend nor the living understand.
Also, Nigeria is not only at war presently but at the cross-road. Hanging over the nation for the past decade and above is a cloud of Dead silence. The dead silence reminds one of the visit of Pope Benedict VI in May, 2006 to Auschwitz.
This place (Auschwitz), was the concentration camp in Poland during the Second World War where millions of Jews were gassed to death by the Nazis in Germany. In an emotion laden speech, Pope Benedict declared, “To speak in this place of horror, in the place where unprecedented mass crimes were committed against God and man is always impossible …In a place like this, words fail, in the end, there can only be a dead silence, a silence which is itself a heartfelt cry to God: why Lord, did you remain silent? How could you tolerate all this”? How many questions arise in this place! Constantly, the question comes up: where was God in those days? Why was he silent? How could he permit this endless slaughter, this triumph of evil!”
Today in Nigeria the questions come probing, provoking and prodding. How did we get here? Were there no warning signals? Who are the masterminds of this orgy of destruction and heinous crimes? God why do you allow these harrowing experience and endless nightmare despite our prayers?
Yet, like the warning to Julius Caesar in Shakespeare series to beware of the “Ides of March”, Nigeria was warned of the impending disaster, but in her characteristic of non-charlant or “siddon look” approach to issues even when sensitive and critical, she was unperturbed when told of the impending onslaught of the killer Boko Haram.
One of the earliest converts to dangers inherent in the killer squad was Kashim Shettima, the then Governor of Borno state, the epi-centre of the insurgency who cried out in a loud voice warning that the assault of Boko Haram should be seen as attack on the nation and not Borno state. He called on the stakeholders especially, the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan for a collective assault on these demons of destruction and terrorists. Unfortunately, Nigerians and especially the authorities regarded Kashim voice as a “wolf cry”. Ironically, some of the neighboring states of Borno this time distanced themselves from having anything to do with Boko Haram even when it was obvious that the fire was spreading. Today, these neighboring states as well the rest of Nigeria are better teachers of baptism by fire of Boko Haram and its allies.
Similarly, seeing the ease and temerity with which the insurgents and the terrorists were on the prowl, Governor Kashim ran to President Jonathan in Aso Villa, Abuja to intimate him on the unbridled onslaught and exploits of Boko Haram and warned except the Federal Government responded promptly and decisively through fully mobilizing the nation’s troops equipment-wise in addition to logistics and incentives, Jonathan’s administration should regard the insurgency war as a lost battle. He told the President in clear language that the insurgents were better equipped and motivated. Governor Kashim further warned against any ostrich game in the terror war.
Unfortunately, instead of critical look at the views expressed by Kashim with the aim for further action, Jonathan’s aides and President Jonathan himself did not take kindly to the views expressed by Kashim in the on-going war.
Some aides of President Jonathan branded Kashim, a novice bereft of war strategies and execution, while others tagged him an alarmist. The comments and observations of President Jonathan were more telling and discouraging. He castigated Governor Kashim for having the impudence or effrontery to lecture him of the status of troops and weaponry in the war zone. In a Nationwide Television interview, the President rebuked Kashim on his mission to Abuja and refused to see eye to eye with Kashim on all matters that took him (Kashim) to the nation’s capital. Before the short of Jack Robinson during the press interview, Jonathan threatened he would withdraw soldiers on guard in the Government House, Maiduguri and replaced them with police for Kashim to know the difference. This was the threat he carried out, as soldiers were withdrawn and replaced by policemen. This was an action of a sitting President that puzzled the nation considering the volatile situation of Maiduguri especially, Government House. There was also the allegation this time that President Jonathan was contemplating on replacing Governor Shettima with a Military administration but was unable due to constitutional implications.
Fortunately for Kashim, his stand on the slip-shod manner the Jonathan’s administration managed the terror war as well on inadequacies of the Nigerian military vividly came to focus later as he was vindicated by the statements from the Minister of Defence (State) Musiliu Obanikoro, the army and individuals who confirmed severally that the Nigerian military was ill equipped to match Boko Haram. For example, at the “pull-out our parade” in Abuja of the then Chief of Army Staff, General Kenneth Minimah, he regretted that lack of adequate military equipment coupled with politics contributed to the inability of the Nigerian military to deal decisively with Boko Haram while Minister Obanikoro explained that the Military especially the army has not re-equipped for a long time since President Shagari’s era. Similar lamentation on the inadequacies of the Military with regard necessary fighting tools was re-echoed by the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh, during his “pull out parade” ceremony in Abuja.
Today after Jonathan’s administration, lack of military weaponry and the methodology of fighting Boko Haram and other emerging security challenges still remain puzzling questions demanding answers.
However, what is probably not in contention is the fact that Nigeria foot-dragged or refused to act despite the warnings on the looming danger. Otherwise what justifiable reasons could be adduced for refusal to listen to earlier warnings and advice from the likes of Kashim Shettima, the Chief Security Officer of Borno, and others this time who knew where the shoes pinches? The inability to strike when the iron is hot or listen to voice of reason might have been responsible or partially he reason for the present predicament Nigeria discovers herself.
Victor Izekor is a journalist, public affairs analyst and writes at Victorizekor@gmail.com