It is with a pained heart I write. May be I resolved to
writing because that's the only weapon I have or may be the only source through
which I can contribute to the Land of my birth, except, if I am conscripted
into the military.
Some years back, May 15 2012, I wrote this: I saw my Country brutally raped by injustice and a gang called
corruption... I saw bombs being used to celebrate festivities, as her children
aspire to be better in the act of destruction... I saw moves by intellectuals
to borrow ideas that pregnant her children with greater uncertainties... I saw
her beggars using POS to accept alms, 'cos they also ensure she goes
cashless... I saw anarchy and his troop fly in through her airports, chaos
infiltrated through her open nooks... I saw her open and fragile, weak and
lame, she cried and cried as her resources were seized by an oligarchic class
who made her cry more for her children... In this trance, I still saw a happy
crowd, no single one of them had a frown; they seemed happy...though some
happily confused, most remained in the alley of imperturbable allay.
Looking down now, I see the presence and revelation of
‘once a trance-turned reality’. My aim is not to criticize any individual or
system, but to appeal to our consciences, and alert our minds to evils on both
humanity and nationhood. In the beginning, humans existed without a society,
crudeness and reasoning were gifts, survival was a quest, and living was
through strength and adaptation. The stronger lived and the weaker had no
option than to pass away. When humans formed a society; existing morals were
bred and embedded, people were treated as equals, laws were made and order was
maintained. We have Governments so that chaos and anarchy can be centrally
managed, and a leader, so we can put a human face to the machinery of
governance.
A group, a section, a fragment of the society has declared
war on the people of Nigeria. They have almost taken over a State, with utter
disdain they hold our young girls hostage, and without recourse to our dignity
as a nation threaten to sell them in an open market as slaves. Yet, I see us
and our government suspended between knowing what to do and doing nothing and
being clueless and acting non-strategically. The group cannot be more equipped than
our military--I beg never to have this negated. I hear sometimes that we cannot
go across the borders in pursuit of these insurgents. There, I ask, what
happened to inter-national relations between Nigeria, the giant of Africa and
other neighboring countries of Cameroon, Chad, and Niger? Or are they in
support of this woe that has betide this great nation? It is no News how this
group has gone around perpetrating crimes in the North East of Nigeria,
conquering and taking over communities; carting away spoils of war--women and
children inclusive. These blood thirsty Terrorists have been seen parading the
streets of Maidugiri, brandishing their arsenal and making mockery of our
nationhood. Yet, we give excuses. They have defied all the laws of humanity and
dignity of life, and detonated bombs in markets, motor parks, churches, public
relaxation places and where else do we want to see ablaze next? Thousands have
been sent away brutally; charred in the most horrific sudden end to their
existences. Upon their ill fate, that of their families who are left to
languish in anguish and for us; the citizens of Nigeria, who cannot define our
fate, I write.
Sometimes, we forget history or most times we decide to
thwart it for our own selfish interests. Need I remind Nigerians, that military
over throw of democratically elected civilian rule in the past was in some
cases predicated on the inability of the latter to maintain the primary role of
government (Section 14, Subsection 2(b) of the Nigerian Constitution)- “The Security
and Welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of Government”. We
should therefore, not be bemused, if we resurrect a recurrence of what we have
archived in the annals of history to make or mar us.
#AriseNigeria #NoToTerror
#BringBackOurGirls
