Much have been said and written on Boko Haram insurgency since the crisis was ignited in June, 2009 in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, north east Nigeria and spread to almost all states of the northeast geo-political region.
But the recent outcry by the Borno state governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, is one testimony that should not be swept under the carpet. It is a well-known fact that the Boko Haram insurgency has done an incalculable damage that can best be imagined since it erupted. It opened a completely new chapter in the files of literatures concerning the fight against this decade -long strife.
Zulum, while receiving a delegation of All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors Forum led by Kebbi state governor, Atiku Bagudu in Maiduguri, over the recent ambush by suspect insurgents on his convoy on his way to Baga town in Kukawa local government area of the state, said that there is a sabotage in the fight against insurgency in the region.
In his address to the visiting delegation, Zulum urged president Buhari to re-examine the security situation in the state with a view to restructuring it.
As reported by Daily Trust of Monday August, 3, 2020, governor Zulum was quoted to have said, “There is sabotage in the system and there is need for the president to re-examine the current security situation with a view to resolving it in a better manner. There is need for us to articulate our position to push the Nigerian military to ensure we can deliver on our promises”.
Zulum did not stop at that, he went further to tell his colleagues categorically that he cannot afford to be silent in the midst of killings because he had, by the oath of office he took, entered into a covenant with God to defend the people of the state.
‘’ I remain bold, firm and committed. Only God gives power I am not looking for a second tenure if God allows me to successfully complete my four years. Alhamdulillah, (Glory be to God), but Almighty is the one that can give power, I am not after the second term. But the issue of me being the governor and keeps quiet when six million Borno people are dying in cages will never be.”
The region’s governors need to come together, join hands and pull resources to fight this monster that has been the problem of the region’s economic growth for over a decade to fight it once and for all. We have suffered enough untold hardship in the hands of Boko Haram and it is time for our governors to come together and fashion out ways and strategies that will end this crisis, it is a clarion call. We must speak with one voice since the government at the centre has failed. It is time we take our destiny and task our representatives to live up to their constitutional roles and responsibilities. Enough is enough! Let us call a spade a spade and certainly not a digging tool.
There is need for a synergy by the governors from the region to free the region from this dreaded monster called Boko Haram. Governors from the region need to come together and speak with one voice, they need to be solidly behind Zulum, to support him morally and financially, to urge the security agencies to do more. The present government at the centre has given the region all that is needed to resolve this matter once and for all by the establishment of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), the appointment of notable people from the region into key positions: Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air staff, National Security Adviser. All these positions are assigned to the region with the aims of ending the crisis but it is unfortunate that these officers have not only failed the region but the country at large.
There have been calls by good Nigerians for the president to change the service Chiefs since they have failed in their responsibility to bring an end to not only to Boko Haram crisis but banditry and kidnappings. Of recent, the National Assembly has joined good spirited Nigerians in calling on the president to change the service Chiefs but since the president has not deem it fit to change them, should we remain silent and continue seeing Nigerians being killed on a daily basis because someone has failed in his constitutional responsibility.
Definitely, we must think out of the box, we must find a solution to the problem. We must resolve to deal decisively with all those misguided beliefs and actions promoted violence and contempt for the rights of others and undermine national peace, stability and security.
Zulum has suggested the use of the traditional means of curbing the menace and this writer subscribed to that. The solution to our problems must spring from within rather than from outside, if we want it to be sustained. We, the people of the northeast have agreed that the security agencies fighting the insurgents have failed and they have failed woefully. That is our take on this. We are calling on the authorities involved to investigate the allegation by the Borno state governor that there is sabotage in the fight against insurgents in the state and if that comes out to be true, the culprits must be punished to serve as a deterrent. It is a paradox that rather than play the game according to the rule, the reverse is the case. Why are they preventing the governor from entering Baga, the home of fish? It is said that there are no civilians in Baga but on daily basis Lorries load of fish are coming out from Baga, who are these fishermen that are fishing in Baga? These questions beg for answer from those people responsible for the security of Baga town and its environs.
There are more to what the eyes can see and believe. Could this be the reason why they do not want the action governor enter Baga town? Only a thorough investigation to unravel the truth can answer these questions. The investigation should not only stop at finding those behind the alleged sabotage but it should go further to find out those fishermen that are fishing in Baga town since the villagers have deserted the town and yet on daily basis we see fish coming out of Baga.
The authorities must act immediately to investigate and hold to account all those responsible for those said allegations and any other associated with insurgency and other related offences in the land. It is the rule of law that will anchor good governance and progress in a land.
That Northeast governors Consultative Meeting Somewhere in March, this year, the Northeast governors met in Gombe, the capital of Gombe state, on the invitation of Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, to among other things discuss on prevailing security situation bedeviling the region for the past years and chart a way forward for the region to give them chance to interface and dialogue on the ways to follow in order to attain their aspirations and objectives for the sub region.
Among issues discussed during the Gombe meeting are the devastating insurgency that killed thousands and displaced millions.
In his welcome address at the meeting, yahaya said “over the last decade, the North East sub region has been in the news for various reasons. A devastating insurgency that kills thousands and displaces millions, debilitating climate change effects that endanger the livelihood of millions of people along the chad basin and beyond, coupled with desertification with it attendant environmental damage has led to a systematic decline in the quality of our people, making the NE the most underdeveloped sub region in the country.”
He said the prevailing security situation poses an existential threat to the region. This therefore necessitated the need for them to convene the meeting in order to come up with united front that can address their collective challenges as a region. “ I am sincerely grateful to my colleagues and brothers from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe and Taraba for answering this call. History will remember us for this bold initiative.”
Indeed history will not only remember you, but it will surely place you appropriately if these meetings will bring a lasting solution to the problem that engulfs our region for decades. It is indeed a wise decision at the right time. There is no better time for this meeting and coming together of the region’s governors than now. Zulum has taken the bull by its horns and all what he needs is this kind of support coming from the leaders of the region. And with this, we are pretty sure that the problem will be dealt with head-on.
Since the Gombe meeting, nothing has happened, the people of the region have not heard anything and have not seen any blue-print and strategy adopted to face the challenge of insecurity in the region. With the recent outcry by governor zulum where he alleged sabotage by security agencies fighting the insurgency, is enough reason for the governors to come out in full force and rally support for zulum to actualize the region’s struggle of ending the dreaded monster. The region is not asking for much, but whoever plays a role in ending the insurgency, that person will leave an undeletable mark in the lives of the region and our people.
Lest I forget. This writer was reliably informed that the second phase of the North East governors Consultative meeting is scheduled to hold in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital this coming Saturday August 8 2020.
Saleh, wrote from Kano and can be reached at bappandada1@gmail.com