The macho in our security men only come to
the fore when they are confronting ‘bloody civilians’ and only when they are on
an errand for Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP.
Those who are unfortunate to pass through the various checkpoints and
roadblocks that are ubiquitous in the north can attest to the humiliation and
harassment they go through in the course of undertaking their daily
chores. While terrorists are running
amok in the northeast killing and maiming without let or hindrance, our
security men are content in molesting law abiding simple folks instead of
confronting the killers marauding the northeast. They are more noted for running away when
faced by the terrorists than for their display of gallantry. A government that many believed are complicit
in the mayhem tearing apart the country inch by bloody inch condones the
behaviour of the security men. Our
military men appear to be untouchable when “dealing” with us civilians – they
behave as if they are not governed by any code of conduct or any rule of
engagement.
This display of impunity has now being taken
to the hallowed precinct of the National Assembly, the citadel of democracy,
where the government deployed massive force in order to deny the Speaker of the
House of Representatives entering his office and reconvening the House to
debate the president’s request for an unending state of emergency imposed on
three states of the northeast for the past eighteen months. In an effort to stop an unyielding Speaker
and his supporters (those who stood for democracy) from entering the National
Assembly, the security operatives tear gassed the members of the House. These are the representatives of the people,
for God’s sake! And this is supposed to
be a democracy with all the so-called doctrine of separation of powers – where
the National Assembly is not supposed to be an appendage of the executive arm
of government.
With such behaviour, Goodluck Jonathan and
the PDP are pushing Nigeria on to the path of anarchy just to make sure that
good governance does not derail their inordinate ambition. Or may be they are rushing to see who will
fulfil the prediction by the Americans that the country will breakup into
pieces by the 2015. If that is not the
case, how do you explain the continuous loss of Nigerian territory to
terrorists while our security men watch from a safe distance? The same security operatives who lack the
liver to confront Boko Haram killers are the ones tear-gassing hapless legislators. Is Goodluck Jonathan becoming so desperate
that he is ready to plunge the country into chaos if he is denied the chance to
continue as the president of Nigeria? Is
he ready to be the last president of Nigeria, as we know it today? Are the advocates of a “Greater South”
getting the upper hand over moderates?
And what are other Nigerians, particularly those from “Shariyaland”
doing about it? Are they going to fold
their arms and wait for Armageddon to reach their doorsteps before they
recognise it?
Most people, the legislators at the
receiving end of the government’s high-handedness inclusive, stood aloof while
these same security men were tormenting Nigerians. Now that the imperiousness of the government
has reached their doorsteps, will they act or remain indifferent like goats
waiting to be slaughtered? This time it
is just bullets, we pray there won’t be ‘accidental discharge’ later.
The members of the national assembly have
been cuddling Jonathan for long to the detriment of the nation and its
citizens. They weren’t overly concerned
when insurgents overran their constituencies and killed, maimed and sent away
others into lives of uncertainty; they were willing to accede to all of his
demands as long as they are not personally affected; they were willing to forgo
the safety and peace of those they claim to represent as long as that makes
Jonathan happy; they were always eager to overlook all the impeachable offences
committed by Jonathan as long as he keeps greasing their slimy hands; they are agreeable
to play ostrich to all the misdemeanours and constitutional breaches done by
the president as long as they are assured of an “automatic” ticket by the
PDP. Today, the tiger has bared its
fangs on them.
Though one may find it difficult to
sympathise with the members of the House of Representatives for what happened
to them today, one might not be seen to be condoning brigandage and
unconstitutionality. Much as the members
might have gotten their just desserts, we are aghast at how our country is
being pushed over a cliff by a clique that has no interest of the country at
heart. Nigerians have to wake up to the
reality that a group of militants are at the helm of our affairs – a group that
has a horizon limited by their provinciality.
Our security agencies lack the manpower and
equipment to confront terrorists wrecking havoc on our brethren in the
northeast, but have the manpower and bravery to tackle lawmakers in Abuja. They also have enough manpower and firepower
to spare 200 soldiers, led by a full Colonel, to provide security cover to Ali
Madu Sherriff, an alleged Boko Haram Sponsor.
While all these imperiousness is going on, our lawmakers, who have been
saddled with the responsibility of checking the excesses of the executive and a
president that has gone out of control, were rushing to be identified with him.
The people of Nigeria are fed up with the
divisive tactics of Jonathan and his group of provincial politicians whose only
objective is to lord it over others while claiming to be the victims. While majority of Nigerians are bidding their
time for February 2015, our lawmakers are struggling to get in bed with our
tormentor-in-chief. It is a good sign to
us that the two are now quarrelling in the open. It may be a sign of good things to come. Next may be the governors.
Tambuwal and all those opposed t0o Jonathan’s
style of government may be well advised to seek out our local hunters for their
personal safety and security.
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