Having advertised its gross incapacitation, having demonstrated in word and deed its cluelessness on how to tackle the worsening security situation in the country perpetrated largely by the Boko Haram insurgency, President Goodluck Jonathan at least, finally decided to read the riot act, saying enough is enough. The President, last Thursday vowed total war against terrorism. "I am determined to protect our democracy, our national unity and our political stability by waging a total war against terrorism…The unity and stability of our country, and the protection of lives and property are non-negotiable," Jonathan said in his Democracy Day address marking 15 years since the return to civilian rule in 1999. Beyond the tough talking however, the times call for deeper reflection about what Nigeria is not doing correctly and what should be done to extirpate the insurgency that has transformed the country into a killing field.
As father of the nation and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, the president can no longer act in the illusion that everything is under control; Jonathan must now accept that he has either been living in denial or was ill-informed about the gravity of the situation. This unfortunate delusion was aptly captured by the paradox of an insensitive government without a sense of priorities that deployed 6,000 troops to Abuja for the just-ended World Economic Forum for Africa, whilst the orgy of killings of innocent citizens and destruction of property has escalated rather than abating. Now that Jonathan has declared total war, he must accompany his rhetoric with action. As a first step to demonstrate his seriousness, the President must suspend all political institutions in the three states under emergency rule in line with starre decisis.
When the President, in exercise of his constitutional duty, declared emergency rule last May, in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States, his action was not only necessary, it had historical precedents. The First Republic of Tafawa Balewa declared emergency rule in the Western Region following seemingly intractable crisis among the political elite. Balewa appointed Dr. Moses Majekodunmi as administrator of the region. Forty years later, President Olusegun Obasanjo also declared emergency rule in Plateau and Ekiti States, in the wake of similar political violence. In each instance, the government effectively dismantled the existing political structures and appointed administrators.
When Jonathan declared emergency rule in the three north-eastern States, it was expected that he would follow the path of history. Unfortunately, he chose the path of expediency, and allowed all democratic institutions to function without interference. The reasoning appeared to be that the rule of law and a measure of political dexterity was needed to stave off any ugly backlash. After one year, the President must admit that not dismantling the political institutions was a tragic error of judgment. The induced paralysis and dysfunctionality has all but undermined the counter-insurgency effort. The insurgency has continued as though there is no emergency rule; indeed, the situation is so embarrassing and has attracted international intervention. There is no coordination between the civilian authorities the military chain of command. No doubt, the war has been waged with a great deal of incompetence especially on the part of the political leadership at both the Federal and State levels. The President and the governors, given their words and deeds, seem to have become part of the problem.
Although the state governors from the area may oppose the suspension and dismantling of political institutions, it should be clear to all well-meaning Nigerians that the situation in the north east, has become intractable and now threatens the unity of the whole country. Therefore, if the government is to get to grips with the crisis, the emergency measures must be extended to the political institutions. Jonathan should, as a matter of urgency, appoint military administrators to manage the situation and report directly to him. No one should be in denial that the security challenges have escalated with dire consequences not just for the people of the north east, but the whole country.
This therefore is not the time for politics as usual, but a clear reality check and dispassionate decision that would attain peace in the nation. The governors in the affected states must recognize that rather than de-escalate the crisis, some of them have regrettably played more to the gallery and helped politicize the crisis with their endless criticism of the President; without any constructive efforts to aid the war, even in their States. There is a strong perception that the governors are fifth columnists in the prosecution of the fight, and this can no longer be discountenanced. Indeed, there are indications of the spawning of a conflict economy from the ongoing campaign as spurious contracts are being awarded with little or no results. Buccaneers have continued to feed fat from the war and these conflict entrepreneurs obviously want the crisis to continue in order to remain in business. But Nigerians, who now live in the danger of being bombed to death by militants, whose desires are simply evil, have reached a saturation point and want the bloodletting to stop.
Many Nigerians have been victims and the seemingly endless devastation to life and property has become a common sight in ways that have inured the population against the horror of death. Each time a bomb explodes, the people shudder and the government in self-delusion often claims it is on top of the situation and thereafter, goes back to business as usual. While many continue to ponder over government’s incapacitation, one thing is clear: the Boko Haram insurgency is now beyond the government, it is a Nigerian crisis and Nigerians must rise up to the challenge. The activities of the insurgents are targeted at the foundational existence of Nigeria as a nation. The intractability of the crisis, of course, indicates that the government is losing the war, and the wonder remains if it is the same breed of Nigerian soldiers, who, on foreign missions, triumphed over other rebellions and insurgencies with remarkable success.
However, there is no illusion that assistance from the international community is crucial to end the crisis, but the war against insurgents in Nigeria is a Nigerian fight and all Nigerians must brace up to fight that battle squarely. In the quest for solution, the nation certainly needs the input of all stakeholders to galvanize support for an enduring solution. The responsibility of ending the insurgency in the North which has shattered the peace and economy of the area does not rest squarely on the President alone. It is a moral burden hanging on the shoulder of every Nigerian. Thus, a concerted national effort, harnessing the energy and goodwill of every Nigerian, is required to end the scourge of terrorism so that the country can face the urgent task of nation building.
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