By Theo Adebowale
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A fact of life so known to the majority is that life is short. It is also known that life is a risk, and so it takes the mercy of God to remain alive and well every day. Indeed, we also believe that risks of life vary from place to place. In industrial settlements diseases arise from climate change, with great cost on lives and resources. Urbanization having deleted identifies of many turn them to workers of iniquity.
In recent decades however, border disputes, religious extremism and tussle for political authority generally have made life more of a risk and safety less guaranteed. Terrorism has become a phenomenon in local and international political space, relegating armed robbery and ‘ordinary murder’ to a less ‘prominent rung’ in the scheme of violence. Not only this, but also demonstrating the failure of the state to discharge a crucial function for which it was born. The state employs government as an institution to enforce protection of lives and property, among others. Its failure to discharge this duty visibly questions its relevance.
The Middle East has contributed much more in the drama, massacre, assassination, hijack, suspense and bloodletting that are components of violence within and without states. Time was when it was assumed that it was only with our eyes that we see and behold the portion of the wicked. But such thoughts have since perished as sultan said that these criminal elements go about collecting ransom. In our own suburbs, Myetti Allah Exco members find time to educate us on why they abduct, demand and collect ransom, rape and murder our neighbours. Top government officials counsel us to learn to live in peace with our neighbours who celebrate our subjugation. In the face of all these calamities, we were like them that dreamt. And our officials were like them that were drunk with intoxicants. When their agents mowed down #EndSARS protesters, they denied their killings, admitted using spent bullets, then threatened to impose sanctions on Cable Network News.
A few days ago, when over 110 rice farmers were murdered in Borno, Garba Shehu, presidential spokesperson identified failure to obtain military pass before going to their farms as cause of their massacre. Many have started to raise questions. They want to know if the Army is really in charge, do the people need clearance to go about their legitimate business? Did the Army expose them to danger to serve as a deterrence?
For me, it appears something fundamental is wrong with the political class. It seems to lack self respect as it cannot subject itself to discipline such that members work at cross purposes. Such members must have their way at all costs, hence at the slightest provocation like failure to secure party nomination, they cross carpet to became leaders and financiers in their new found political parties. A particular governor loved his party, so much that for fear of losing its nomination, had to organise miscreants and bandits to overwhelm party machinery rewarding their efforts with ministerial appointments. Having taken insurgents into the secret place of state power, the people of Borno now live under the shadow of death. Paradoxically the Chief Security Officer of the state has become the most vulnerable individual in the territory, perhaps the most unsafe public official in the country.
Surprisingly prayer warriors and contractors do now seem to be interested in his as a project. We have seen specimens of prayer projects with financial costing submitted to politicians during election campaigns and honoraria due to principal contributors and members of their team. Prof. Zulum that is always on the road to ascertain the welfare of his people, whose life is constantly under threat deserves our prayers. But in the present circumstance cannot have the services of professionals as prices of goods and services have gone beyond the roof, and nothing goes for free any longer. But the rest of us should, in the name of mother land pray for a leader that understands and is committed to his calling. From his antecedents we know that he can only enrich the process of governance and not undermine it. And if a man rising from the rubble of political chaos can swim to safety in the shark infested political waters of Nigerian politics, he would be a testimony like no other.
Between those that would rather hold their party to ransom and those that would abandon ship, is an attitude of impatience, which begets self enrichment and corruption without bounds. Donald Trump, the US President in his affluence and power believed that he could pull a fast one upon God’s own country only for him to discover that either to the political class, or the Republican Party, it is America first. His refusal to guarantee a peaceful transition has already turned against him. He no longer possesses the energy to repeat it. Whereas, if a state governor had belched out such a threat over here, it might have become a mantra.
If insecurity must be curbed, the soul of political parties must be secure. Political parties would have to guide against contamination. Each party should advertise how it intends to go about classification of issues of public importance and strategies to employ in delivery. A party that wants to reward repentance of insurgents more generously than good citizenship should be free to justly this and recruit support from the beginning. Compliance with party membership and adherence to rules would make a better leader and a more honorable citizen. Whereas a public official that is not in the habit of obeying party regulations might have no inhibition engaging in contempt of the law.
A government which activities are brought under the scrutiny of a political party is more likely to be transparent and accountable than one which is defended and justified by demagogues and bullies. Afterwards democracy is about popular participation, accountability, periodic elections, rule of law, among others. The ruling class must settle for these truths if they must have the moral authority essential to power political authority. They are as individuals subject to a group wanting to gain or retain power in order to share spoils of office and as a group want to demonstrate their better process and practice of running society.
In the mean time, let us pray for Prof. Babagana Zulum.
