It cannot be overemphasized that the security situation in the country demands great attention by all Nigerians. It was bad enough before the recent clash of the members of the Independent People of Biafra(IPOB) and members of the Nigerian Army. It must be accepted as an understatement to say that it was painful that this was allowed to happen. In my opinion, many parties, including me, are to blame for the avoidable clash, but I think the Federal Government of Nigeria takes lion share of the blame. This is because it has been empowered by Nigerians to take lead in virtually all aspects, more like handing over our collective and individual destiny to it.
Engaging the People of Nigeria
The general posture of the Federal Government of Nigeria in terms of engagement of the citizens especially in trying times like these does not come sufficiently high on my score card. This scenario played itself out again in the case of Operation Python Dance. I think a better job could have been done. This is not however to justify the activities of IPOB. Far from that. It is just one of the numerous problems that would normally come up in a society and should be solved in the best way possible.
The military, the Police and other security agencies will do well to draw up a much more aggressive and effective engagement programmes with community members. This programme should be made an integral part of our national life. Senior government officials such as the Vice President and the minister for Information should frequently engage with community members, not just community leaders, chat with them, constantly assure them that they are being thought of every day.
Even the president needs to frequently engage with Nigerians: question and answer sessions in a lively manner. This should also be executed through the social media. This practice will surely not in any way compromise government determination to enforce discipline in the society. To be constantly wearing a strict disciplinarian posture isn’t the best in this circumstance. We did enjoy a bit of it under a past president: Presidential Media Chat, The President Explains, etc. All these are now missing. I think we should have gone a step further. If the president of a popular nation could literally win election via twitter, we should be able to win peace through the social media alone.
Community leaders should also take promoting peace, tolerance, understanding among different peoples of Nigeria and explaining government’s intentions and actions as serious business. They should be able to detect potentially explosive situations before they happen and take pre-emptive actions. The elders around Nnamdi Kanu should as a matter of urgency prevail on him and talk some sense into him. Nnamdi Kanu, as we can all see, has the capacity to hatch trouble but lacks the capacity to win any battle. He will only cause suffering for some people, and this is unnecessary.
The security agencies, especially the military, in addition to keeping close watch on their men, should always promptly investigate all reported cases of professional misconduct against their personnel. Appropriate disciplinary measures should not only be visited on those found culpable but the public should also be lavishly furnished with news on the entire process.
Information Management
Information management especially during activities such as Operation Python Dance should be handled in such a way that little room is left for confusion and conjecture. The army, police, etc, should always produce videos of their activities promptly knowing fully well that mischief makers would always take advantage of any situation they deem potentially viable for exploitation. Rights groups, civil society organizations, etc. should always be duly notified and invited to witness such operations and report independently as well as regular media outfits.
Misconceptions always abound, especially among the less informed who are often far less thoughtful before venting their emotions in often unacceptable and regrettable ways. A population hungry for news about the happenings around it is highly vulnerable to manipulations by unscrupulous elements in society. When people are fully charged with correct information the false rumour pedlars will have less chance of winning converts. It may surprise some to discover that majority of the street agitators among IPOB members are completely convinced about the rightfulness of their claims and objectives. They need to be saved.
Reactions
I must commend all those who have refused to be intimidated by Nnamdi Kanu’s excesses and contributed to quick restoration of law and order in Abia state: the governor, the military, the police, etc. I must also commend the governors and state police commissioners, especially of the other South East states who ensured that the problem in Abia state did not spill over to their states. Commendations must also go the non-South East state governors and police commissioners especially in the northern part of the country for not allowing reprisal attacks on the south easterners in their states.
I must now express my disappointment with the reactions of many South Easterners, who spent time venting emotions and questioning the legality of troop deployment in the SE thereby fueling the notion that the SE is specifically targeted by the rest of the country for no other reason except that it is SE, instead of proffering solutions to the immediate problem at hand. I wonder where those people were when similar exercises were carried out in the SE and elsewhere in the country. They only woke up to their legal prowess after a not too respectable group clashed with the army. I would expect that such exercises are designed alongside crime statistics or security indicators.
In fact the army spokesperson explained on tv recently that Operation Python Dance I was at the instance of the community and its huge success created room for OPD II. If the security situation in the SE were at any time allowed to get out of control, these same people would be the first to blame the Federal Government for not deploying the military to assist the police, calling it marginalization of the SE. Have they forgotten so soon that a few years ago Aba was made inhabitable by hoodlums in that city causing hundreds if not thousands to relocate to other towns in Nigeria. I personally know a good number that never returned. On that occasion, the police were completely overwhelmed for a sustained period of time and the army was openly invited by many to assist. The army eventually intervened and the situation was brought under control. Legality indeed!
As this piece was being concluded, two gladdening news items flowed in:
-The declaration by Defence Headquarters of IPOB as a militant terrorist organization.
-The proscription of the activities of IPOB by the SE state governors.
Both are welcome developments. This should spell the beginning of the end of IPOB.
I very much commend the SE state governors for their courage in the face of hypocrisy. I strongly urge them to backup this proscription with unrelenting action. This is to be expected because going by his tradition, the IPOB leader is likely to remain defiant.
May peace and love reign in our country.
