Nothing has de-marketed the nation, Nigeria, in the last seven years, as much as the unsolved spates of terrorist acts and the wide gamut of insecurity, fuelled by an incompetent, unfeeling government. And we have become more and more the butt of international jokes and disdain as we wobble and fumble on even the simplest of issues. In the eyes of the world, we are now being sold as a looming failed state, there for the taking; a country on the brink of falling to the terrorists who have been causing havoc in the North East for about 15 years now.
Or how else do we interpret the recent action of the USA and some European countries who have not only publicly warned of imminent attacks on Abuja but have indeed evacuated their personnel and asked their citizens to leave the country? Ordinarily, one should wonder: how dare the United States of America, USA, and the growing number of European countries to rubbish Nigeria’s image, by issuing the security alert on Abuja and 14 other states in Nigeria? Is this what we have come to, the damage we have done to ourselves through the collective mistake of electing Muhammadu Buhari as President? Is what is happening to us now, especially the disgraceful security alert, not “see-finish?”
It is clear these foreign countries have put Nigerian leadership on a scale, found them wanting and powerless. With impunity, they have now decided to kick her frontally in the face. They know how inconsequential the Buhari government has made the nation seem in the eyes of the comity of nations. They have, through the public security alert and warning minimised Nigeria in the eyes of the international community, Nigerians in the diaspora and indeed Nigerians who live in the country. They have reduced Nigeria to the level of the deeply troubled Afghanistan and other failed states where all foreign nationals scurry out of the country to preserve their lives, as the country fell to the Islamic rebel groups. In their eyes, Nigeria is walking,with eyes wide open, into being a failed state.
Before now, America restricted itself to issuing travel advisories on Nigeria, insulting as that was. But they have upped the antennal, told the whole world rebels are about to overrun the Nigerian capital, Abuja. To point out the gravity of the security situation, they have effected the evacuation of all their non-essential personnel at their embassies in Abuja. Their message is simple: go to, or stay in, Abuja at your own risk! The government is genuinely infuriated while the people, justifiably, have turned a blind eye to the warning. To them all die na die!
I have listened to a few international relations experts and have lived long enough to know that something, somewhere, is not right with the way the Americans, especially, have gone about the recent security scare in Abuja. I am one to admit that there must indeed be fire behind the smoke of the scaremongering. I must admit the Americans, even if in pretence, must have sought audience with the Nigerian government and possibly have a good sense of its security architecture, its attitude and political will. But is it right the way it has gone about the worsening security situation in the country? Is the situation so doomed that it is irreparable? Is there no ameliorating factor, no leeway to confronting and containing the risk posed by the current security situation orchestrated by foreign terrorists and bandits alike?. Or is it that the western nations have done all they could to assist the Nigerian government and it failed to cooperate or show any sign of grappling with the situation? Why are the Americans and the European countries so upfront, so seemingly impatient with the handling of the seemingly imperilled security situation? What do they know that we don’t?
Nigerians know better than to turn to the President for succour. They know that if he didn’t keep his uncanny silence, his handlers would issue out tepid statements that end up infuriating the people more. But President Buhari will be President Buhari. His next action has been to chose this critical time, of all times, to go junketing on another medical tourism to Europe. And it is either of two things. It is either the President is using the medical trip as a calming balm to tell the rest of us that there is nothing to worry about, that we can go about our lives quietly secured. If one were to be mischievous, one would say the President embarking on the medical check up at this time was a design to damn the rest of the world and indeed all Nigerians. Alternatively, the health situation of the President could be in a state he considers more alarming than the insecurity enveloping the nation’s capital. True, people are wondering if this is not another situation of Rome being on fire while the emperor fiddles with trifles?
Let’s look at this more closely. Truth be told, we have some of the brightest, bravest and very patriotic military and security men and women, any nation of the world would gladly boast of. And it has been proven over and over again, especially when they go on international assignments, that our Police Force, our Military and security personnel are some of the finest in the world. What is missing appears to be the political will and right funding to put them on the fighting pedestal to put an end to the spate of terrorism and bandit activities. Yet the Buhari government does not appear hell-bent on crushing the terrorists and putting an end to their nefarious activities. Yet we know that the virulent wing of Islamic State of West Africa, ISWAP, a franchise of the deadly but defeated ISIS, peopled by foreign terrorist mercenaries and cross-border criminals, are those trying to hold Nigeria and Nigerians hostage with the very active connivance of yet to be identified government operatives.
Nigerians have been bombarded with assurances from relevant sources about their security, going forward. Whether they believe any of it or not; whether they think the Americans and the Europeans should be believed or not, one thing is clear: there are more urgent issues attacking the life of the average Nigerian. The Abuja security scare is just one of many. For most, the attitude is just to find enough strength and resources to survive another day given the avalanche of problems which is their lived reality. There is food crisis, energy crisis, all kinds of problems which buffet them daily. The World Bank recently captured it well when it said: “Nigeria’s food, energy crisis worsened by Naira depreciation.” That is a diplomatic way of saying the massive devaluation of the Naira, which is currently on a free fall, has further compounded the miserable lives of Nigerians who are barely surviving the imbecilities and criminal incompetence of the government.
Yes, Nigerians barely sleep now, even with one eye shut. Not with the hunger ravaging the land. The multi-dimensional insecurities strangulating their lives and the many other existence crises that crush them. Like living dead, the only escape route now appears to be what in true Nigerian coinage is JAPA. That is finding all means to escape out of Nigeria to any other country. Houses, land, cars, and other properties and investments are being auctioned off in Nigerians desperation to escape the tragic Buhari government. Over 10000 doctors have fled. Ten of thousands more of our highly trained human resources have Japa-ed. More are on the way out. The latest security alert on Abuja can only fuel the deal to get out before the whole house comes collapsing. God forbid.
