Another challenging week for Nigerians facing political thuggery from the top echelons of the government, which is causing deep divisions wi...
Another challenging week for Nigerians facing political thuggery from the top echelons of the government, which is causing deep divisions within Nigeria. It seems there is a perception among Nigeria's leadership that they can act with impunity and still hold onto their power. I believe this assumption is incorrect. We cannot keep experiencing periods of lawlessness one after another and expect to sustain a functioning nation. There have been far too many negative developments occurring daily recently.
One of the most heartbreaking moments was the death of Brig Gen Musa Uba, who led the 25 Task Force Brigade. Regrettably, this courageous officer, known for his combat efforts to protect his country, gave his ultimate sacrifice after being ambushed by fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) last Friday. He was leading his troops and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) when insurgents attacked them along the Damboa-Biu route, resulting in the deaths of four operatives—two soldiers and two CJTF personnel. He initially escaped the ambush and was in contact with military officials to return to base when he was taken by the terrorists, who later killed him. In a situation where many of his senior officers avoid the battlefield and send their subordinates instead, it is unfortunate that the higher command did not take the necessary steps to save his life. The consequences of his loss could have a long-term effect on Nigeria's fight against terrorism.
This approach regarding the loss of a general was followed by the kidnapping of 25 students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, located in the Danko/Wasagu local government area of Kebbi State. After the abduction of 276 Chibok girls in 2014, 110 girls from Dapchi Girls Secondary School in 2018, and 300 students taken from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State in 2020, among others, the Nigerian government has consistently claimed it will not occur again. Students in the 168,000 schools throughout Nigeria will be safeguarded via the Safe Schools Initiative. However, once more, predictable tragedy is permitted to unfold.
The governor of Kebbi State, Mohammed Nasir Idris, expressed anger on Monday night regarding what he called a failure to respond to reliable intelligence from the DSS: "This is evident sabotage. We received credible information from the DSS (Department of State Services) indicating that this school was likely to be targeted. The DSS further recommended that we hold an emergency Security Council meeting, which we did. The decision made was to provide continuous protection for the students," stated the governor. The governor expressed regret over the deployment of security forces to safeguard the school. The well-armed security personnel spent time taking pictures with the students, only to leave 30 minutes before the attack occurred. This was clearly a preventable tragedy. If past events are any indication, no one will be held responsible for these killings and abductions as we anticipate the next group of students to be attacked. How can we claim to have a state when there is no accountability for criminal collusion? Meanwhile, parents are forced to make a tough choice: send their children to school and risk losing them or keep them at home, thus jeopardizing their future.
Additionally, this week, armed individuals targeted a church in central Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of at least two people and the abduction of the pastor along with several congregants. The incident occurred on Tuesday night in Eruku, a town located in Kwara state. For the first time, President Bola Tinubu adjusted his schedule and canceled a planned visit to South Africa and Angola for G20 and AU-EU summits in order to receive updates on the ongoing attacks. As is typically the case, for the umpteenth time, the President instructed increased security measures to track down the attackers in Kwara and directed the security agencies "to take all necessary actions" to recover the schoolgirls "kidnapped by the bandits and return them home safely," stated his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.
Regarding drama, the most notable sketch of the week was witnessing police officers battling each other to either expel or admit two opposing groups claiming leadership of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP), aiming to seize and control the Wadata, Abuja National Secretariat of the party. The key participants were the newly elected National Chairman, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, SAN, who had set up the inaugural meeting of the new National Working Committee (NWC) at the secretariat, while the faction supporting the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, had also planned an emergency Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the same location. Governors and ministers utilized their "factions" within the Nigerian police force to disperse the other side with tear gas and eject them from the secretariat. It would have made for an intriguing performance, but the reality is that what is being contested is the survival of Nigeria's democracy.
The unfortunate aspect of the situation is that a minister from the Tinubu administration has chosen to stay within the PDP and create ongoing crises to hinder the party's ability to challenge the current president, who is determined to win the 2027 presidential election. By utilizing state power, financial resources, and influencing the judiciary, the government has managed to trigger conflict-inducing mechanisms in all other parties that might oppose the upcoming elections. This effort to ensure no fair competition in the next election poses a significant danger to Nigeria's democracy. The path leading to a one-party system is the quickest way to the country's collapse.
I am unsure if President Tinubu has a political advisor who holds the belief that all rivals should be eliminated to secure total power. If he does, that advisor should clarify to him that when a ruler eliminates all opposition, the entire population ends up becoming new adversaries.
A professor specializing in Political Science and a development consultant/expert,Jibrin Ibrahimserves as a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Democracy and Development, and is the Chair of the Editorial Board ofPREMIUM TIMES.
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