By Chief Bode Ibiyinka George
In the wake of the alarming escalation of insecurity and the recent waves of kidnappings, terrorising Nigerians, it has become imperative for us to address the critical questions that Nigerians are asking.
The pertinent question Nigerians are asking today is: “What exactly is going on in our country?”
Nigerians are looking to the government to instill security amidst the fear and atrocious crimes being committed in Nigeria, which is destroying the security and stability of our nation, making Nigeria very volatile and a threat to the personal safety of Nigerians. The sudden increase and high prevalence rate of innocent lives loss, suffered by Nigerians communities is not only tragic, but has made it almost impossible to attract the much needed international economic investment that can only prevail in a politically stable environment
Nigerians are perpetually engulfed with fear and so they are asking what is happening to the government in power. Why are they refusing to put the national security of this nation front and centre of their political agenda? The government of the day has failed Nigerians once again.
With the recent killing of more than 200 people in Plateau State during the Christmas season, in addition to the rampant abduction of citizens everyday, Nigerians are now forced to look for tens of millions of naira in cash to pay off ransoms. I am also asking the same critical question: Whither Nigeria?
The fundamental duty of government, anywhere in the world, is the protection of lives and property of its citizens. It also must put adequate well-coordinated security plans that prioritise national security and ensures an atmosphere – peaceful and conducive – for its citizens.
Pitiably, this is not the case in our country today. On the roads, on the farms, in the market, even in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, the seat of government, it seems terrorists and kidnappers have now taken the battle to the city of power.
What is the government doing to eliminate this plague of insecurity in the land? How do we develop the economy and catapult economic growth when Nigerians and foreigners/investors have become endangered species in the hands of killers?
The lack of urgency to promptly tackle banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and insecurity in the land gives me grave concern, anxiety and distress.
This hydra-headed problem is not being tackled by the government. It has now become a crime for Nigerians to move from one place to the other. How long will Nigerians endure this?
Kidnapping for ransom is already creating fear all over the country. Leaders in the country must not just bombard Nigerians with the semantics of ‘We are on top of the situation.’ Those in authority must show leadership qualities, and as a popular saying goes, ‘The only thing necessary for evil to triumph in Nigeria is that good citizens watch silently and do nothing.’ Elders in the country must stand up and advise government appropriately on actions that will ensue peace and stability in the land.
Since the Supreme Court has ruled in favour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the winner of the February 25, 2023 election, it is now time for real governance, and Nigerians are earnestly yearning for this.
Nigeria is close to the precipice and any little push can lead to a total disintegration. That is why the Tinubu administration should put on its armour and tackle this menace in the society now.
From Sokoto to Oyo, Rivers to Niger, Imo to Taraba; the high rate of unemployment, chronic hunger and malnutrition are so prevalent in the land. According to a popular saying, an idle hand is the devil’s workshop. Since people must eat, they will resort to anything that will put food on their tables, even if it is undesirable and despicable.
So, what is the government doing to engage this growing army of unemployed youths in the country?
Naira is now about N1,300 to a dollar. A bag of rice is more than N60,000. Cost of living is just going up and the quality of life is going down. It appears the government is helpless and unprepared. Government must stretch out its hands to foster partnerships with all relevant stakeholders and agencies, to ensure immediate relief for those most vulnerable in our society.
I said it before and I am going to repeat it for posterity. We must restructure this country and the time is now. If we are really practising democracy the way it should be, Abuja should not breathe down the necks of all the 36 states. We must restructure immediately.
The Federal Government must also devolve power to states to achieve more effective governance and management of each state’s resources. Governors are closer to the people. They know what their people need. Apart from monetary policy, customs, defence, foreign affairs and a few others, governors should handle the rest critical matters on the Exclusive List in the Constitution. For example, people in Alimosho, the most populous local government in Nigeria, cannot go to Abuja for their basic needs. The governor is there in Alausa, Ikeja to handle such things. Development should be bottom-up, not the other way round. That is why if California, a state in the United States of America, USA, were a sovereign nation, it would rank in terms of nominal Gross Domestic Product, GDP, as the world’s fifth largest economy, behind Japan and ahead of India.
In fact, the state of California has a larger GDP than that of all African countries.
Its Silicon Valley is home to some of the world’s most valuable technology companies, such as Apple, Alphabet and Nvidia.
If we restructure, some states in the South-East can become our own California and Nigeria will be better for it.
We must also reform our judicial and electoral systems.
In many political cases, millions of people believe, and rightly so, that some judges deliver judgements, NOT justice. Believe it or not, this is part of the insecurity in the land.
Also, the last three elections in the country were nothing to write home about.
It is only a stupid man who will continue to do same thing and expect a different result.
The system we are using now is not sustainable. Whether we like it or not, this country must restructure. So, why are we postponing this urgent task?
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was in power for 16 years and it was not as bad as this. The APC has been in power for about nine years and look at the mess in the country.
With what Nigerians are going through now, we can now safely say that the PDP government was much better in terms of the posterity of this nation.
This APC government must wake up and as a matter of urgency, take immediate action to address the crisis that has completely engulfed this nation to a stupor.
President Bola Tinubu, the time to act is now.
•Chief George, a former Deputy National Chairman, South, if the PDP, is the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland.
