The President, Muhammadu Buhari, was in Borno yesterday to pay a condolence visit to the people of the state over the killing of 30 people on Sunday. Some youth came out in their numbers and booed the President.
Certainly, the President cannot be happy with insurgency and killing, but more certainly the people cannot be happy too.
We must not forget that the primary purpose of government is the security and well being of the people. The people of Borno are Nigerians, and they ought to be protected as sworn by the President.
In my own humble opinion, the booing of the President was not meant to slight his personality and it is certainly beyond Politics of Opposition. But to tell him the plights of the people of the region. The people of the region transcended from being a little bit pissed to a point where they are beginning to lose hope. It is very unfortunate, that thus far, enemies of the State are winning and that portends grave danger to the country.
I must acknowledge the fact that about 20 Local Government Areas were resettled under the present administration, but we cannot ignore the current unfortunate situation, there seems to be a resurgence.
And the most unfortunate story is that the government of Nigeria is planning to “renovate” the Nation Assembly complex with a whopping 37 billion naira, at a time we are finding it hard to fight insurgency. This money could be used to purchase sophisticated weapons for the security forces.
An interesting fact you may not know; the drone used by the American to kill Iranian general, Qaseem Solaimani is known as MQ-9 Reaper (Predator- B). It is the first hunter-killer Unmanned Aerial Vehicle designed for long-endurance, high-altitude surveillance. And it cost 5.56 billion naira, meaning that the 37 billion naira meant to renovate the NASS complex could buy 7 of such drones. That could say a final bye-bye to Boko Haram, Kidnapping and other crime merchants.
Time for action is now, the government needs to act fast so that Nigerians could sleep with two eyes closed and travel at night without the fear of molestation.
Finally, we must not forget that Poor Community Policing, Poor Intelligent Gathering is highly responsible for the continuous killings in the country. A total overhaul of the country’s security architecture will be of great benefit. I am also of the opinion, that it is time to let go of the Service Chiefs, we need new ideas and new approach, and failure to do so will be unfair to the men and women of our security forces who have given their all including paying the supreme sacrifice to keep us all safe.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Ojiah Ridwan, a public affairs analyst.
ojiahridwanonoruoyiza@gmail.com