Tuesday RapAround: How Not To Handle IPOB Issue – Our Thought

Tuesday RapAround With Michael Ayotunde (detuns04@gmail.com)

In Nigeria of today, purposeful leadership is more than necessary.

An adage says: when a father disciplined his ward with one hand, he uses the other to draw him closer with an instruction never to repeat the mistake he or she made.

Another says “cutting off the head outrightly is never the remedy for headache”. 

From the foregoing, if only the Nigerian government nay leadership would be sincere with itself first, it would realize that 99% of the root cause of upheavals across the length and breadth of the country emanated from it.

Had the present government took its time and available opportunities at its disposal to focus on people-oriented programmes and policies, constituted government of National Unity, by way of bringing people from the diverse ethnic groups that make up the country, and making everyone/section feel among and well represented, Nigeria would have gone far beyond the unfortunate mess that is currently the hallmark of the present administration in the country.

Late Alhaji Musa Y’Adua tried the concept of GNU and it worked. He initiated the amnesty programme for the earstwhile militants and the policy paid off. Today, everyone can attest to the feedbacks coming from the beneficiaries of the amnesty scheme. Though a good number did not believe in it and so, took it for granted. Late President Y’Adua did not tagged them terrorists, rather he explored other better option being a true statesman and the results are there for everyone to see. Under him and other past leaders, Nigeria has never been so sharply divided along ethno-religious line simply because the right leadership a country like Nigeria deserves is lacking.

The recent tagging of the unrepentant IPOB members as terrorist group by the Nigerian Army, however, calls for more concern. One might be tempted to ask whose interests the Nigerian Army is out to serve? This is because by all standards and modes of operations, it will be difficult if not impossible to compare IPOB with Boko Haram; and it was not on record that the Nigerian Army hurriedly tagged the dreaded Boko haramists terrorist group. This did not happen until the group was officially pronounced terrorist group by world bodies.

No doubt, Nnamdi Kanu and company have gone too far in their quest for secession. His unguarded utterances, dispositions and composition of guards and other forces such as Biafra Secret Service (BSS), are nauseating.

In other clime, the president could have siezed any available avenue to close ranks with people known to be recalcitrant or stubborn – all in a bid to achieve lasting peace. But to be firing thunder and brimstone at the slightest provocation is nothing but an admittance of being a bad manager.

One thing is this, where a government is performing and doing things that have far-reaching benefits to the welbeing of the people, the populace will naturally flow with such government. The reverse is the case where the peoples’ high expectations are not being met, and are being treated as nonentities. They will naturally criticize such government.

Some of the questions that readily come to mind, after a thorough assessment of the whole issue is: Why all these agitations in the first place? How did we get to this point? Where have we all missed it? What do we need to do to get out of here and urgently place the country back on right footing?

Without mincing words, these, ideally should be among the questions every right-thinking individual should be asking at this point in time – leadership inclusive – with a view to being able to form and formulate workable solutions to the myriad of problems currently bedevilling the country. These, ranging from militancy, kidnapping, IPOB fulani herdsmen, boko haram, religious/ethnic rivalry, corruption, politically-motivated killings etc.

The earlier these are put in proper perspective with a view to tackling them, the better.

*Tuesday RapAround With Michael Ayotunde (detuns04@gmail.com)*