By: Cecil Esekhaigbe
I would have given this last minute convert the benefit of the doubt but his position on the last paragraph clearly betrayed his futile attempt to twist facts to mitigate his unguarded utterances which was unnecessary.
I picked some senses in the parody especially the blanket labelling of an ethnic group as assailants and harbinger of vicious mentality which is wrong. I also think a blanket quit notice to an ethnic group from any part of Nigeria is not right.
He should have addressed inaction in form of arrest and prosecution of criminals irrespective of their ethnic nationality. I have said during my appearances in various news outfit that undue characterisation doesn’t help the identification of a problem.
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The funani herders that we all know do not carry Ak 47 but sticks and water bottles and so its incorrect to accuse the real herders.Unfortunately Gov Bala Mohammed’s postulation that herders are free to carry Ak 47 to defend themselves has complexified a meaningful diagnosis of the problem. It is even instructive to note that these bandits most non Nigerians do not have any herds.
If every Nigerian or groups of Nigerians begin to carry weapons to defend themselves without authorisation , what will we be contending with is a STATE OF NATURE.
The apolicalyptic state of our nation with mindless killings, rape and kidnapping with the attendant ethnic tensions did not start last year or six months ago in his misleading last paragraph.
Our elected leaders must dispassionately look at the problems on ground irrespective of party affiliations and come together to fulfill the social contract with the citizenry which is welfare and security .
Hiding under religion and ethnicity to cover their failure of governance is not acceptable. We have lived together for decades in spite of the social contradictions but the present state of anomie needs correct diagnosis and an effective treatment.
The tantrums of Governors to earn ethnic endorsement from their people in face of abdication of responsibility is not a solution. Good governance and a national conversation is our desideratum.
God help Nigeria
Esekhaigbe is a retired Major General of the Nigerian Army
