Thursday, July 24, 2014
Respect The Contract
I remember what this same government you seem to be defending with all your might did when Jonathan's cousin was kidnapped in Bayelsa. The military personnel deployed evoked a Nigeria-at-war sentiment. The sheer number of Armoured Personnel Carriers engaged in trying to rescue one man was benumbing. They combed the entire area like fine hair and made sure that in no time the privileged cousin was back to the warm embrace of his family. Why was it so important then and not so now? Well, he was a close relative of the powers that be and as such, no expense was spared to get him and safely too.
But these girls? Who are they related to? Nobodies. Bloody civilians. They can roast for all this administration cares. Our military, given the right morale boosting, is worthy of great endeavours. But not when there is more politics at play than the fate of hapless children not priviledged enough to be from the political royalty. Not worthy enough to even have their parents consoled by the top echelon of political jobbers (until their hands were forced).
We did not elect Boko Haram for our welfare and safety. So, we don't point fingers at them. They are not answerable to us. So, we don't join issues with them. This government took upon itself that duty and responsibility and in so far as we play our part in paying their salaries and spending so much to make them comfortable enough to do their jobs (darn too much, more than enough), they pretty much must do it.
Underline the word MUST.
That is the social contract that binds us together and as clearly spelt out in the Constitution, the first priority of the government is the welfare of the citizenry. Don't let that escape your consideration.
(The YOUs know themselves)
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
What GEJ Hasn't Done That I Will Do
If you haven't been asked how you would've handled the Boko Haram insurgency Nigeria is experiencing because of your constant haranguing of this present crop of leaders, probably you've not been doing enough or it's still going to be asked of you. Sooner. The finer details of my "plan of action " may not be as simplistic as outlined below (no way I'm divulging sensitive confidential information in public) and several terms are CODED (and in quotes) on purpose, but here is the broad outline.
You cut off a leaking faucet from the source rather than spend time bailing the pool that gathers in the room. All indicators (from the make of their vehicles, the number of them on the move at the same time, to the premium quality of their ammunition) point to heavy financial sources of this malaise. It's foolhardy to believe government is absolutely ignorant of financiers of the violence. (Rumours suggest GEJ might be bidding his time so as not to ruffle the fabric of the Northern oligarch whose support is sine qua non for 2015)
If only to put these rumours to bed, these financiers must be "removed" from their capacity to provide funding for the dastardly acts the group has visited on their hapless victims. Removed PERMANENTLY. Having "fixed" the source, we can now begin to mop up what little spilling survives with the heft of militaristic finality.
To answer those who are Persistent-International-Aid-seekers, I don't see how we'd need any foreign aid in this strategy. We can more than fend for ourselves here. Our military isn't highly regarded across the board because we always shout "May Day!!! May Day!!!!" for assistance. It's the incessant political interference that has cheapened their abilities. We're so quick to ask for international assistance today, and tomorrow when they've infiltrated all nooks of our domestic engagements and begin to apply their acquired inside knowledge influentially for their nationalistic agendas we would be the same "patriots" to scream exploitation!