Like always, the media space in Nigeria was littered with stories of significance last week. These stories kept Nigerians busy with reactions. So, in this week’s Politics Roundup, we selected five of these stories, including the ‘crazy’ plot by Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
For more detail, read through to find out all the events we captured, their implications to the nation’s growth and why we should not forget them in haste.
1. El-Rufai’s ‘crazy’ plot
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On Thursday, May 7, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai said when 29 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Kaduna State, were abducted, the plan was to attack and kill the bandits even if it meant some students would die in the process.
The governor, who has maintained that he will never negotiate with bandits said, “Two days after the abduction of the Afaka young people, I was assured by the air force and the army that they knew where the kidnappers were with the students and they had encircled (them). We were going to attack them. We would lose a few students but we would kill all the bandits and we would recover some of the students. That was our plan. That was the plan of the air force and the army… But they slipped through the cordon of the army. That is why they were not attacked.
“We know it is risky, we know in the process we may lose some of the abductees but it is a price we have to pay. This is war, there will always be collateral damage in war and we will rather do that than pay money because paying money has not solved the problem anywhere in the world.”
Implication: It is unfortunate El-Rufai could show himself not to bother about the precious lives of the young Nigerians in bandits’ captivity.
It remains mysterious how an El-Rufai, who was among those that called on the previous government to enter into negotiations with Boko Haram to free Chibok Girls, now becomes averse to negotiation.
Why it is true that the best is not to negotiate with bandits, it is even worse for any government to think of destroying the criminals alongside innocent young citizens. For many Nigerians, the plot sounds crazy and evil.
2. Amaechi’s shameless blame
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The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Friday, May 7 said that the current insecurity being experienced across the country was due to the mismanagement of the economy by previous administrations.
The minister, who absolved the current administration of any blame in the ongoing menace, said: “The past leaders should be held responsible for mismanaging the resources of the country.
“The reason there is crime is that the rich men who ran the economy of Nigeria for years mismanaged it. I don’t know why Nigerians like to think that we are the first to be in government
“Before we came, there were previous governments. If they had run the economy in ways that created jobs, today, we won’t be talking about insecurity and banditry. I usually tell people, if the rich do not allow the poor to sleep, will the poor allow them to sleep? All of us will be awake boxing one another.”
Implication: The blame game by Amaechi is not surprising. Blame, as supposed by many, has remained the stock in trade of the government he is serving under as a minister.
His blame also shows how ridiculous some Nigerian politicians can be. What can best explain the claim by Amaechi, who has been in corridors of power since the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, if not that he thinks that Nigerians are fools?
3. Presidency’s coup plot claim
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The Presidency on Tuesday, May 4, claimed it had evidence to show that some elements were recruiting ethnic groups and politicians with the motive of convening conferences where a vote of no confidence would be passed in the President.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, who disclosed this in a statement titled ‘Our response to DSS alert, by Presidency,’ said that the purpose of the move was to further throw the country into turmoil.
“The Department of State Services on Sunday alerted on sinister moves by misguided elements to wreak havoc on the government, sovereignty and corporate existence of the country.
“Championed by some disgruntled religious and past political leaders, the intention is to eventually throw the country into a tailspin, which would compel a forceful and undemocratic change of leadership.
“Further unimpeachable evidence shows that these disruptive elements are now recruiting the leadership of some ethnic groups and politicians round the country, with the intention of convening some sort of conference, where a vote of no confidence would be passed in the President, thus throwing the land into further turmoil.”
Implication: It is important this government stop taking Nigerians as fools. Nigerians know better as the claim is coming up at a time concerned citizens are calling for Buhari’s removal over perceived failures to secure the lives and properties of the country, which is his primary constitutional responsibility.
Rather than think critics of the Federal Government have “dark motives”, the Presidency should rather concern itself with the worries expressed by these critics and find solutions to them.
Nigeria needs at this time a Presidency that is broad-minded enough to accommodate all shades of opinions and not one that continues to see critics as disgruntled elements, religious and persons who do not mean well for the government and the country.
4. Mbaka’s disappearance, reappearance
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Among top political events last week, was the disappearance and reappearance of the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka.
On Tuesday, May 4, tension and fears gripped Enugu State after it was reported that Mbaka was missing. Angry members of his Adoration Ministry in protest vandalised the Bishop’s Court in Enugu, claiming that the Catholic priest allegedly disappeared after he honoured an invitation by the Bishop last night.
While the protesters were still protesting, the cleric reappeared and all the tense atmosphere vanished as the aggrieved protesters danced and jubilated seeing the missing priest.
Implications: Though Mbaka said the DSS had nothing to do with his disappearance as many had speculated, however, the fact that the ordeal came after he spoke truth to power, shows how dangerous it is becoming to criticize the government in power.
Mbaka’s travail should serve as a lesson to clerics in the country to shun playing dirty politics, supporting politicians and bamboozle their members in the name of God to support a political party and leaders because of pecuniary and other selfish gains.
5. Obasanjo’s warning
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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday, May 5, warned that leaders must ensure 2023 give birth to a new federation in Nigeria or else the country may be “sliding into ground dissolution.”
Lamenting the level of insecurity in Nigeria Obasanjo maintained that 2023 must be a watershed for Nigeria.
Speaking at his Penthouse residence inside the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State, when members of Tiv Professionals Group led by Prof Zacharys Anger Gundu, paid him a courtesy visit, Obasanjo said, “I do believe that whatever else we do we have to make the year 2023 a watershed for Nigeria. The year 2023 should give us the beginning of the emergence of a new federation or feeling that the rot continues, and then, we are going to be sliding back to a ground dissolution. God forbid.”
Implication: Obasanjo only stated the obvious. The signals are there for all to see that Nigeria as presently run may not survive beyond 2023.
It will only be wise that the warning by Obasanjo is heeded to. The nation’s leaders, if the country must continue to exist as one, should take Obasanjo’s advice seriously.
The raging insecurity across the country and the growing calls for separation are all pointers to the fact the things may fall apart in Nigeria and the centre may no longer hold if nothing urgent is done about the country’s current structure.