Like always, events in Nigeria’s political scene both ugly, intriguing and ridiculous ones saturated the media space last week.
And as usual, FirstNews picked out some of the ridiculous events that happened and pointed out some of their implications and why they should bother Nigerians.
Ortom’s escape by whiskers
One of the most ridiculous things that happened in Nigeria’s political scene last week was the assassination attempt on Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom.
Ortom told newsmen on Saturday, March 20, that while he was at his farm at Tyo Mu along Makurdi/Gboko road in Makurdi Local Government Area of the state, some gunmen he alleged to be killer herdsmen made attempt at his life.
According to the governor, but for six of his security details who repelled the attack on him and provided cover for him to return to safety, something evil might have happened to him.
Implication:
The attack on Ortom goes to show how badly the security situation in the country has deteriorated. Ortom is now the second governor under Buhari’s administration to suffer an attack after the Boko Haram terrorists on two different occasions attacked the convoy of the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum.
The fact that governors could be attacked despite their security details goes to show nobody is safe in Nigeria any longer.
The claim by the governor that his attackers were herdsmen and the alleged report that a Fulani herdsmen group have claimed responsibility for the attack, tells how emboldened the herdsmen have become under this administration.
The President’s obvious refusal to openly condemned the activities of these herdsmen is no longer funny. It is important and very urgent that relevant institutions of government conduct a thorough probe in the attack and its sponsors now to avoid a descent into utter anarchy. The probe should be a holistic one that will not spare anyone, not even Mr President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
Asari Dokubo’s joke
Also considered as one of the ridiculous events in Nigeria last week was an ex-Niger Delta militants’ leader, Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo declaration of a new ‘Biafra de facto customary government.’
In a statement on Sunday, March 14 by one Uche Mefor, said to be the Head of Information and Communication of the ‘customary government,’ Dokubo announced himself as the leader of the new “government.”
Citing “injustice and marginalisation” allegedly being perpetrated against the Igbo in various parts of the country as the reason for the declaration of the new government Dokubo said, “The government of Biafra States will look to make sure that we only eat what we can produce. Nobody can stop us. Nobody can blockade us as they did in the first war. We’re not going to fight any war with anybody, we’re walking to freedom.
“We will not shoot any gun with them, they will prepare their weapon but they will have nobody to kill with their weapon. We as people have resolved that as Biafra, it’s time for us to take our destiny into our hands and bring freedom to ourselves and our children and the generation of Biafrans yet unborn.”
Implication:
As ridiculous as Dokubo’s declaration sounds, it shows the growing disenchantment among many Nigerians with the leadership and the country’s structure as currently constituted.
Ignoring such demands as the government has continued to do is apparently not the best way to address the concerns.
What Nigeria currently needs is an honest dialogue that will allow different regions of the country to decide the Nigeria that can work for them.
Igboho’s Yoruba ‘Republic’
Like Dokubo, Popular Yoruba freedom fighter, Comrade Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho, last week kept Nigerians talking with a comical declaration that all he and his people from the South-West want is an independent Yoruba nation.
Igboho spoke during a press conference in Ibadan on Wednesday, March 17, saying that there is no basis for one Nigeria when the northerners allegedly have dominated the country.
“Starting from now, we don’t want Fulani herdsmen in our land to disturb our farms again. If we meet any Fulani herdsmen, we are going to face and destroy them.
“If any police attack us for that, we are ready for them. We don’t want Nigeria again, but Yoruba nation. There is no essence for one Nigeria when major resources in the country are in the hands of the northerners.
Implication: Igboho’s declaration only reinstates how dangerously Nigeria has been divided along the ethnic line. No thanks to the ever-growing disappointments arising from a perceived imbalance in the country’s leadership structure, nepotism, corruption among several others.
It is obvious that things are really falling apart in the country and the centre is seriously threatened. Hence, it is high time the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration recognised these obvious cracks in the country’s unity and take urgent steps to find solutions to them to avoid a situation one wakes up one morning to discover there is no country called Nigeria again.
Saraki begging for PDP
It was also interesting to hear a former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki begging Nigerians to give the Peoples Democratic Party another chance to return to power at the centre in 2023.
Saraki, who spoke while inaugurating some projects and programmes executed by Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had said, “Our country is passing through some difficulties and I appeal to Nigerians to give PDP the chance again to lead Nigeria and you will see the difference.”
Implication:
Saraki’s appeal is a welcome one. However, it failed short of what Nigerians want to hear from the party, whose 16 years reign was marred by corruption.
Though a good number of Nigerians appear to be more disappointed with the All Progressives Congress, whose promised change has remained elusive, but they still find it difficult to trust the major opposition party.
Rather than just beg with a vague promise and assurance of making a difference, Saraki and his PDP should do more to tell Nigerians why they should trust the party again when the PDP still parade the same crop of politicians who Nigerians cannot see anything different between them and the present leaders in charge of the affairs of the nation.