By Josephine Babatunde
In the last few weeks, the issue of the abduction of nearly 200 students
of a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State has been largely politicised.
Rarely are the real mothers of the girls seen these days on television as
some really concerned women and opportunists have taken the centre stage
and relishing the attendant publicity, while the parents have been pushed
to the background.
But at least some measure of good is coming from the situation as a
stakeholders’ meeting by First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has come up
with a startling revelation that the recalcitrance of Governors Murtala
Nyako of Borno State, Kashim Shettima of Borno and Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe
may have inadvertently left the nation with this nauseating situation.
Head of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Nigerian Office,
Charles Eguridu, told the stakeholders gathered with Mrs Jonathan the
fertile ground that led to the abduction of the girls was laid, after its
request to the state governments for the relocation of the examination
centre was ignored. His story: “When we made that representation (letter)
to the three affected states, none of them responded to the honourable
minister’s request.
“We followed it up and I directed my zonal coordinator in Borno state in
particular, to liaise with the Ministry of Education in Borno State, and
the response we got was so disheartening. We were told that they had
security in place for the candidates and that we should come and conduct
the examination in the schools and that they were not ready to relocate
their students from Chibok and other areas to Maiduguri or nearby
locations where security agencies could provide security.
“They said if we failed to conduct the examinations, the world would blame
us. And so at great risk, my officers went to Chibok and conducted the
examinations. After the unfortunate incident in which the students were
said to have been abducted, our staff now got a response from the state
that they were then ready to relocate the remaining students to another
place called Ubah. And, as I speak, 189 candidates are continuing with
the examination in Ubah.”
While the most important move now is to get our daughters back home to us,
away from the wicked and ravenous wolves that keep them, it is about time
someone told the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors of these three
states that while they may choose to play politics over other matters,
they should not do it at the risk of the lives of our children. In
addition, political gymnastics with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
controlled federal government may be acceptable in some circumstances, but
playing politics with a sub-regional agency is the basest of political
behaviour. See where it has led the state government. And who is to say
the Borno State government is not to blame?
While this is not the best of times for blame-sharing, it has become
increasingly clear that the federal government should cease wanting to do
what is politically correct and impose full and comprehensive emergency
rule in the three states of the north-east, more so when the governors are
intemperate, especially the drunken sailor, acting more like a rebel
leader than a man trained, housed and fed from federal resources for about
three decades of his life. The source of his stupendous wealth and its
movement in the last one year should also be investigated.
Away from irresponsible leaders, the federal government should bring to
bear its mighty weight upon the French-colonised countries of Niger,
Cameroon, and Chad. A few oil deals the way of France may work the
wonders that is required to bend France over backwards, while a strong
message is delivered to these countries like General Muhammadu Buhari did
in the early 80s when a similar group toyed with our territorial
integrity. That bloody nose still remains fresh in the mind of our
neighbours and a reiteration of our capacity to do it on a larger scale is
needed at this time so that enemies without and within will know better
not to mess with the federal government.
Still on the matter of the kidnapped girls, it is a wonder that those who
claim to be our international friends with all the technology in space
were oblivious of the movement of the fanatics who moved around and
captured 200 girls and redistributed them across countries as it has been
claimed in some quarters. Friends, indeed! Also, while contributing to
debates on the floor of the National Assembly, lawmakers regaled the
nation with the activities of the so-called Boko Haram operatives,
including how they were marrying the abducted girls. It makes you wonder
how they know so much so soon.
Moreover, how come our daughters are escaping from the insurgents when it
appears the army is helpless. So, what exactly is going on in Borno
State?
Josephine Babatunde contributed this piece from Festac Town, Lagos.