Another Look At Donald Trump’s Threat To Nigeria -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

Since Donald Trump, the American President, issued his statement classifying Nigeria as a country of concern on account of the level of insecurity in the country, a lot of things have been happening in quick successions in different places. In the government circles, there are panicky situations, denials and accusations and counter accusations. In the Christian dominated Southern Nigeria, it is obvious that the people are jubilating that at last succor may come from America. In the Muslim North, there are fears and cries of betrayal. Their major claim being that it is not only the Christians that are being killed; the Muslims too are victims of the terrorist attacks. And to the terrorists, the threat seems to put them in overdrive for their activities seem to be increase in intensity instead of reducing since the US statement. While in the Nigerian military circle everything seems to be in a state of inertia. And in all of these, one thing stands out clearly: the Nigerian government hasn’t the will or the capacity to tackle insecurity prevalent in the country as it were and the military seems overwhelmed by it while the citizenry are at the mercy of God.

The official government response to the America’s threat that it is not only the Christians that are being killed but the Muslims as well is a statement of admittance of failure and incompetence. It also indicates that the government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot take responsibility for its actions and failures. By that statement, the government has admitted that there is failure of governance. By trading blames about who reported the government to Donald Trump, the government functionaries again betray their ignorance about information gathering and dissemination. It is not enough to bribe the editors, pay news media house to suppress unfavorable news items within the country. It is also not enough to under report crime and other violent acts domestically. The foreign news agencies have their way of getting the news and the American government has the more intelligence about what is going on here more than our government.

Yes, Nigeria is a sovereign state as many have argued. But what is sovereign about a state that cannot defend its territorial integrity? What is sovereign about Nigeria that has a large swathe of its territory in control of the terrorists and bandits? What is sovereign about a country that cannot provide security for its citizens? Whether the killings in Nigeria is against both Christians and Muslims and animists and traditional worshippers, the fact is that there are killings in a colossal scale that require urgent attention. And, I had expected the Nigerian government to own up, thank America for their concern and formally ask them for help instead of denial.

Life in Nigeria has been hell especially in the last two years since Bola Tinubu snatched power and foisted himself on Nigerians as president. Everything in Nigeria from the economy, national unity to national security has come tumbling down so much so that Nigerians on daily basis are leaving the country in droves in what is now known as the “jakpa syndrome”. Incidents of insecurity and terrorists’ attack that was limited to the North-east region before now has spread to every nook and cranny of the country like cancer. In Nigeria now life is like what Thomas Hobbes describes as being in a state of nature: “short, brutish and nasty.” Human life is worth nothing in Nigeria. From Sokoto to Lagos and from Maiduguri to Port-Harcourt, the terrorists and bandits operates unhindered. A large swathe of Nigerian territory in parts of the North are in the firm control of the terrorists. Villages have been sacked and families wiped out and our highways taken over by the bandits kidnapping for ransom while the Nigerian government chase shadow harassing protesters and civil agitators.

Clearly, Nigeria as a country and as a people are facing existential threat arising from leadership failure, greed, corruption, ethnicity and religious bigotry. Instead of Tinubu and his stooges admitting failure and seeking help and collaborative effort to tackle insecurity, they are trading blames. The corruption in the government and in the military hierarchy is sabotaging the fight against insecurity. Tinubu’s tribesmen and ethnic jingoist are fanning the embers of disunity accusing others of sabotage instead of advising the president accordingly. And the religious bigots in our country instead of preaching love and peaceful co-existence are supporting violence.

But beyond these is the fact that Tinubu for selfish political reasons has no will power to fight insecurity. As one commentator once puts it: it is like he is using insecurity as a weapon of governance. It is alleged by some albeit unconfirmed that he entered a pact with the North not to fight Bokoharam as a condition for their votes. And as the count down to the 2027 presidential election begins the power-thirsty Tinubu is willing to look the other way while terrorists ride a rough shod on the hapless Nigeria nation so long as that will guarantee him another shot at the Aso Rock Villa.

We have reason to welcome American intervention if that is what will bring security and sanity in the land. America has the right to intervene as it has always done. After all, it is on record that Tinubu who is in the saddle now once led a delegation of his party members to US in the past asking for intervention in the country. And now the same Tinubu is crying foul. What a hypocrisy! I think it is the terrorist, their sponsors and those benefitting from terrorism and insecurity that are opposed to fighting it.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed 

hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com

An actress, social activist, politician

London, UK