Nyako and Nigeria’s Unity
Written by EDITOR
Nigerian Guardian
ADAMAWA State Governor Murtala Hamman Yero Nyako’s memo titled ‘On On-going Full-fledged Genocide in Northern Nigeria’, is a divisive message that should have no place in Nigeria’s political space. Addressed to just a section of the country, it is one alarmist correspondence that will do nothing to ameliorate the worsening security condition of the nation but instead widen existing cleavages and fan the embers of disunity. It is quite heartening that all the governors in the federation, at a security meeting the other day, were united in their condemnation of the letter.
Granted that it may have been written partly out of frustration with the way the central government under Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is handling the deteriorating security, political, and social situation especially in the north-eastern part of the country; granted too, that the governor, being in the thick of events, feels, like his other colleagues, the heat of the Boko Haram sect’s terrorist acts; nevertheless, in content and in form, that ‘memo’ to the political leadership of only a section of the Nigerian nation was improper. The language was indecorous and inappropriate to the high office Nyako occupies, and the assertions that some would even describe as wild and unguarded, were just that – mere claims not backed by evidence.
This accusatory missive is characterized with factual errors and false comparison, seethes with disdain and drips with invectives. With frightening words like ‘genocide’,‘ ‘bullshit’, ‘evil-mindedness’ ‘massacre’ and ‘atrocities’, it is a piece that, even as it pretends to address an urgent and important national issue, is severely diminished in appeal and concern. It is further rendered unacceptable by, first, being directed to a section of the whole and second being substantially focused on ‘northern’ concerns and fears. If, as the saying goes, the problem of a part is the problem of the whole, for the reason that the clear and present danger threatens everyone -high and low, the patriot in Nyako should have addressed his memo not only to his ‘fellow Governors and Citizens of the North’ but to the ‘fellow good people’ of ‘Mother Nigeria’ that he sees ‘ on the verge of disaster’. That is the least expected of a statesman which, as a former Chief of Naval Staff and Deputy Chief of Defence Staff of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Alas, Nyako is supposed to be.
This letter contains weighty, even frightful, allegations. It says that Jonathan’s ‘evil-minded’ administration ‘is bent on bringing wars in the North between Muslims and Christians, and within them, between one ethnic group and another’; that ‘organised kidnappers must have the backing of the federal administration for them to move freely with abducted children just as those who convey ammunitions and explosives from the ports to the safe houses of so-called Boko Haram in the North’, that the people of Northern Nigeria ‘are now facing an organised ethno- religious campaign of hate fuelled by the Federal administration...’, that recently recruited soldiers of northern origin, ‘being poorly trained, totally ill-equipped, given only uniform ,...are killed by their trainers in Nigerian Army training centres ...’.
Coming from a former senior military officer and a sitting state governor, no one would treat these with levity and the Federal Government should investigate all these thoroughly. The letter is however divisive, rabble-rousing and because it seeks to pit a section of Nigeria against another, the implication of its content is dangerous to the polity. How can anyone reasonably think that Boko Haram phenomenon is a hoax and that the Federal Government has deliberately unleashed such destructiveness upon its own citizenry? But, in order to assure Nigerians of President Goodluck Jonathan’s credibility as a person and the commitment of his administration to the saferty of all citizens, Vice -Admiral Murtala Nyako’s large claims need to be investigated.
It must also be put on record that Governor Nyako has certainly invested too much energy into writing this memo – and generally, into bad-mouthing President Jonathan and his government at home and abroad. The impression now is that he is distracted from his core duty of governing Adamawa State just as he has become a distraction for the central government, and the Nigerian public. Whereas well- meaning criticisms are in order in a democratic society, Nyako would be of greater help if he would be more analytical in his submissions, as well as offer specific, practical solutions to the problems that confronting the country. Indeed, as a well-trained security professional with huge experience, his thinking and suggestions would be of tremendous use
It is advisable that anyone who would comment on the Boko Haram threat to this country should thoroughly think through his or her position and propose solutions instead of stating the obvious lapses or trading blames.
With that ‘memo’, Nyako has successfully opened himself up to accusations of being motivated by political considerations. The 2015 elections, afterall. are close and impugning the leadership capability as well as the political reputation of an opponent may be game but never to the detriment of the unity and stability of Nigeria.
If Governor Nyako’s correspondence was rife with unsubstantiated claims expressed in a foul language, the presidency has sought to out-do him in villainy. And the response has been hasty. First, a president or presidency cannot and need not respond to every criticism. For strategic reasons as well as for effect, he must pick and choose which battle to fight. Secondly, it bears repeating that the Federal Government must be less touchy and less personal about the contents of criticisms such as Nyako’s. It should take such seriously and respond to them with the thoroughness and sobriety appropriate to presidential stature.
The indubitable truth is that insecurity in the land is transforming into a hydra-headed monster. That the President does not appear to grasp gravity of the problem his administration, and the country face is daily advertised by his sometimes frivolous words and deeds. Many Nigerians now find no reason to believe that this government has their ‘security and welfare’ as its ‘primary job. Nyako may have used a wrong medium and a foul language, his frustrations resonate with most Nigerians. President Jonathan should do all within his enormous presidential powers to prevent a groundswell of popular anger against his government.
 |
| Nigerian school girls in their uniforms. |
Nigerian Guardian
ADAMAWA State Governor Murtala Hamman Yero Nyako’s memo titled ‘On On-going Full-fledged Genocide in Northern Nigeria’, is a divisive message that should have no place in Nigeria’s political space. Addressed to just a section of the country, it is one alarmist correspondence that will do nothing to ameliorate the worsening security condition of the nation but instead widen existing cleavages and fan the embers of disunity. It is quite heartening that all the governors in the federation, at a security meeting the other day, were united in their condemnation of the letter.
Granted that it may have been written partly out of frustration with the way the central government under Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is handling the deteriorating security, political, and social situation especially in the north-eastern part of the country; granted too, that the governor, being in the thick of events, feels, like his other colleagues, the heat of the Boko Haram sect’s terrorist acts; nevertheless, in content and in form, that ‘memo’ to the political leadership of only a section of the Nigerian nation was improper. The language was indecorous and inappropriate to the high office Nyako occupies, and the assertions that some would even describe as wild and unguarded, were just that – mere claims not backed by evidence.
This accusatory missive is characterized with factual errors and false comparison, seethes with disdain and drips with invectives. With frightening words like ‘genocide’,‘ ‘bullshit’, ‘evil-mindedness’ ‘massacre’ and ‘atrocities’, it is a piece that, even as it pretends to address an urgent and important national issue, is severely diminished in appeal and concern. It is further rendered unacceptable by, first, being directed to a section of the whole and second being substantially focused on ‘northern’ concerns and fears. If, as the saying goes, the problem of a part is the problem of the whole, for the reason that the clear and present danger threatens everyone -high and low, the patriot in Nyako should have addressed his memo not only to his ‘fellow Governors and Citizens of the North’ but to the ‘fellow good people’ of ‘Mother Nigeria’ that he sees ‘ on the verge of disaster’. That is the least expected of a statesman which, as a former Chief of Naval Staff and Deputy Chief of Defence Staff of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Alas, Nyako is supposed to be.
This letter contains weighty, even frightful, allegations. It says that Jonathan’s ‘evil-minded’ administration ‘is bent on bringing wars in the North between Muslims and Christians, and within them, between one ethnic group and another’; that ‘organised kidnappers must have the backing of the federal administration for them to move freely with abducted children just as those who convey ammunitions and explosives from the ports to the safe houses of so-called Boko Haram in the North’, that the people of Northern Nigeria ‘are now facing an organised ethno- religious campaign of hate fuelled by the Federal administration...’, that recently recruited soldiers of northern origin, ‘being poorly trained, totally ill-equipped, given only uniform ,...are killed by their trainers in Nigerian Army training centres ...’.
Coming from a former senior military officer and a sitting state governor, no one would treat these with levity and the Federal Government should investigate all these thoroughly. The letter is however divisive, rabble-rousing and because it seeks to pit a section of Nigeria against another, the implication of its content is dangerous to the polity. How can anyone reasonably think that Boko Haram phenomenon is a hoax and that the Federal Government has deliberately unleashed such destructiveness upon its own citizenry? But, in order to assure Nigerians of President Goodluck Jonathan’s credibility as a person and the commitment of his administration to the saferty of all citizens, Vice -Admiral Murtala Nyako’s large claims need to be investigated.
It must also be put on record that Governor Nyako has certainly invested too much energy into writing this memo – and generally, into bad-mouthing President Jonathan and his government at home and abroad. The impression now is that he is distracted from his core duty of governing Adamawa State just as he has become a distraction for the central government, and the Nigerian public. Whereas well- meaning criticisms are in order in a democratic society, Nyako would be of greater help if he would be more analytical in his submissions, as well as offer specific, practical solutions to the problems that confronting the country. Indeed, as a well-trained security professional with huge experience, his thinking and suggestions would be of tremendous use
It is advisable that anyone who would comment on the Boko Haram threat to this country should thoroughly think through his or her position and propose solutions instead of stating the obvious lapses or trading blames.
With that ‘memo’, Nyako has successfully opened himself up to accusations of being motivated by political considerations. The 2015 elections, afterall. are close and impugning the leadership capability as well as the political reputation of an opponent may be game but never to the detriment of the unity and stability of Nigeria.
If Governor Nyako’s correspondence was rife with unsubstantiated claims expressed in a foul language, the presidency has sought to out-do him in villainy. And the response has been hasty. First, a president or presidency cannot and need not respond to every criticism. For strategic reasons as well as for effect, he must pick and choose which battle to fight. Secondly, it bears repeating that the Federal Government must be less touchy and less personal about the contents of criticisms such as Nyako’s. It should take such seriously and respond to them with the thoroughness and sobriety appropriate to presidential stature.
The indubitable truth is that insecurity in the land is transforming into a hydra-headed monster. That the President does not appear to grasp gravity of the problem his administration, and the country face is daily advertised by his sometimes frivolous words and deeds. Many Nigerians now find no reason to believe that this government has their ‘security and welfare’ as its ‘primary job. Nyako may have used a wrong medium and a foul language, his frustrations resonate with most Nigerians. President Jonathan should do all within his enormous presidential powers to prevent a groundswell of popular anger against his government.
No comments:
Post a Comment