It’s Too Late And Too Little! - Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi
The truth is always simple plain unadorned and unblemished. This crystal truth I searched and did not find in the long awaited replay to the historical letter: ‘before it is too late’ of Gen. Obasanjo to President Jonathan. Nor do I read any convincing argument to the serious charges.
The former letter charged the principal of :
1. Not fighting corruption or enough of it, a view shared by most Nigerian
2. Of acting like Ijaw president, a view shared by many Nigerian more especially the Northerners.
3. Of breaking the PDP by alluring to his interest in contesting 2015 presidential elections, a view known to all Nigerians as there is yet no Mandela in Nigeria!
4. Manipulating the security apparatus covertly or adversely for reasons ‘in the mind of Jacob’. This is a view shared by most Muslims.
And this last point is my point of contention. On the ground, people particularly of the northern states have never had it so bad in the history of the nation as these few years of this regime, at a point almost the entire North was under siege by ‘insurgents’ well equipped with sophisticated weapons and expensive explosives carrying out bombings of churches (there was also an attempt on Sultan Bello Mosque kaduna), military cantonments and public places on weekly basis.
A sudden surge preluding the ‘berthing of terrorism on our shores’ (while confessing that BH started in 2002) when just few month before the 1st October 2012 Abuja bombings carried out by MEND, Boko Haram adherents were just a few collection of peasant ragtag Almajiris
This sudden metamorphosis gave the justification and the need to bring this ‘very unacceptable situation under significant control’. Which also prompted for the overhaul of ‘our entire national security architecture, improved intelligence gathering, training, funding, logistical support to our armed forces and security agencies, and security collaboration with friendly countries’ as the president’s response asserted.
However in a simple language for all to understand, these changes were and are still in reality all so artificial in content and character that we are left with nothing but to believe that they must be part of a ploy doctored intelligently to either disintegrate the nation or ensure a forceful imposition of a second term for the president - the exact purport of the first letter. Sadly, it is not strange these days for people in government to resort to criminality in clinging to power.
We quote the president saying: “Here in Abuja, a petrol tanker loaded with explosives was to be rammed into the INEC building. But luckily for the country, an electric pole stopped the tanker from hitting the INEC building. It is clear that this incident was meant to exploit the general sense of insecurity in the nation at the time to achieve the aim of stopping the 2007 elections. “ no doubt such a stunt can only favour the proponents of third term. Another incidence to buttress this observation is the unexpected assassination of Sheik Jaafar in Kano probably in anticipation of a turmoil that can prevent elections the next day. To date the security people have not also ‘unraveled’ this heartless murder in cold blood. So If all these things can happen in a regime who’s head will evoke the name of God seventeen times in a letter, what would you say of one that mention Him only four times?
How many thousands innocent people were extra-judiciary killed? How many thousands of innocent people were incarcerated? What funds are there to rehabilitate the injured and displaced? Just recently a Yobe State senator was appealing to the President in the dailies of over 5 billion Naira taken from the poor state's budget in the name of ‘fight against terror’. What about the numerous non-Muslims caught in various acts of terror?
I don’t think we need any more letter or replies, the crater created by the first one cannot be filled by a spade. I will only advice all parties to shun violence and victimization of opponents and let there be a free and fair elections. Fighting corruption starts with oneself and one’s cronies not political opponents, otherwise it is called witch-hunting! Rather than imposing a state of security emergency, every governor should be given back the security responsibilities of his state with all commands and intelligence under him, it can be handle at that level with 'stick and carrots’. When two varied sides are in a conflict, it really matters who is beating or giving the carrots! Forget your 2015 presidential aspiration to save PDP and the nation, there is need for at least two strong parties for healthy political maturity, otherwise positions will be changed and we are left with another one monolithic political entity. That is if wrecking the ship is not what is intended in the first place.
“Think not that Allah doth not heed the deeds of despots. He but giveth them respite against a Day when the eyes will fixedly stare in horror,- They running forward with necks outstretched, their heads uplifted, their gaze returning not towards them, and their hearts a (gaping) void! Q14/ 42-43.
We have rested our case on God Whom we trust!
Source: Legit.ng
