Charles Kumolu And Bosede Adelaja
30 December 2011
analysis
IF turning back the hands of the time, was a possibility, many Nigerians would not be in a hurry to turn back the time to 2011. This is why there is a hurry to see this year gone with history in this part of the world. But even as the New year is ushered in within the next 48 hours, there are palpable fears that events of 2011, especially the spate of bomb blasts would spillover to 2012.
“TUOMO Community in Burutu area of Delta State was on Christmas eve thrown into confusion as a middle aged man murdered his 70 year-old father, saying he did it in self defense, the suspect Mr. Ekuemene Kosin was said to have had several scuffles with his father over issues that were unclear over a period of time,” this was how the murder of Pa George Kosin was widely reported on December 27, 2011.
And stories of this nature, almost passed for every day news in 2011, as there was hardly any period that Nigerians were not confronted with depressing accounts about people, issues and places.
Whether it is on the domestic or work front, religious or government circles, it is one tale of absurdity or the other.
This is why Vanguard can authoritatively state that for the first time since the crises that trailed the June 12 Presidential Elections, the year under review will go down as a year of misery, grief and uncertainty for Nigeria.
Consider this; numerous lives were lost to preventable religious crises, road accidents, armed robbery attacks, kidnapping, domestic violence, post-election violence,among other controversies.
Perhaps, this accounts for why rather than singing joyful songs as the year is winding up, Nigerians are chanting songs of sorrow-reminding many of Kofi Awonor’s poem, Songs of Sorrow, which dwelt on how bundles of disappointment could unleash a state of helplessness.
Insecurity
Therefore, saying that the flurry of absurdities that shaped this year, have left Nigerians in a hapless and confused state, is as good as saying the obvious.
From the volatile states of the North, to serene cities of the South, many would not be in a hurry to forget 2011 with its litany of woes.
To a lot of people, these 12 months of doom is a fallout of inept leadership, especially the inability of the political leadership over the years to give the country the full benefit of its rich human and natural resources.
Amid these gory events that shaped the year, some stand out because of their magnitude.
Particularly, the rate of insecurity, which ultimately led to the collapse of the security system in Nigeria, is so alarming among the many tragedies of 2011.
This was so disturbing that an article published in a Ghanaian online paper, described the country as a ‘Federal Republic of Insecurity’.
According to the article, “if any of the President’s 100 advisers has the polite courage for the extraordinary task of reminding His Excellency of his foremost, sworn, constitutional obligation to the national interest about security and safety of Nigerians and all who sojourn in Nigeria, please whisper clearly to Mr. President that I said, respectfully: Nigerians, at home and abroad, are still concerned and afraid for living in what I call Nigeria’s Federal Republic of
It further said, “As the year 2011 draws down and we embrace the promise of 2012, a recurring concern for Nigerians and the international communities remains: are we safe going about our every day lives or investing to do business in most parts of Nigeria? amidst all the palaver, Nigerians continue to wonder if their federal state of insecurity would continue into 2012, despite the fact of a whopping federal government budget of N4.749 trillion — the equivalent of $30.64 billion — with the security and defense allocation bagging the lion’s share of N921.21 billion– the equivalent of $5.9478 billion.”
Mixed fortunes/govt incompetence
To many observers, this lamentation from a foreign journal, says load about the murky mood of Nigerians ahead 2012.
And it has also raised questions on whether the government is capable enough of getting it acts right in the new year.
Already, investigations by Vanguard confirmed that people from all sections, faiths and economic status, are not comfortable with the incapacity of government at all levels to perform the most basic function of providing security.
“The government has also showed a lot of incompetence in the area of protection of lives and properties. Over the years, the Nigerian people thought that they had a security system and network with the capacity, sophistication, equipment and courage to protect them.
“The cases of kidnapping, high profile robberies, mindless assassinations and terrorist attacks have shown clearly that the country is vulnerable and unprotected, Physical security has been emphasised and Nigerians did not know that it was just show business. This incompetence is polarising the country giving the impression of a serious religious divide and tension,” a Human rights activist, Mr. Festus Okoye noted.
Okoye, who is also the Executive Director of Human Rights Monitor said, “the year 2011 was challenging for the Nigerian people. It was a year of mixed fortunes in all spheres of life. It was a year that the Nigerian people showed that they could take their destiny into their hands and determine the direction of the Nigerian society. The year showed that in the midst of great challenges the Nigerian people can show great resilience and courage.”
Continuing, he said, “the Nigerian people held a general election that showed remarkable organisational improvement
from previous flawed efforts. The election produced results that somehow reflected the votes of the people.
“The Nigerian people defied the machinations of the political elite and trooped out to vote and at the end stayed behind to defend the integrity of their votes. The political elite were surprised and knew that with better organisation and sensitization, the era of electoral fraud will be a thing of the past.”
In addition, Okoye said, “However, the achievements in this area pale into insignificance as most of the office holders helped themselves to the commonwealth of the Nigerian people to run their campaigns and election. It is the mindless profligacy and theft from the public purse by the political elite that has left the economy prostrate resulting in the fixation on fuel subsidy removal.”
Still regretting the plethora of mess that characterised life in Nigeria in 2011, he said, ” what the Nigerian people hear are platitudes and empty declarations of action by the government. Given government’s inability to protect them, the Nigerian people no longer believe the government and what it says.
“The government must be accountable to the Nigerian people. Any government unable to protect its citizens does not have the right to their loyalty. The incompetence of government has invariably energized merchants of ethnic and religious bigotry.
“While stoking the fire of religion and ethnicity, the government still runs to them for the solution to the problem. We must unite as a people and a country to defeat terrorism. We must unite to chase away merchants of bigotry. We must unite and demand for accountability and transparency in governance.”
Year of confusion
While corroborating this stand a Lagos resident, Ibrahim Falade, told this reporter, that, “we are leaving in terrible times, Nigerians are alone in this state of anarchy because we don’t have a government, rather than focusing on Boko Haram, they are busy chasing subsidy, we are not sure about what the new year will be for this country.”
Similarly, Founder, Soul Winning Chapel and former President of Cycling Federation of Nigeria, Dr. Moses Iloh said the year was controlled by confusion.
“Year 2011 is a year that was controlled by confusion and lack f direction. The result is that the system has been corrupted, we are even fortunate that we are able to stand as at the moment,” he added.
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