The protracted security challenge in the country has claimed three administrations beginning with Goodluck Jonathan, but nothing explains the scale and atrocities that characterize the acme of loss of law and order we have reached under the current administration.
Yet, in the face of this 2027 calculation and politics seem to take the centre stage in the algorithms of thought of the current government. This is sad, and if nothing else, it shows how deep the systemic problem is, when loss of human life, breakdown of law and order and mass atrocities are seen as less evil than losing an election.
The administration can not claim not to know where the terrorists are, they have information on their lairs and forest redoubts, but the absence of political will to take them head-on is actually the elephant in the room hinged on political exigencies of elections winning at the expense of daily sacrifices of lives of Nigerians.
This newspaper like most Nigerians is long persuaded on the complexity of the war against outlawry, especially the politics of the military engagement, which many believe has been compromised at different levels. At one level, which is unconfirmed, it’s widely considered that the war has become an industry where military bigwigs have made a pecuniary career, given the huge defence budget, and in view of this, the top brass are minded not to end the war.
At another level, the ranks and file may have been compromised along religious and doctrinal line, which may have led to strategic information and military secrets regarding movements and logistics leaks to the terrorists.
The body language of the administration itself does not seem to show enough tenacity of purpose and determination to fight the war with all the might it can muster. It will not be out of place if the administration gives the military high command a marching order to neutralize the insurgents hinging careers of top brass on winning the war. There must be accountability. It’s the considered opinion of NATIONAL WAVES that without accountability and timeframe to prosecute and end the war, whatever hope that’s nursed will be shredded by profiteers from the war.
And if the military actually want the people to take them serious, they must up their game in intelligence gathering, better relations with the people in the embattled parts of the country where insurgencies and terrorists hold sway.
This is necessary, and more important, the military itself but embark on internal cleansing to did itself of saboteurs, given the high level of casualties of top brass, many are convinced, including this newspaper of the existence of fifth columnists in the military.
The idea of the so-called rehabilitation and reintegration of the ” repentants” Boko Haram terrorists from evidence and hindsight, may have a great mistake, given reports of them being only moles when they are recruited into the military. It must stop forthwith.
Winning this war requires high level of synergy between the military and the civil population, especially in States where insecurity is rampant. The military must do all it can to build confidence so that the people will have confidence and courage to volunteer strategic intelligence.
For the current administration, what should be uppermost is securing the country and not 2027. The next year election can only take place in the atmosphere of security, and not the other way round.
