By Emmanuel Ado
First, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the school children and teachers kidnapped at the Kuriga area of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Thursday. Like the Governor, Senator Uba Sani, we all fervently pray for the safe and quick return of all the victims.
While the actual number of victims is yet to be determined, the fact remains that it is a nightmare that no parent or family should go through. And like the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) noted in its reaction, the Kaduna State abduction was one too many. Unfortunately, considering the present state of Nigeria’s security agencies, nobody can guarantee that the terrorists would not strike again. That is where it is most tragic.
It is depressing that prior to the Thursday incident in Kaduna State, the terrorists had last week kidnapped over 200 women and young girls from three IDP camps in Ngala, Borno state.
It is sad to admit the unfortunate truth, that the terrorists would continue to violate the fundamental rights of Nigerians, and with impunity, until the federal government fulfils its constitutional mandate of securing the lives of citizens. Therefore, whether it is the abduction of children from their school or of adults from their farms and the highways, the implications are devastatingly the same. The only difference is that the intensified campaign of violence, by the terrorists, against the innocent school children would further worsen the already terrible number of out of school children in the north. The overall effect, apart from increasing poverty due to farmers abandoning their farms and people generally unable to engage in legitimate activities, is the widespread fear, anxiety, and trauma.
Governor Sani, more than anyone else, fully understands that schools are supposed to be sanctuaries of learning and as such muat be secured environments. He vicariously feels the damage that insecurity, especially kidnapping, does to the psyche of the children who deserve to learn in a conducive environment, free from fear. He has thus offered psychological support services to the families of those affected and the community -a most important first step in the circumstance.
While we agree with the UNICEF that the “alarming frequency of such incidents across the country signals a crisis that requires immediate and determined action from all”, the Nigerian State has however not shown the urgency and determination to respond decisively to the challenges posed by the terrorists. Chris Kwaja, a Professor at the Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Modibbo Adama University, argues that the frequency of abductions confirms an “unfortunate story of the high level of coordination, sophistication and lethality” of the criminals operating in the country.
Despite his pains at the kidnapping of his citizens, Governor Sani refused to be defeated. Rather, his resolve to win the war against the insurgents is rekindled. Like they say, the last thing to give up is hope. Having been at the frontlines in the search for solutions since his days at the Senate, Governor Sani’s commitment to the safe return of every kidnapped Kaduna state citizen is unwavering, and more importantly, that no Nigerian citizen should ever be kidnapped by terrorists either at their home, farm, school or the highway. And he has been unequivocal that such an undertaking demands an urgent overhaul of the security architecture.
As a senator, Governor Sani sponsored four consequential bills – the Police Service Commission Act 2001 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill; State Police Service Commission (Est) Bill, 1999 Constitution (Alteration) Bill; Nigerian Police Act (Amendment) Bill for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to allow for the establishment of state police, to enhance the security of lives and property of Nigerians. Governor Sani’s bills unfortunately didn’t scale through at the harmonization conference due to unfounded fears of misuse by Governors, promoted by some members of the National Assembly who are, more often than not, at loggerheads with their Governors.
Governor Sani’s bills were a bold attempt that would have fundamentally restructured the security architecture and helped in addressing the lingering security challenges facing, not just Kaduna state, but the entire country. And until the National Assembly summons the necessary political will to effect the necessary amendments, the security problem will persist,whether Governor Sani travels to Lagos for an official assignment or is at his Sir. Kashim Ibrahim House office attending to state matters.
This rejoinder, though provoked by the mischievous publication of The Peoples Gazette newspaper -“Uba Sani Fetes In Lagos As Bandits Abduct 230 Kaduna School Children”- it is beyond a rebuttal, and an admonition of the newspaper. More significantly, it is an opportunity to elevate the argument from the pedestrian coverage of a serious incident by the newspaper to get the federal government to move from word to action.
For the information of The Peoples Gazzette newspaper, Governor Sani was not frolicking in Lagos but was on an official assignment to honour and engage with Dr. Akinwumi Adeshina, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), who was conferred with the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership for his outstanding contribution to agricultural development of Africa, on behalf of the farmers of Kaduna State. Had Governor Sani not attended the event, it would have been a crime against prosperity because Kaduna is an agricultural state, and indeed, the number one in corn, ginger, millet, tomatoes production etc.
The Peoples Gazette newspaper bluntly refused to acknowledge that reputable world leaders attended the event to celebrate Adeshina’s sterling achievements. These included President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, General Yakubu Gowon, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, his vice Namadi Sambo, Samia Suluhu-Hassan, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, who chaired the event; Azali Assoumani, President of the Republic of the Union of Comoros; Sahle-Work Zewde, President of Ethiopia, Faure Gnassingbe, President of Togo, and the former President of Ghana, John Dramami Mahama. This betrayed the report as orchestrated.
Interestingly, Governor Sani quickly abridged his participation at the event and hurried back to base as soon as he was made aware of the development. He also visited the traumatized community who, in spite of their pains, joyfully welcomed him because they knew him. The community is also aware of his efforts to address insurgency in the state to an end.
As Governor, Uba Sani has a responsibility to engage in trips within and outside the state, to attend functions, to network, and to attract investment to his state. Recently, Governor Sani was in the presidents entourage during his the State Visit to Qatar. The visit not only helped Governor Sani to strengthen the existing partnership between his state and the Qatari Government and the state-led humanitarian organisation, Qatar Charity, but also to explore new areas of cooperation. Governor Sani’s fruitful meetings have attracted investment in solid minerals, agriculture, and energy. CGK Global, a waste management company, has indicated its readiness to invest $350 million in the generation of hydrogen and electricity in Kaduna State. Also, two Abu-Dhabi based companies, Masdar and Taqa, have expressed interest in collaborating with the Kaduna State Government in the areas of power generation and distribution using gas.
The media has a responsibility to set a national agenda, and it is a duty that it must responsibly discharge rather than the poor attempt at politicizing Governor Sani’s official visit. The Peoples Gazette ought to be at the forefront in the campaign for the federal government to tackle the fundamental issues that have made the violence against children and, indeed, all Nigerians possible.
The Peoples Gazette will do well to champion the entrenchment of true federalism so that governors can be held responsible whenever there is a security breach. So long as governors remain glorified Chief Security Officers, generals without troops, so long are we going to engage in misplaced blames, which is unfair to the governors of the 36 states, not just Governor Sani.
Governor Sani has walked his talk. On the assumption of office, he immediately recruited 7,000 men and women into the state vigilante services. A vigilante officer paid the supreme price, engaging the terrorists with his dane gun. Of course, he stood no chance against the better armed terrorists.
It is however gladening that President Tinubu has stepped into the matter as the Commander-in-Chief of the federation and has issued marching orders on the armed forces to do the needful. I have implicit confidence in the president to change the narrative. He will certainly bequeath Nigeria, an armed force that will defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria.