Nigeria is obviously riding a tempestuous wave on a battered raft with captains giving kneel jerk instructions and blind followers acting based on whims of their socio-politically challenged leaders. Ethnicity and religion have worked the unity of Nigeria to its weakest tolerable point, where the strings that bind us are shattered and about to snap. The Biafran agitation and subsequent action of federal government have revealed clannish leadership at the center worse than the threat secessionists pose on our corporate integrity.
While naming of the disgruntled Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) secessionist group is indeed a matter for curious analysis, its necessity few weeks away from the looming Arewa youth quit notice has indeed raised red flag over the emotional intelligence of the present administration. It is interesting to insist that recanting the quit notice has nothing to do with what miscreants may unleash in October or any other time ahead as none is in control of some lords of the street.
I am not in denial that the IPOB is crafted around hate and their leader and misguided members are trying to spread hatred, but there are better ways to manage them. The southeastern governors were already dialoguing with Nnamdi Kanu and his co-travellers before the army smashed through it. I am indeed disturbed over the manner rules are engaged before applying the gavel in naming an ethnic based agitation a terror organization. Certainly, the hot air that will blow out of the unusual “proscribing” of IPOB will blow no one any good.
The immediate reaction of France, United Kingdom on federal government allegation on alleged complicity with IPOB is indeed an indictment on the present administration over tactlessness in approaching sensitive issues. In their separate statements, France and UK maintained that government did not contact them before alleging. Lai Mohammed had earlier insisted that France is the financial headquarter of IPOB, while accusing British government over “allowing” the group operate Radio Biafra. It is indeed sad that the reckless utterances and nasty policies of the present administration is indeed worse than Boko Haram, Fulani herders and IPOB put together, now they are stoking the flame of diplomatic row.
The terror identification of IPOB will certainly have negative effect on law abiding Nigerians of the south east extraction especially in the north. We must understand that some misguided youths in the north will emotionally find refuge in the terror categorization of IPOB to unleash hell on innocent people mostly to kill and loot. The present administration is yet to give reasons for their action or advance any viable counter measures against possible break down of law and order. We cannot settle for cheap talks by elites promising security while some youths are already tracing their next millions once civil disturbance along ethno-religious framework is ignited.
The United States code of federal regulation defines terrorism as the “unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population or any segment whereof in furtherance of political or social objectives”. It is clear that the sit-at-home order, peaceful protests in the south east and calls for restructuring are democratic and negotiable on the table of dialogue. At this point it therefore baffles me how the federal government arrived at the classification of IPOB as a terror organization.
Government granted Nnamdi Kanu bail, never discussed or negotiated with him, did not warn agitators of implication of their actions. Beside the hate speech from the misguided Kanu, which got him behind bars, there is no manifest violence from IPOB.
While it is sad Kanu has been accorded an over bloated recognition more than he can manage, it is indeed important to note that as inconsequential as he is, dialogue as prescribed by former president Olusegun Obasanjo would have sufficed. To defend the proscription of a group, which may not be registered, proponents say the group is affecting the peace of people, and that doctrine of necessity must be enacted to assist the law, which many lawyers believe has been abused in proscribing IPOB.
It is therefore curious to listen to same government defending marauding Fulani herders, insisting they are not terrorists. We may recall that kidnapping, rapping, murder, looting has characterized activities of Fulani herdsmen in recent time across Nigeria. Intensity of their activities gained exponential notoriety in 2015, where all the geopolitical divides in the country had a gory story to tell. If these merchants of death can be termed as mere criminals, then it’s a shame for government to list IPOB as a terror organization. If government tried dialoging with Boko Haram, then it is difficult to understand why same understanding was not extended to the agitators.
* Ebije lives in Abuja. Can be reached via: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or @ebijeisarel
