By now, it is crystal clear to the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG), or any other groups and individuals with similar perception, that government is not toying with the safety, lives and property of Nigerians.
This is clearly evident in the latest search conducted for the missing Chibok school girls in the notorious forest called Sambisa.
Few days ago, the Federal Government, represented by the Minister of Information & Culture and that of Defence, arranged to join the
Nigerian troops in the forest, in furtherance of efforts at finding
the girls.
They invited the advocacy group BBOG to come along.
On the eve of the trip, the Co-convener of the #BringBackOurgirls (BBOG), Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, in an e-mail to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, indicated the interest
of her members to join the search. The group, for reasons only known to it, however, gave impractical conditions to join in the search of
the girls, according to reports.
However, government acceded to their demands, including the last-minute insistence by Ezekwesili that the Information Minister abandon the aircraft for government delegation and fly instead with
BBOG members in another aircraft.
”Only Oby Ezekwesili could rightly decipher what she had in mind to have insisted that the minister should take such a last minute
decision,” notes an Abuja-based lawyer, Mr Ebenezer Okoli.
”Prior to this trip, the group had staged a week-long rally in
commemoration of the 1000th anniversary of the kidnap of Chibok girls,
accusing government, among others, of reneging on the rescue of the
remaining 195 girls, after it had secured the release of 21 of them.
”One need not be reminded of the human degradation, especially
womanhood, in the senseless war being waged against Nigeria by the
Boko Haram terrorists, even in spite of heightened efforts by the
Buhari administration to decimate them” he says.
The Sambisa forest, 60,000 sq. km., or 18 times the size of Lagos
State, situated in the north eastern part of Nigeria, was once the
pride of Borno indigenes because of its serenity, rich floral and
fauna, but has turned evil with the habitation and vandalism of Boko
Haram insurgents in the past eight years.
They have, however, substantially been smoked out by our gallant
soldiers many of who have paid the supreme price for the love of the
country, and at painful loss to their families and the nation.
Although the activity of the insurgents has been degraded, one’s blood turns chilly each time the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafia Dole, Major General Lucky Irabor, reels out the number of casualty of
officers and men who have laid down their lives in the struggle to
liberate the country from insurgency.
These were also men born of women, with families and other dependants,
but who are seldom talked about outside the military.
BBOG assumed global fame when it rose as a resonate voice of concern
over the violence perpetrated against women and children, but more
especially against the abducted girls. It became an advocacy movement
right from April 2014 when the school girls were kidnapped.
A journalist, Simon Lambert, observes: ”with its recent activities, the utterances and demeanour of BBOG members, one is at pains to situate the group properly, with its apparent ‘for profit’ non-governmental organisation attitude.
”Even if some of its members are full time workers for the group, they should understand the workings of government and should defer to government position which has demonstrated enough transparency in
efforts at rescuing the remaining Chibok girls. Government is not
faceless, and those in charge of governance have blood running in
their veins, have the female as wives, children and relations.”
A political scientist, Dr. Omobolaji Akerele, comments: ”Government
does not divulge everything simultaneously, and a government which has
shown sincerity of purpose, such as this, should at least be given the
benefit of the doubt.”
She continues: ”BBOG should not be perceived as caring for Chibok
girls alone to sustain its international recognition. It should show
concern for all the victims, including the IDPs, the fallen heroes and
their families, as well as those who have been vegetated by Boko
Haram’s bestial attacks.
”The use of cheap blackmail, appearing in holier-than-thou attitude,
resort to unnecessary rallies and grandstanding are not the hallmark
of a responsible advocacy movement, as interpretations are being given
to the genuineness of such actions,” Akerele adds.
Some of the members have even been assuming presidential posturing and
would not want to appear in related public meetings unless President
Buhari is physically present.
Nonetheless, the trip has altered the perception of BBOG group which
had apparently lost confidence in government efforts at battling
corruption and rescuing the remaining trapped Chibok girls in that
dreaded forest.
Not until a gruesome day and night rounds of search sorties in Sambisa
did Ezekwesili become convinced that government is doing its best, as
witnessed in the professionalism and sophistication of the Nigerian
Air Force, in executing the war against terror.
For instance, the Air Force now possesses many search planes as
against just one, and the the deployment of many fighter jets as
against just two before this administration. It is noteworthy that the
Air Force has also flown 6,000 hours and spent N2 billion on fuel in
searching for the girls.
Following the tour, BBOG testifies in its report, that ”the air
component of the counter-insurgency is being prosecuted by a highly professional, capable, motivated and committed team of the Nigerian Air Force.”
Ezekwesili also saw the need for government to descend
more heavily on looters of the national wealth, and those who have dis-empowered the military, for the terrorists to have initially
gained an upper hand.
All told, more stakeholders must be prepared for Sambisa lessons, now
a forest for learning, discipline, soberness and patriotism. In
particular, those lawyers who placed money above national interest and
would hold brief for the worst rogue as long as blood-money talks,
should be the next in line for the Sambisa trip. Ditto for the judge
who compromises, because each perverted judgement of national interest
could also mar the operation of the war against terror. With such
visits, justice will be served expeditiously and without fear or
favour.
*Ponle is a Public Affairs analyst.
