If the above question should be answered by the people of Cross River State, South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, the response would be a resounding ‘No’. The reason is not far-fetched. Part of the state was ceded to that country on Aug. 14, 2008 based on a judgment of International Court of Justice in The Hague in October 2002. That was during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. Up till tomorrow, Governor Ben Ayade has continued to refer to that exercise and the entire people of the state do not find it funny. Apart from taking their land, Cameroonian soldiers have made it a habit to terrorise Nigerians living at the border. Two opposite events took place last week. While Cameroonian soldiers reportedly invaded Cross River community, the Nigerian government also welcomed a collaboration between Cameroonian solders with Nigerian soldiers on what is called ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’ counter insurgency force. What a contradiction! The Senate viewed the invasion as an affront and summoned the defence minister to explain. So, to what extent can we say the Cameroonian soldiers mingling with Nigerian soldiers are friends to Nigeria? We must look well before we leap lest we find ourselves in a complicated situation- fighting two arch enemies.
How big is Sambisa forest?
For Nigerians, the fear of Sambisa forest is the beginning of wisdom. For many years since the beginning of the insurgency by the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, a geographical area in Borno State known as Sambisa forest has continued to make headline news. The Sambisa Forest is a forest in Borno State, northeast Nigeria. It is in the southwestern part of Chad Basin National Park, about 60 kilometres southeast of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. In 2014, over two hundred school girls were kidnapped by the insurgents and ferried into the forest. All efforts to rescue the girls have not been totally rewarding. While some of the girls are still being held hostage in the forest, some returned on their own while a few others were released through a swapping transaction between the Federal Government and the leadership of the sect. What has baffled many Nigerians to no end is the inability of the combined military in Nigeria to sack the insurgents from the forest. At a time when herdsmen are roaming the entire country seeking where to get pasture for their cattle, why is it that the military has not been able to free the Sambisa Forest for the herdsmen? It is also very disheartening that Abubakar Shekau has hidden under the protection of the forest to dish out insults on the Nigerian state. Sometime ago, the military claimed that it had sacked the insurgents from Sambisa Forest. At that time, some videos were released where bonfires were made and claims were also made that the forest was then free for farming activities. Despite such claims, we are still hearing that Boko Haram is occupying the geographical area, which has elicited the question as to the population those tagged Boko Haram. If every young man in Borno were a member, they ought to have been finished by now going by the claims of bombardment by the Nigerian combined forces. Something appears not to be adding up in this Sambisa forest thing and the fight against the insurgents. It is high time Nigerians were told the whole truth and nothing but the truth about the war with Boko Haram and the role of the Sambisa forest in the fight.
Senate in dance of shame?
The upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly last week engaged itself in what could best be described as a joke taken too far. It decided to amend a section of the 2010 Electoral Act and came out with a changed election timetable for the 2019 general election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed the timetable which put the presidential election before the Assembly poll. This had riled the federal lawmakers who saw the hand of a monkey in the entire thing. The leadership of the National Assembly has not enjoyed a robust relationship with the Executive arm of government. So when INEC came out with a timetable that put the presidential election first, the lawmakers became paranoid. They read some mischief in the whole plan. The thinking is that if the presidential election should come first and the president secures a victory, he is likely to block or work against their plan to return to the National Assembly, even after they may have worked for his victory. The tinkering with the timetable is just to place the lawmakers in control of affairs and to hold the Presidency on the jugular. But woe betides a country with leaders that work at cross-purposes, who sacrifice the good of the country on the altar of personal and selfish ambitions. The Nigerian leaders have been selfish and this has seriously affected the development of the country. Since 2015, the bickering between the Muhammadu Buhari-led Executive has been on warpath with the leadership of the country’s bi-cameral legislature. The latest fight is sure to worsen the impasse. It is the poor and traumatised masses that will bear the brunt of this ‘roforofo’ game.
The three musketeers and explosive letters
Since the last three weeks, the stewardship of the Federal Government under the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been called into question. Before then, many Nigerians had verbalised their frustration over the state of affairs in the country. Some had even made videos of what they thought was the trouble with Nigeria. The social media is awash with views of Nigerians on the Muhammadu Buhari administration. Government appeared unperturbed until the bombshell from a former president Olusegun Obasanjo. In a well-publicised statement, Obasanjo did not only express worries at the seemingly maladministration of the present government, but also gave the President a red card, warning him to perish his re-election ambition, which he observed was even occupying the President more than the business of governance. A similar lengthy statement was also released last Sunday by a former military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. The ‘Prince of the Niger’ profusely warned Buhari against any plan to return as he noted that the country was faring so badly under his watch. It is expected that anytime soon, Abdulsalami Abubakar will speak in that direction. The much-expected General Abubaker’s letter or statement or an interview on the state of the nation may nail the touted Buhari’s crave to return to the Villa in 2019.
It is believed that Buhari would have since suffered another overthrow if he were operating as a military leader. The level of discontent has run deep and wide. Obasanjo and Babangida may have been alarmed that a man who sought for an opportunity for four good times never prepared for leadership but was moved by the love of power to dispense vengeance. Since the two letters became public, Buhari appears sobered and is seemingly taking some steps to win the hearts of Nigerians. Whether he is merely acting or genuinely committed to doing good would be proven not long from now. And it is hoped that the expected letter from the bearded one- General Abubakar- would add to the heat already being emitted.
Zebulon Agomuo
