ERNEST OMOARELOJIE
Nigerians are schmaltzy in just about every matter they contend with. This is particularly so when they deal with issues with religious, ethnic and of course, political bearings, including every other relating matter. Ironically, most of them are of the view that it is evident mark of emotional intelligence.
Like most other parts of the country, Benue state has been under siege for years. It got to a seeming crescendo with recent upsurge in the reckless manner alleged terrorists, some say Fulani Herdsmen, slaughtered people from one community in one council area to another. Even cows that went through the process in an abattoir or anywhere else would feel very dignified beholding the killings. It smacks of what Shakespeare would describe as carcass fit for hounds. That is what the people of Benue state have been reduced to while relevant authorities watch in ways that raise suspicion.
The killing became so intense and constant that typically, Nigerians demanded that all security heads be compel to relocate to the state. They did. For more than a week or so, they have been resident in Benue.
Yet, under their very noses, blunted from smelling stuffs by plums of office, arguably, the killers they went to Benue to curtail murdered over 200 indigenes of the state. And they were murdered in ways described by witnesses as deliberate and systematic. The killers were said to have carried out the macabre killings for hours, after which they reportedly staged a victory dance on a Nigerian highway, before melting into oblivion. So much for the importance of security chiefs being on ground.
At the moment, the call has shifted. It is for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to visit the state. As it was with the security chiefs, the demand became so vociferous that the poor man had to abandon his scheduled trip to Kaduna for a deserving(?) presence in Benue. It is as if while there he would wave the magic wand and switch off the killing spree. Una no well.
I have argued earlier that neither the security chiefs nor President has any business being physically present in Benue or any other state for that matter, for things to be done the way they should. If the failure to curtail the killing spree, even with the presence of security chiefs is not enough evidence, then nothing will convince apostles of the President and security chiefs that their calls are unreasonably pointless. However, one thing is certain. We will still continue to accentuate political expediency and by so doing, fester the reign of avoidable catastrophe.
For the avoidance of doubt, the presence of President Tinubu in Benue will only succeed in further massaging political egos rather than provide any long standing solution to the crisis. If ending the carnage is the real issue, he can do so in Abuja and later pay a solidarity visit when the goons are effectively dealt with. The point is that the likelihood is there that even while he is there, more killing can take place to spite whatever he represents.
Take or leave it, both the President and his security chiefs can achieve greater mileage coordinating whatever has to be done to bring peace to Benue if there is a genuine sense of commitment to the course. Discount this if you will but the fact remains that there are proofs that it is the right thing to do.
The world is now tech-driven. Like every other aspect of life, war is now hinged on it. Drone, in all its effective categories, have become custom-made to deliver battle results.
At the rudimentary level, it comes in handy for monitoring movements and providing actionable security information. While the most basic ones can be deployed to suit close monitoring, the more sophisticated ones are available for use over longer hours, traveling distances for the same purpose. Whatever the case is, it will not take up to half an hour to have drone results in a war similar to what is unfolding in Benue. No one has learnt any lesson from the case in Plateau state.
By now, all such elementary preparations ought to be in place in a war zone like Benue. Assuredly, if drones and specialized aircrafts will be deployed in the next few days, it will be to the extent that such deployment will be required to provide safety for the visiting Commander-in-Chief. After that, it will, “…to your tents, oh Benue people”.
Nigerians have been assaulted with briefs about the Nigerian Army in particular, acquiring all manners of aicrafts and among others, drones, including the ones they claimed to have manufactured locally. Where are they being deployed if Benue is not qualified to be one? It would appear that someone is taking Nigerians for a fool’s ride while some have been nudged into becoming conveyor belts for conveying wrong narratives, including the calls for both the security chiefs and President to be physically present in Benue. This is gullibility personified.
Currently, a full blown war is raging between Israel and Iran. Neither the security chiefs nor Benjamin Natanyahu, the approving President is on mandate to be physically present to deliver effectively what has to been delivered. Their duties are done outside of such purveys. The people only need to see the result. Nigerians see and hail how the result of their efforts translate to messages being delivered with precision. Why is our own different? Why must we always drive political consideration into matters that can be handled by professionals duly coordinated by approving authorities?
Until we stop being overly sentimental in our approach to serious matters, we will continue to harvest serious consequences. Benue is one case. Many more Benues may unfold, sooner than later.
@ernestomoarelojie