AN OPEN LETTER TO H.E. DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR, PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN-CHIEF, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Your Excellency Sir, Greetings from IDPs of BAMA taking refuge in Maiduguri, I write to you today not as stiffed critic of your government you usually labelled me and other progressives alike, but as a truly concerned Nigerian and an avid lover of Nigeria, its people, history and culture. First, allow me to congratulate you for emerging as your party’s consensus candidate to contest the forthcoming presidential election. I write this time around not on the account of the excessive corruption your government condone neither on the gimmicks of politics and the politicking of the 2015 that you devoted much of your time and attention to, I write mainly today to express my discontent over the continues attack and maiming of local tiers of government by the insurgents in Borno state. Your Excellency Sir, BAMA town has been under Boko Haram’s occupation for more than two weeks today, we are most troubled by the humano-animalistic calamities bedeviling us as people; a painful situation that is just next to death in comparison for the living, and an absolute end for those that were killed. The spate of assassinations, destruction of lives and property of innocent citizens in BAMA in particular and the entire Borno state has continued unabated and assuming an unprecedented gravity and ferocity, it is looking more like an agenda being executed sequentially and successfully too. These happenings in the then home of peace always makes me to think if we are still part of Nigeria or what have we done for your government to treat us this way. Over time, I have keenly observed that the army hardly provides us sufficient & proactive cover, despite in arms they speedily run away for safety of their own life, very funny and quiet amazing. Our aged grandparents, parents, Brothers, Sisters and children are still trapped under this preposterous and precarious predicament. It is more than two weeks today, but none can tell you how those innocent Nigerians are fairing under the Boko Haram hostage. Despite the extended declaration of “State of Emergency” by your government several months ago, that renders my governor powerless to control the security apparatus in the state, the insurgency in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria has rather increased abysmally, leading to repeated capture of several towns and villages in Borno and other neighboring states; including Damboa, Gwoza, Bama, Gamboru-Ngala, Dikwa and KalaBalge all are whole local tiers of Government under your watch. Your Excellency Sir, I am also aware that you declared a National Emergency on Ebola Virus which has just claimed a few lives with a whooping N1.9bn, you equally deployed over 30,000 troops who ought to be in SAMBISA FOREST to confront Boko Haram, to monitor elections in the violent free Ekiti and Osun states, yet a greater catastrophe of killings, maiming, abduction, rape and displacement of many Nigerians taking place right now in Borno state is not worrisome to you to declare a National emergency. Instead, it was reported that your government is seeking $1b foreign loan to equip the Armed Forces to enable them face Boko Haram. Despite the huge funds approved by the National Assembly to the military to fight the insurgency in the north east; the activities of the insurgents have rather increased to an alarming proportion. Your Excellency, where is the justification for the $1bn foreign loan? Your Excellency Sir, Another point of contention on your commitment to fight against the insurgency is the failure or inability of your government to investigate and prosecute persons widely believed to be involved in the insurgency. The recent revelation by the Australian negotiator Mr. Steven Davis fingering Ali Modu Sheriff and Gen. Ihejirika as Boko Haram’s Kingpins is one of many examples. In spite of this and several other disclosures, you have become so insensitive and in utter disregard to the widespread clamor of the public to prosecute the indicted persons, Mr. President, you were seen alongside Senator Ali Modu Sherrif in Republic of Chad on a state visit to discuss the insurgency in Nigeria with President Idris Derby. Not only that your Excellency, you also went ahead to accord him with a high profile protection of more than 200 troops that place like BAMA needs desperately at a moment. Your continues romance with the alleged Boko Haram Kingpins will not augur well for the polity and may jeopardize the ongoing investigation process against them. Finally, I urge that your government should sit up to its responsibilities and work seriously towards reclaiming her growing tiers of government in the hands of insurgents; and to relocate communities into original locations otherwise, you will risk a situation whereby a greater number Nigerians lose a complete hope on your government. Respectfully, Abba Bukar Abba Masta Freelancer, Legislative activist, Humanitarian Aid Worker and an Honourable Member Representing Borno Central in the Nigerian Youth Parliament
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 13:44:31 +0000
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