Anambra 2014: Why GovObi will not anoint a successor – Okunna, Chief of Staff

Last week my office literally turned into a small battle-field, the
issue wasbasically, on the proliferation of arms, the fact that
something is inherently wrong, whether by default or not.
Somewhere in the battle, the term Négritude was used by my humble self
to draw an analogy; 'Negritude' is a literary and ideological
movement, developed by francophone black intellectuals, writers, and
politicians in France in the 1930s. Its founders included the former
Senegalese President Léopold Sédar Senghor, Martinican poet Aimé
Césaire, and the Guianan Léon Damas. Negritude literally means
Negro-ness. It takes pride in "blackness" and traditional African
values and culture, black surrealism, power and revolution, mixed with
an undercurrent of Marxist ideals.
Before we get lost my admonition this week, simply ask us, why are we
this way--are we so docile, yet violent, why are we mute, and allow
majors become minors...what is our pride in "Nigeria-ness" and
traditionalvalues and culture.
Two months and still counting, our Nigerian-ness has been only made
visible by our continuous inaction to happenings around us. We are
even more concerned Tahir square, Egypt and Morsi, while the Republic
of Ombatse grows with impunity.
Northern governors I gathered have donated N100million to families of
policemen killed. I have read the inside story of the militia group,
we have been told they have been banned. The Nassarawa Governor has as
usual inaugurated a Commission of Inquiry, despite his 'alleged'
complicity. PDP has denied involvement, not that they have ever
accepted any charge before. Weeks back police claimed to have arrested
'notorious' ombatse' member.
To cap it, the DSS boss says the group has been forgiven, while its
chief priest says he has not been invited byanyone. Less I forget to
add, the stories of how the officers/men of security agencies were
killed by 'gods' and 'ghosts'. The 'god' of 'ombatse' is one of our
many Nigeria-tude.
In our republic, Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson stated
over theweek while with one of the naval chiefs "militants where
vandalizing oil pipelines, stealing crude oil for thepurpose of
procuring arms, and recruiting new members.
He described oil theft as "a threat to national security, also decried
the proliferation of arms in the region, saying oil theft could be
linked to the procurement of such arms".
..."It is from there they have easy funds to recruit followers; it is
from these activities of crude oil theft and illegal refining that
people are able to sustain such large numbers of youths and put them
into various cult groups. What is going on has a direct effect on the
proliferation of small and light weapons because they needan army of
youths to protect their territories, to be able to withstand the
onslaught of legitimate security personnel."
Gunmen attacked Government Secondary School, Mamudo in Yobe, 42
students were killed, and then the Zamfara episode where some 60
werebutchered or the scores at the Langtang, Plateau axis. The Mubi
Killings, the recent massacre of traders from Oyo at the Borno axis,
the corpse found in that River in the East, and skulls discovered only
last week in Aba, all soon become forgotten stories. In our
Nigeria-tude we move ahead and along. Apart fromthe 24hour outrage and
in local parlance we do the 'Eyaaah' and say may their souls rest in
peace.
Zamfara is talking, and this is the talk--providing arms for the
state's vigilante groups. The state said there was no going back, that
the arms havealready been purchased and is currently at the state
police headquarters.
"Special Adviser to the governor on media and information technology,
Alhaji Sani Abdullahi Tsafe, said that "the issue is with the police
and the state government will not say anything again until the process
of acquiring the permit is accomplished".
A source in Zamfara says once permit is given "distribution to some
'trusted' members of the vigilance groups across the state" will take
place.
"...other states were doing it secretly. This has been the practice in
some parts of this country, particularly when one looks at the
situation in theNiger Delta. Who arms the militants inthat area who
are also civilians?"
Some states legislatures are currentlydeliberating on the issue with a
view to making a law backing similar projects. The Nigeria 'Grooving'
Governors' Forum (NGF) is currently working on how to come up with a
common decision on the issue...interesting they are at least 'working'
on 'something'.
The Senate discussed the matter via amotion and rejected it, urging
President Goodluck Jonathan to stop Zamfara state saying doing so
could jeopardize the security situation in the state.
Senate argued that the move could provide access to arms by groups
that are neither trained nor authorized to bear arms. But isn't it the
case in the republic...Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa (ANPP, Zamfara),
said that he has spoken with Governor Yari who told him that he did
not purchase arms for the vigilante. Who is lying?
Senator Magnus Abe (PDP, Rivers), said it would be wrong for the
Senate to condemn the action based on merenewspaper publication. How
did it getto the newspapers?
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (PDP, Borno), said there was nothing
wrongfor Nigerians to own guns so long as they obtain it legally. Is
he the same Ndume, very innocent until proven otherwise, I agree with
him.
Deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, said the security situation
in Zamfara state as "very worrisome" as he alleged that bandits were
taking advantage of the weakness of the security agencies to
perpetrate evil. The republic is sadly growing...
Senator Sha'aba Lafiagi, the Vice-Chairman of the Committee on
Intelligence and National Security, noted that Yari had purchased the
arms before seeking the Inspector General of Police's permission. Who
do we believe, in Nigeria-tude, it's simply a case of, your faith,
ethnicity, political camp, the rest is inconsequential.
He said, "The truth is that the governor has acquired the arms and
ammunition; he now approached the IG to grant him permission. Why is
it so easy for anybody to acquire arms without hindrance? We have to
do all we can to put a stop to illegal acquisition of arms."
Senator Ali Ndume said that "armed criminals easily assailed Nigerians
because they did not have guns. One wonders, what argument, but again
speaks volumes about democracy andfree speech, a pot pourri of 'magana
banza', 'otito oro' and 'akuko onye ara'. He added that, "with arms,
curtailing the activities of criminals can be easier".
His comment also that some senators had guns had to be withdrawn,
after the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, noted that the
allegation was sweeping and unfounded. Withdrawn or not, it had
already been made, that is the Nigeria-tude, what makes the republic
of ombatse.
The issue of state police was touched,but I will take Senator Victor
Lar's comments "...all these are as a result of the frustration in the
polity as many governors were wishing to have state police, noting
that they were more concerned about regime security and not national
security.
"We should resist the temptation of arming local militias in the face
of the insecurity problems..." He concluded.
These men represent Nigerians whether we elected them, or they
selected themselves, this one topic shows us how divided we are, it
paints the picture that is in front of us.Reading in between the lines
tells it all.
Nigerians are dying, others are arming, preparing--while we discuss,
Rotimi Amaechi and his palm wine quarrels with NGF, Mrs. Jonathan and
his family the PDP. The local shenanigans called APC or opposition are
crying over everything from their name and doing nothing, than a
dangerous building a conglomerationof ex-this and that.
Whether the arms are being bought secretly or openly, they are being
bought anyway, sadly even Senators are not left out in the 'buying
thing'. The fact is if the snake doesn't show its character, its
snake-ness, it will be used as a waist belt by a child. We are simply
in a Republic of Ombatse...where it leads us to--only time will tell.