LEST WE FORGET: How The Buhari Administration Purposely Created The Insurgency In Southeastern Nigeria - And How To Solve It

A young Nigerian recently narrated how he lost a leg to an auto crash on his way to see his new baby at the hospital according to a Facebook page known as DJ C Money Worldwide:

As you can see on the above screenshot, the young man is quoted as saying as follows:

"I had already called my wife and informed her that I was on my way. I noticed that the driver was on a high speed. I asked him severally to slow down but he kept ignoring the warning. It was the third time that he finally responded angrily, saying that he has been driving for more than 13yrs and that I shouldn't teach him his job". 

The story continues:

"I seemed to be the only one complaining, as I noticed the other passengers were all quiet about it. So, I decided to let go and stay mute as well. 

"It was after about 10 mins of driving when, it all happened. The driver was trying to overtake a heavy truck. After that, I only saw myself at the hospital after about 12hrs and I was told that I was the only person in the vehicle that survived the accident and that's how I got to this stage of having just one leg".

This Story Uncannily Reveals How The Arrogance Of Nigerian Leaders (Drivers) Puts The Lives Of Nigerians At Risk Unnecessarily

Just like many Nigerian medics and politicians, Nigerian drivers are known to easily get angry at you for cautioning them to not endanger your life. Hear the mindset that got that driver to waste many lives in less than an hour: "It was the third time that he finally responded angrily, saying that he has been driving for more than 13yrs & that I shouldn't teach him his job".

Applying This To The Man-made Insecurity Situation In The Southeast

It pains to see the insincerity and arrogance with which Nigerian government officials (especially the Southeastern governors) are approaching the new spate of insecurity in the Southeastern region of the country. For example, who says he doesn't know how it all started? And who says he doesn't understand how to end it?

But in case the government actually doesn't know, here's a clue🗝️:

A Simple Account Of How The Buhari Civilian Administration Consciously Created A New Spate Of Insurgency/Insecurity In The Southeast

There's no point overlabouring the obvious since it all happened in the public domain. But, in case we have forgotten, this is what happened: When Muhammadu Buhari became the President in 2015, his kinsmen, the Fulani herders, became extremely notorious in killing and kidnapping people across Nigeria.

It was obvious that the FG Administration was abetting those egregious crimes since the herders weren't being brought to book, but anyone who protested against them was immediately treated like a criminal by the Federal Government security agencies.

Like the Keke passenger whose story is featured above, IPOB seemed to be the only voice coming out clearly to denounce this open recklessness of a driver, nay, a government. So, the government - like the arrogant careless driver it was - went after IPOB.

For example, in Awgu LGA of Enugu State, some women were allegedly kidnapped by Fulani herders. Some local youths mobilized to look for the women, but the police arrested and detained the youths - 76 of them as reliably reported by Vanguard.

In Emene near Enugu City, a group of unarmed youths were engaged in a martial arts training and a group of FG security agents swooped in on them and shot many of them dead instantly as reported by Punch. They were tagged 'IPOB' even when IPOB was yet to have an armed outfit.

In Nkpor, Anambra State, a group of unarmed youths were in a church to observe a candlelight vigil in honor of their relatives lost during the Nigerian Civil War. A group of soldiers from Onitsha Military Cantonment swooped in on them, killed, and injured many of them. Up to 150 of them were killed by the soldiers as Amnesty International reported.

While all these persecution of unarmed Igbo youths by the Nigerian security forces was going on, armed Fulani militants were all over the country killing, kidnapping, raping, and sacking law-abiding citizens while these same Nigerian security forces appeared not to see them. This was going on throughout the country. But, like the young man who lost his leg, it appeared that only Igbos were complaining against the reckless 'driving' by the Buhari Administration.

The above are just a few examples of the unwarranted attacks on the Southeastern Nigerians by the Federal Government that got many of them enraged against the Government. IPOB is only an outcrop of this boiling anger. 

The entire scenario led to IPOB launching a militant group known as ESN in December 2020 and the massive acceptance the militant group has enjoyed within Southeast. It's the root of why, not only IPOB, but also the average Southeasterner, is very angry with the Federal Government and its security forces.

Therefore, How Can We Solve The New Levels Of Insecurity In The Southeast?

It's simple: Go back and address the roots. See how👇

If the current FG administration is sincere about reversing the ugly situation created by its predecessor in the Southeast, let it initiate a dialogue with IPOB. For the dialogue to work, the Federal Government 

1. Should acknowledge that it erred when its security operatives targeted, injured and killed unarmed youths again and again in the Southeast as seen in the above referenced reports and many more.
2. Should acknowledge that it erred when it allowed armed Fulani militants to roam around freely while endangering the lives of law-abiding Nigerian citizens and residents.
3. Should apologize for these errors that led to many people in the Southeast and the rest of the country losing vital body parts, losing loved ones, property, investments, etc.

As someone who understands the Southeast well, I can tell you that this is the only way to kick off any meaningful dialogue with the IPOB members to assuage their just anger and give room for a peaceful resolution of the situation. Unfortunately, the governors and the President - like the Keke driver in the above story - would be too arrogant to take these steps. Instead, like that arrogant Keke driver, they'll rather have more lives wasted than humbly retrace the steps of the governments they represent.

Conclusion 

An over-inflated ego is always a sign of immaturity. It makes you think you cannot go wrong. And, even when it's clear you've gone wrong, an over-inflated ego makes you want everyone to accept the wrong👎 as right👍.

It's why that keke driver would rather waste many lives, including his own life, than listen to someone cautioning him to prevent the loss. It's also why I don't expect any of our arrogant government officials to listen to these recommendations I have put up here.

In any case, it's now on record that I said this. Even if any of the government officials or their vassals should come after me, even if they should go as far as killing me as they are known to do, it can never erase this record. Thank you.

It's me Chinedu Desmond Nweke.