OF AVENGERS, SCAVENGERS AND HARBINGERS (2)

In this whole national conundrum, one would rather think it would be impossible to see anyone associating with it. It’s then surprising to see those who are happy and even celebrate these acts of economic terrorism. They see all these atrocities through ethno-political spectacles. They’re still bitter their candidate lost in the polls last year and have consequently been on an auto-criticism mode. Any positive feat by this administration saddens them while a travesty of that gladdens them. Therefore, these attacks are solaceful to their weary hearts!

In another category are those who have set out to exploit the situation to their advantage. In a recent news report that came to the consternation of many Nigerians, some South South Governors sans those of Edo and Cross River states allegedly, and shamelessly so, offered to ‘end' the escalations citing the drop of investigations into the corrupt activities of the bigwigs in the region as the criterion. How preposterous!

For the sake of peace and progress, the Federal Government has been advised at many fronts to opt for dialogue as they believe that will solve the extant problems with less casualties, human and infrastructural. The Avengers, at different times, seem not to give a hoot about Federal Government’s suspension of military operations in the region and the subsequent offer to dialogue as they continue to blow up installations. They claim the government is insincere. The situation is dicey. With our prevailing economic realities, we just cannot afford to lose more revenue (in millions of dollars) especially when the situation is avoidable. For the sake of progress, realism is sometimes chosen over idealism. The Federal Government should avoid an all-or-nothing approach but must also prove to the whole world that never again will sabotage, in any form, be tolerated.

However, there has to be a drastic shift in our orientation as a people and government. Our people must understand that every region of the country has been marginalised in several and relative ways by successive elitist leaderships and armed sabotage is crude, uncivilised and felonious just as it’s never the clinching solution. Citizens must begin to ask relevant questions and make strategic demands from their state governors and local representatives. We have developed a tradition of obsession with the government at the centre while neglecting those closer as if they owe us no statutory responsibilities for which they hold our money. This is not exonerative but must change if what we really want is even and grassroots developments.

The Federal Government must also realise that the key to  unlocking the door of lasting solutions in the region and to circumvent these problems in other regions is to embark on massive and aggressive projects that affect the common man directly. This bridges the wide infrastructural gap we have in the country and also provides the platform for people to thrive.

Another issue of great importance is the diversification of our economy. Previous administrations, practically speaking, only paid lip service to it. As it stands, with our current realities coupled with the future of oil, there’s no other time to diversify than now. Overly depending on a resource, which is, even currently, out of our control and can easily be disrupted, seemingly, as a lifeline of the economy is precarious. Serious and concerted efforts have to be made in this regards as it will, inter alia, lead to self sufficiency in important sectors, increased revenue to be used in providing critical infrastructures and proper engagement of a large number of youths which will, to a great extent, reduce unemployment and circumvent armed sabotage of the government

LAWAL Temitayo (S.A.L.T.)
dhonoureible@yahoo.com
@Lawatem