The region has sunk steeply into the abyss of despair; from the bloody insurgency that barks and bites the North East, to kidnappings, banditry and freelance killings that scratch, pierce and is ruining the North West leaving behind scorching trail of rancor and sorrow of unimaginable proportion to millions in the region.
Hardly a day passes by without these devilish forces, deadly without an iota of humanity unleashing wet eyes, gnashing of teeth and bursting hearts on their victims.
My heartfelt condolence to the people of Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna and Zamfara states over the recent attacks that have claimed several lives and displaced thousands. Perhaps most tellingly, our worry has turned to fear and what we dread for our region is staring us in the face and if nothing is being done, we might be heading for a freefall because we have thrown caution to the wind for years. We did not get here in a day; it is the ripple effect of our collective actions or inactions over the years.
Like many other regions of the world, we are faced with challenges, but right now nothing is more perturbing than the menace of banditry we find ourselves in. An army of hexed evil force are razing down the villages of the North West at a horrendous proportion, killing, abducting and raping women at almost free will, depriving the people of what they love the most; peace and agriculture. And if left unchecked, will trigger a looming food crisis in the country. Our security state is at its lowest ebb and at no other time have we been in this tenuous situation.
The earthquake of security challenges in Northern Nigeria would not have been so seismic without bad leadership, which resulted in the region having the highest number of out of school children, maternal and neonatal mortality compared to any other region in the country, and also fast becoming the poverty capital of the world. Bad leadership allowed greed and materialism creep into our psyche so much that we mortgaged our resourcefulness and hardwork on the platter of free oil subversions from a far distant land and then fight dirty to retain power at the centre to preserve this crippling mindset.
Nothing amplified the decline of leadership in the region than the failure to address the elephant in the room; the almajiri system which is arguably seen as the stream that waters the roots of insecurity challenges we are facing. Also, there is absolute lack of trust between the leaders and the people, which is mind boggling.
Now that we are here, in this incongruous spot, we should attain anagnorisis and also learn a lession for the future. Until we evolve leaders with creative thinking, wisdom, foresight, selflessness and integrity, we have very little chance of reversing our misadventure. We must choose leaders who are readers of not just books, but signs as well. Leaders that will prioritize education, industrialization, employment and unity. The warning signs are visible to the blind and audible to the deaf. There is a popular saying that when you find water around your ankle, that’s the time to do something, not when it’s around your neck. For Northern Nigeria, my home every day, I know and I believe without a doubt.
We will waltz through these challenges and rise. May Allah save our region from the devastating effects of this banditry and other vices consuming the lives of innocent lives amin summa amin.
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