On security, Northern Nigeria and Isa Pantami
n - Muhammad
Malumfashi
A friend sent an audio clip of a speech delivered by
Sheikh Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami in Jos, Plateau State. He must have been
getting tired of my Buhari Government criticisms. He assured me that things –
on security will improve, after he listened to Pantami speak with much optimism.
The seminar was organized by the Jos faction of the
Izala group. I much enjoyed the first part of the speech too, where the Cleric –
now Government Top official spoke about the good attributes of Sheikh Sani
Yahaya Jingir, the disputed leader of the Sect. Allah ya karawa Malam imani.
In his 30 minutes long speech, Isa Ali Pantami, whom I
so much respect, talked about Buhari’s silent efforts to improve the damning
security situation. These are things we
don’t talk about on media, the Government is doing its best to improve the
security Pantami keeps reiterating this point. The President hasn’t spoken
to Nigerians for several days though, away in London.
He said once again, in his capacity, as an ordinary
Nigerian (and not NITDA Top Executive), Government is on top of the matter. Dr.
Pantami assured his listeners that Buhari has been doing his best, passing
sleepless nights to stop the senseless killings in North West, the zone that has
been contributing to Buhari’s electoral success for long.
It is good to hear such positive news, even in the
midst of dozen of heartbreaking stories from Katsina, Taraba and along Kaduna
to Abuja. If we have learnt some few things over the last 4 years is that, the
next President will face less attacks (than PDP). In some occasions Jonathan,
no matter his many faults (which Buhari refuse to take lessons from), was criticized
unfairly.
People like Sheikh Dr. Isa Pantami couldn’t understand
the happenings before 2015, now that he is close to the corridors of power, I am
happy men like him are beginning to understand the game. Was there any hidden
plot by Jonathanian Government (as fondly referred by the opposition) to
annihilate the North? Is Buhari waging a Fulani Jihad too? Today, we know
better!
You have to commend Pantami and the very few who are
doing well in this Government, I have said it several times that I would love
to see the hardworking an intelligent DG elevated to possibly ICT Minister. Today
people harshly judge Pantami for his silence over the killings in Zamfara and
other places, because far then, he cried when Boko Haram was on a killing
spree.
For the banditry, herdsmen clash, gunmen attacks and incessant
kidnapping; now a fast booming industry, all in the North. President Buhari deserves the same kind of
anger Jonathan faced, people are dying day and night. But Pantamis cannot speak
today, people must understand, that is the ruthless price he is to pay for accepting
a Government offer & he is doing excellent at it!
When people like me speak about the worsening internal
security, it is never about President Muhammadu Buhari, it is all about the
poor’ lives. You must have heard about your closed ones having their own
kidnapped, that is the least. Personally, I have doubt if much would change
just by having another President in charge. The message is that the Country is
bleeding.
I believe Buhari has shown some callous attitude by
the way – not speaking when it matters, refusal to visit or condole the bereaved,
failure to appoint new Service Chiefs and sack failing Ministers. But something
seems to be wrong with our system, the structure and the Country’s security
power and architecture. I pray we very soon get it right, I don’t know when.
Those who worked with the last admin believed they did
their best, it was undoubtedly never enough. Pantami and his likes can today
tell us that this Government is doing its best too, if over 1000 have been
killed in the last 4 months, then you don’t have to be told that this best isn’t
anywhere near enough. Daura isn’t safe, the Abuja highway is not.
When the next Government takes over, those who attacked
the last GEJ led PDP administration but now choose silence because their favorite
Kinsman is in power, will find it very hard again to call the Government in
power to order, even when they are losing their own. They would have lost all
the right to speak and be listened to.
… And then, may be start to give that benefit of doubt
and be just to all our rulers like they should be to us. Allah ya kawo saukin
wannan bala’i ya karawa Malaman mu lafiya. A sha ruwa lafiya.
Muhammad Malumfashi is on Twitter @m_malumfashi
