In the days after a series of bomb explosions at Nyanya motor park in
Abuja killed at least 200 and maimed many more, President Goodluck
Jonathan has hit the road, dancing at campaign rallies.
This latest example of callous indifference by the president has left
many Nigerians shocked and indignant, with Mr. Jonathan facing sharp
criticism in the Nigerian print and social media.
The president’s mindless campaigning in the hours after a savage
attack that traumatized Nigerians is compounded by reports of the
abduction of close to 200 school girls by Boko Haram terrorists.
Earlier, the Nigerian army had claimed that the girls had been rescued.
The principal of the girls’ school that was raided by Boko Haram
militants has denied that claim.
MORE AFTER THE CUT
A special investigative report by SaharaReporters has exposed the
unpreparedness of the Nigerian soldiers assigned the dire task of
combating members of the increasingly more daring and reportedly
better-armed Boko Haram. Our report also indicated that the soldiers
live in wretched condition, with their morale running low even as their
commanding officers reportedly pocket a sizeable chunk of the funds for
security operations.
It is shocking that a president who spent billions of naira and
encouraged other public officials to squander billions more on his
daughter’s wedding is not willing to ensure that the soldiers who fight
and die to keep him, his family and other Nigerians safe are taken care
of.
Mr. Jonathan should stop all campaign activities for a while and
focus on ways of securing the lives and property of all Nigerians. In
the past, the president has blamed highly placed Nigerians for
sponsoring the climate of violence and terror in Nigeria, including Boko
Haram. It is not enough to level that allegation against nameless
perpetrators. If Mr. Jonathan has sound information that specific and
identifiable Nigerians are behind the cruel massacre of their fellows,
he has a duty to order the arrest of these sponsors, however exalted
their position in society. He swore an oath to defend Nigerians, and
that is a responsibility he can no longer shirk.
The first step, for goodness sake, is to cease this thoughtless owambe-ing.
The president must be sensitive to the plight of the Nigerians who lose
their lives to terrorist attacks, as well as their bereaved relatives
and friends.
Leadership is not about dancing, Mr. Jonathan. This is time for sober reflection and serious work.
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