Middlebelt Killings: Aso Rock No Longer Under the Grip of Suspected Terrorists —By Chima Christian

While it is true that the terrorist attacks in Plateau State and other parts of the Middlebelt are still very much active, the ideological difference between the last occupant of Aso Rock and the present has become noticeable. The magisterial charge of the Chief of Army Staff, Taofeek Lagbaja to his men in Mangu LGA of Plateau earlier today is indicative.

From the responses so far, I am beginning to deduce that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a little bit ambivalent about the terrorist attacks in the Middlebelt. His ambivalence, though far from the expected response of the president, is a remarkable departure and a noteworthy improvement from the attitude of the last administration.

I regret the continued killings. I mourn every precious life lost. Yet, we must soldier on with all sobriety. Emotions may not allow many to realise how deep into the abyss Nigeria went over the past eight years. The immediate past president did not hide his sympathies. Neither did he attempt to cover the ideological affinity that existed between him and the terrorists in the bush. Like the third trimester of most pregnancies, Aso Rock’s suspected terrorist credentials were there for all to see.

Not just the president, but many eggheads of that government. At some point, it felt as if the entire government of Nigeria had been captured and Nigeria was forced to become a state sponsor of terrorism.

Even today, there are quite a number of men and women within Nigeria’s administrative, security, intelligence community and intelligentsia who still share this ideological affinity with terrorists. Sometimes these terrorist sympathisers and sponsors try to hide their hands. Other times they shake off all pretences and jump into outright endorsement and promotion of terrorism.

In our dealings, we must take the pains to know who the real enemies are. We must also identify all potential allies. Even as all lawful efforts to persuade the government of Nigeria to come down hard on these terrorists continue, I find that Tinubu’s ambivalence can be made to profit the people of the Middlebelt. Unlike the former President who had a dog in the fight, this present one will respond to the side that deploys the most pressure.

I understand that there is enormous pressure on him to look away while innocent Middlebeltans are slaughtered by terrorists and their lands taken away. These same terrorists are sparing no cost in their lobby to the government of the United States, the United Nations and the international community to look away while they prosecute their holy war in Nigeria.

The law is on our side. The Lord is on our side. We must now work extra hard to maintain formation. The determination of terrorists to violently uproot and subjugate our people must be met with an even stiffer determination to live in freedom and dignity.

Our work is cut out for us, Africa’s morning is at hand.

Chima Christian