The Magical Prowess of the Kingdom of Nigeria -By Tony Osakpamwan Agbons

It is no more news in our clime to hear the unthinkable and see the unimaginable of events. On a daily basis, Nigerians are bombarded with a deluge of `schizophrenic scenarios` that beats our collective humanity. We have become a people steep in the unexpected and incredible. We are consistently breasting the tape of negativity in the comity of nations and breaking all sorts of records on the way.  What a great nation? Not even troubled spots like Syria, Afghanistan can compete with us at the moment on the `premiership crisis league table`. We are purely an amazing and magical breed of Homosapiens.  C’mon bring on the gold medals, hit the music and let the anthem play and decorate. Wow!

If you are still wondering about the garlands above, please look no further but stand up energetically with pride and zest to give a resounding standing ovation to the most efficient administration on the planet; the democratically elected, indefatigable, indomitable, all-knowing Federal Government of the Kingdom of Nigeria.  How else do we conjecture the breaking news we woke up to in the early hours of Tuesday 29th June 2021. It was a level-24 news in the genre of Bob Alan of the famed TV series – Hotel De Jordan of the day’s yore.

In an arrogant display of brinkmanship, `confido`, and magical prowess, our nation’s Chief Law Officer, took to the stage like an all-conquering Roman Battalion Commander to announce the ‘capture’ of their numero uno ‘fugitive’, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. The Federal Attorney General, Mallam Abubakar Malami fully decked and accentuated left no stone unturned in his apt description of the magical capture of the elusive IPOB leader. The latter in a well-orchestrated commando-styled operation has been `whacked` into Nigeria to resume trial on charges of Treasonable felony. What a great catch!

The masterclass dished to Nigerians in that press conference at Abuja is unparalleled and unrivalled. Nigeria has never had it so good. Never in our history have we seen such synergy by our different security outfits. Never before have we seen such `efficient efficiency` by our security architecture. Indeed, this was a top performance by all arms of our security parachute. We hail una! What a gargantuan feat of monumental proportions deserving of accolades. The Nigerian people cannot thank you guys enough for a job well done. Like the Edo man or woman will say, ‘Wa uruese o’. (Translation – Thank you all).

The fact that the people of Nigeria are yet to see the ‘captured fugitive’ (if indeed he is a fugitive) smacks of yet another achievement on the part of the Federal Government. We have been told he was ‘smuggled’ into the Kingdom to atone for his ‘sins’.  Alas, the enemy of the Nigerian State must now pay for all the atrocities committed against the State. He must face the ‘full weight’ of the law in a society where everyone is law abiding.  A society where there are no sacred cows and I mean cows (and not cattle by any synonyms). Take a bow… our dear Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Fantabulous! You guys are doing well!!.

Scanning through the media space and huge volumes of analysis on the shenanigans of the above subject matter, several angles come to mind.  How on earth did we get to this James Bond 007 and commandos’ style of events? What are the pre-disposing factors that led to this brazen `dynamism` by the Nigerian government? What does the future portend and who will be the beneficiaries of this ‘Umaru Dikko-like’ push and rearrest of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Did I just say rearrest or capture? Apologies for my slip up! How is it that the Government can go all out to nick Nnamdi Kanu from outside our shores when within our shores Boko Haram insurgents, Bandits, Killer Herdsmen, and other criminal elements from another part of the country are having a field day? Some may argue that it is not right to contextualise this way, but truth be said and as proven over time, over the ages; `when there is a will, there is a way`. The `gustavo` perfection exhibited by the Federal Government in the rearrest of the IPOB Leader if replicated in the case of Boko Haram, Bandits and Killer Herdsmen will sure earn the Government plaudits from the masses of our people.

For all intent and purpose, and let it be said and put on record; not all Nigerians including this writer support all that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu stands for. Let it be known that many of us may not approve of his methods, approach, and style of agitation for the cause which he has been fighting and championing in the last few years.  Let it also be said that the high-handedness of the current Government of Nigeria has exacerbated the myriads of ethnic, separatist agitation and self-determination of several nationalities within the Nigerian Project.

There is no justification for the recent levels of mayhem and destruction of lives and property in the Southeast of Nigeria by any reach. However, there is a general belief within some of the component parts of the country that ‘some fingers that make up the Nigeria hand’ are created more equal than the others. How can the Nigerian Government explain this swift, ruthless efficiency with which our security system has rearrested Mazi Nnamdi Kanu? How can the government juxtapose the speedy rearrest of Nnamdi Kanu while dangerous elements like Boko Haram, criminal Bandits and Herdsmen hold sway in the land?  Is this a case of turning a blind eye and picking which enemy to attack in a battle?  What is the attraction of the Nigerian Government to the agitation in the Southeast? There are certainly more begging questions than answers.

Notwithstanding the perceived `operational success` of the rearrest of Nnamdi Kanu, the Federal Government of Nigeria has a lot on its plate. Firstly, the root cause of the prevalent agitation in the East, West, Middle belt, and Niger Delta part of the country has to be addressed. There is so much anger and frustration in the land. There is a palpable, visible disconnect between the government and the governed in Nigeria. Majority of the populace has seemingly lost faith in the capacity and capability of the government to secure lives and property. Secondly, the feeling of `one set of rules for us, and another rule for the rest of them` is all too real. Only the callous amongst us can deny that. The `Menu of Justice` needs to be served across the length and breadth of our land. Doing otherwise will be tantamount to unleashing the pent up anger and frustration of majority of the citizenry and calamity.

The Federal Government of Nigeria cannot continue to surround itself with hangers-on, sycophants and yes-men who only tells leadership those things they want to hear. History tells us that nations crumble when truth is abandoned. The present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari must re-access itself within the ambit of a moral barometer and listen to the people who they swore to serve. The people should not be gagged because effective communication has always been a two-way process. Governance in Nigeria cannot just be for the enjoyment of only those in Power. The Government needs to connect to the people. There is so much disenchantment in the land and except urgent steps are taken to `arrest` the trend, the nation may fall off the cliff. This is just the truth and nothing but the truth.

Dr Agbons writes from the UK