The Curious Case of the Kano Blasts
Rest in peace to those we lost to bomb blasts yet again, this time in Kano. Coming a day after local government elections were held in Kano, this is one curious blast one cannot but raise some crucial questions on. Many realities suggest we are dealing with a force beyond just some unreasonable terrorists: most likely, we are dealing with a force or forces desperate for the soul of Nigeria.
Nigeria is not a country where people appreciate one asking pertinent questions or questions that appear to focus on the root of a matter. We would rather discuss such questions in the comfort of our homes. We are afraid to dare the forces and elements of evil posing as our own protectors. We forget that death is inevitable anyway so those that are brave enough to ask questions and those that are not all end up dying anyway. One would rather dare.
One cannot but ask questions around the events surrounding the Kano blasts. These questions may not in the end come useful but they are questions that must be asked nonetheless.
On the 26th of February 2014, Reno Omokri allegedly posing as Wendell Simlin sought to use the incessant attacks in the northeast as a political tool against the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Had Mr. Omokri not been caught, Mallam Sanusi would have been invited by the Nigerian Department of State Security (DSS) to speak on the Wendell Simlin accusations. Thankfully, Reno Wendell Simlin got caught but even that didn’t stop the DSS from harassing the Central Bank governor.
As this is being written, almost three month after, the security agencies have not questioned Mr. Omokri. The Presidency, where he works has kept mute on the matter. This was for me the point where it became important to start asking the question about who was benefitting the most from the Boko Haram attacks.
Chief Okon Osung, a South-South delegate at the ongoing National Conference has suggested that the 2015 elections be moved by at least 18 months. Chief Okon Osung cited insecurity. Chief Edwin Clark is reported to have said, “Nigeria is at war, President Jonathan can not conduct 2015 Election under A State of War.”
When President Olusegun Obasanjo was suspected of wanting to perpetuate himself in power, one of the tools those who suspected him expected him to use was to throw the nation in state where it would be impossible to hold elections. President Obasanjo of course never did that in the end. The question is, why should a government that has grossly failed to provide security – the foundational essence of government the world over – expect to be trusted to keep the country safe if it benefits from the same state of insecurity.
There are political elements behind terrorism in Nigeria. We cannot continue to ignore the signs. The timing of some of the blasts has been beyond curious. While it is possible that the major political actors may have nothing to do with these, it is not impossible for their aides and allies to see it as a means to an end, a means to power or the retention of power. One finds it really disturbing that a Boko Haram that is supposedly facing the onslaught of at least 20,000 soldiers – according to the figures quoted by Nigeria’s President Jonathan – will then have the resources and wherewithal to plan and execute a high profile attack such as yesterday’s in Kano.
Terrorism is a complex evil. There are many sides to it. We cannot even begin to think that we have one source of terrorism in Nigeria in the conventional Boko Haram. One must begin to look at the possibilities of whether the franchise has been taken over by certain other elements who feel safer to operate under the name of an already known and identified enemy.
This is a war against our country, a war against our values and very essence. It would be almost impossible to win this war if its greatest beneficiaries are those in the position to help Nigeria win it. At this point in time, no one can sincerely claim that these beneficiaries are not in positions where they can influence Nigeria’s chances of defeating terrorism. These are tough times and fear has become the air Nigerians breathe. We hope for Light but we need to understand that if we as citizens don’t bear the torch, we will continue to be victims in the hands of these agents of darkness
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