…. says “The legitimacy of “Tinubu’s “government hangs on resolving this and giving us our country back “..
By our Editorial Team
Following the massacre of over 200 people in villages in Bokkos and Barkin – Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State on the eve of Christmas, the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese of the Catholic Church, Matthew Kukah, has urged president Bola Tinubu to quickly do something about the security architecture of the country as the “legitimacy of his government” depends on fixing the security issue to regain the confidence and trust of the people.
The prolific cleric likened the incessant attacks on the plateau to Nigeria at War stating that the situation has exposed Nigeria ‘s military and other security agencies to ridicule.
While noting that coffins and funerals from attacks in places like the plateau have become regular features, Bishop Kukah told the president that ” there is an urgent need to reset the national security architecture. ” Enough is Enough.”he said.
According to the fiery priest“National security is a function of robust, deep intellectual analysis and mapping of the goals and even ambitions of a country, its local, regional or global place in the world.
“It thrives on creating scenarios based on a proper understanding and reading of geo-politics and locating where a country wants to be. So far, we have thrived on ad hoc and arbitrary options.”
Kukah therefore asked the intelligence community to identify the attackers taking cognisance of where they come from and who their sponsors are stating that there is the need to tackle the threat before it is too late.
” There is more and we as a nation will do well to face this threat before it is sunset. No evil lasts forever. The world defeated Slavery, Apartheid,Nazism,Racism, and forms of extremism”
“It is the task of the Intelligence community to tell us who they are, where they live and what their goals are. These killers are professionals and are they Nigerians or they have just Nigerian sponsors? Their sponsors are among us. They must be in high places. They are now embedded in the architecture of the state.”
The Catholic Bishop however commended the government for the quick visit to the scene of the attacks and offering relief but urged the government to do more to assuage the pain of the rural dwellers saying ” Merely awarding contracts for building of houses is not as important as building markets , rebuilding roads, providing agricultural inputs for farmers and so on “
While explaining that religious leaders are doing so much to calm the nerves of anger, frustration and despair in the people ,he said that the spate of attacks rand pacification by the clerics are becoming too much that they are being seen as accomplices of government adding that” the Nigerian state itself risks becoming an undertaker in the eyes of its citizens’
“Our cups of sorrow are overflowing. We have cried enough tears. We may pretend that we are not at war, but truly, a war is being waged against the Nigerian state and its people. God forbid, but we could snap anytime, anywhere and for any reason.”
Kukah said that the attacks have gone beyond Herders/ Farmers clash to a more serious and silent motive in the middle belt states going by their mode of operation, choice of location and timing of the attack and said that it was important to uncover such a hidden agenda.
“We may not know who they are, but someone wants something from the Middle Belt. Stretch your imagination from the emergence of the modern Nigerian state and connect the dots,”
“We have questions crying for answers: Who are these killers? Where are they coming from? Who is sponsoring them? What are their grouses and against whom? What do they want? Whom do they want? Who are they working for? When will it all end? Why are they invincible and invisible? Who is offering them cover? Are we condemned to live with this and hand this broken nation to our children? Should we all just become inoculated and sedated to make all this bearable? Who will supply the opium to dull our pain? Are we sleepwalking to self-destruction?”
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