It is depressing beyond measure, beyond rational imagination, what is going on in our dear country, Nigeria. A mighty nation in the harrowing grip of men of evil all around. And we are engaged in unhelpful grandstanding, sectionalism, and deceit.

Let us for once ignore the escalating price of food, the unaffordable cost of fuel, the absence of infrastructure, the level of borrowing, the level of taxation, the level of corruption, the level of obscene display of ill-gotten wealth, the buffoonery of hired mouthpieces seeking to defend the indefensible.

Nigerians have proven to be capable of adjusting to life without expectation of improvement. Yet, “he go good” remains the prayer not only of the poor, but also of the downtrodden, the deprived, the disadvantaged, the opposition, those who have surrendered to the wickedness of those who falsely swore to protect them from poverty, insecurity, and despair. We seem to have entered “one chance” from which there is no escape. Yet, there is hope.

St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government of Niger State was the scene of another act of insanity - kidnapping innocent children from their places of learning.

In a country where accurate figures of census, budget, or electoral votes are unknown, let us rely on figures provided by Most. Rev. Bitrus Dauwa Yohanna, who wears the triple crown of Niger State Chair of CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria); Bishop of Kontagora ; and proprietor of St. Mary’s. My Lord disclosed that 303 children and twelve teachers were taken away.

Alhaji Abubakar Usman Gawu, Secretary to the Government of Niger State blamed School Authorities for “resuming academic activities without seeking clearance from the State Government.”

Governor Umar Bago, the State’s Chief Security Officer, expressed surprise that the school was open for studies, claiming that boarding schools in that area had been ordered to close four years before the event.

Bago questioned on whose authority was the school reopened.

He further downplayed the number of students abducted. Without giving any figures, Governor Bago argued that they were “far far less” than the figures announced by the Bishop. We are still waiting for Bago’s numbers. Governor Bago then ordered the closure of all schools in the state for Christmas holiday, a clear 34 days to Christmas.

Let us put aside the matter of the Islamic Government of Nigeria’s failure to protect Christians, their Churches, and their schools. Let us examine the attitude of leaders, officials, citizens and all, to the ongoing malaise that seeks to destroy all that is good.

The governor, his government and secretary to the state government, are concerned that the school was in session. Not that school children were abducted from their place of learning under their authority. They expect that the school is not open. That is their recipe for security. Bago’s remedy for headache is to behead the sufferer.

 

The governor volunteered that boarding schools in that area were ordered closed some four years ago. He was unaware that the school had been reopened.

Boarding schools being ordered to close four years ago was a good step for the security of school children. Was it supposed to be a permanent solution? In four years, security ought to have been restored to ensure return to normal activities. There are people living in and around the vicinity of the school who also deserve to be secured in their environment. That is the first order of governance.

Governor Bago is a lover of education and of agriculture. He is fondly referred to as Farmer Umar Bago and bought 1000 JAMB Forms for his constituents while he was a member of the House of Representatives. Can productive farming take place in the absence of security? Can one thousand students without secure learning environment pass JAMB merely on account of the benevolence of the one who paid for their forms?

We suffer not from not knowing what to do, but from failure to do that which will benefit the public.

Niger State is Nigeria’s largest state by land area, a rich agricultural zone with 85 percent of the population engaged in farming. The security of Niger State, of any state, is to the benefit of all Nigerians.

Nigeria will emerge from the current state but not before we focus on things that are necessary and ignore things that are self-serving. It is not about who is right and who is wrong. It is about doing what is right and not doing what is wrong.

Children must be in school. Their safety must be ensured.

 

 

Ayo Fasoro

Non Sum Dignus