Wisdom is better than weapons of war

Over many centuries, world civilization has seen countless instances of warfare, battles and conflicts capable of employing the power of human kind into forms that emperors and rulers never envisaged. Today, most nations in Africa and some parts of the world have not used much of democratic means to maintain peace. Rather, most African governments have used military character and power to settle issues caused by economic misconduct that disturbed regional or national peace.
In Nigeria, the military is always deployed as one of the suggested solutions to quench problems deeply rooted in economic malpractices at state and national levels which makes crocodiles to smile, and pythons to dance. Now, cats are racing- all in a bid to ensure that there is peace and stability in Nigeria. But where is the peace? A nation that has alienated its people from peace has no security for itself. A nation that is always having security challenges or hungry for war has nothing to gain or offer a world in its fourth industrial era.
The increase in the wave of attacks by gun-wielding herdsmen in recent time is very alarming. Yet, nothing concrete is known about the blood thirsty bandits causing mayhem across the country. This is the way Boko Haram started. And what Nigerians got from the immediate past federal government was that there was no Boko Haram. Even when Chibok girls were abducted, it generated controversies to an extent that most Nigerians did not believe that the abduction took place.
The killing of human beings is becoming one too many. The blood of innocent citizens is crying for justice as the crime perpetrated by man against fellow men has gotten to its peak. The situation is so bad that the protection of lives and properties which the 1999 Constitution expressly confers on Nigerians is almost an illusion. Nigerians are now refugees in their own country for fear of being slaughtered like a cow. Nigeria needs peace. Regrettably, peace will not come out of a cache of arms but out of justice, equity and fairness brought about by unarmed individuals in the face of odds. Precisely, on 13 September 2016, during Nigeria’s recession, an article was presented in this column titled “Buhari Needs Wisdom to Rewrite History.’’ In that piece, this writer argued that Mr President must seize the opportunity to rewrite history and prove his numerous critics wrong. The advice came on the heels of a comment made by a senator and retired army general, who was quoted to have cynically declared that: “Just wait for one year and you will soon know why we removed him in 1985.” In that piece, this writer suggested that Mr President must apply wisdom in governance.
An important component of wisdom is to have the skills required to see things as they really are, and not just as they appear. “Wisdom is better than the weapons of war,” so says King Solomon in his homily in the Book of Ecclesiastes. Wisdom is better than amassing weapons of war to solve the problem. Mr President however, has a commitment to protect the integrity of Nigeria from internal or external aggression by using resources at the government’s disposal. I hereby solemnly declare that it’s time for Mr President to seize the initiative to defend Nigeria. Nigeria’s democracy must not fail. No one knows the kind of security brief Mr President receives except those who are working for him. Who knows whether corrupt ideas have been frustrating Mr President’s ability to manoeuver? Or, is Mr President the one who is apathetic to the security of the nation as expressed by most Nigerians?
The President should not wait for other powerful retired generals to issue him “red card” for not using all the powers conferred on him by the 1999 Constitution to provide security for Nigerians. Truth, they say, is bitter. But is Mr President getting a true gist of havoc caused by these bandits? May be Mr President has to get rid of some people around him who are not telling him the truth on incessant killings and bloodshed perpetuated by militiamen popularly referred to as herdsmen in the country. Mr President cannot have those whose loyalty to Nigeria is questionable in his cabinet. If Mr President does not dissociate himself from people whose loyalty to the country is questionable, they may end up destroying his government. Then, it would be very late to rewrite history.
Mr President would have had his name registered either electronically or manually into the annals of Nigeria’s history as a leader who was guilty of association. We don’t need voodoo analysts and mystics to tell us that the nation is almost at the verge of becoming a failed state. National security is threatened. Some Nigerians are prepared to defend themselves against attacks by herdsmen in the presence of members of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). Citizens have lost confidence and trust in the NPF. Benue State government has decreed that the indigenes must defend themselves. Ekiti State is not left behind as the State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has mobilized farmers with den guns to protect themselves against herdsmen carrying sophisticated automatic weapons. Can you blame Ayodele Fayose? No! As the chief security officer of Ekiti State, he can only muster den guns in his armoury.
Ogun State indigenes are not sleeping. The Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, has announced the reactivation of the Ogun State Hunters Association (OSHA), while requesting Nigerians to resist armed herdsmen invasion. The OSHA according to the Professor will be ready to collaborate with the NPF and the military if they come in contact with gun-wielding herdsmen. Contrary to the opinion of the respected professor, Mr President is not under Trance. Anyway, the security challenge which Nigeria is facing today shows the nation is drifting towards a failed state. Mr President, please apply wisdom as this is the time to act decisively. Its better late than never.

 
MA Johnson