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By Godwin Etakibuebu
I was going to write on a subject titled “LIKE BUHARI AT HOME AND LIKE TRUMP ABROAD” for today when suddenly my email box prompted out a write-up captioned “Exposition 01”. The inquisitiveness in my blood as a writer compelled my reading the “exposition 01” over and over again. After reading it over like Six times, the temptation to make it a public property of my reading audience forced me to do what l have now done – presenting it for your reading and allowing you drawing your personal conclusions without my contributions. It is hereunder presented raw, just as l got it from my mail box.
Exposition 01
—A certain group of terrorists organised themselves for the sole aim of unleashing death on innocent Nigerians.
—The President tried at every given opportunity to convince the world that they are Libyans once armed by Gaddafi, avenging the death of Gaddafi.
—The president began to canvass that the ancestral lands of Nigerians being forcefully taken and given to these “Libyans” who invaded Nigeria.
—The people refused and instead urged the government to arrest and prosecute the Libyans killing them over their own lands.
–The people begged the government to arrest, prosecute, kill or allow them defend themselves against the “Libyans”.
–The government warned that anyone who touches any of the “Libyans” will be arrested and prosecuted instead.
—They killed, killed and are killing.
—Each time they killed, a group of herdsmen under the name “Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association” claimed responsibilities for the killings and at every point; they are given platforms to explain why they are killing with an early morning “tea cup”.
—The President kept claiming the killers are Libyans, even while the Nigeria herders association claimed responsibilities.
—Five young men ignored the government warning and killed one of the “Libyans” while they were carrying out attack in their community and killed 48 persons. They were arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to death by hanging within a very short period.
—To avoid further attempt to kill the “Libyans”, the armed forces of the government invaded the homes of all religious and traditional leaders in search of weapons. They found none. The idea was to dispossess them of all weapons of defence.
—The government went abroad to announce to the world that the only remedy to the killings is that all Nigerians must open up their lands to accommodate them and give unfettered access to their herds to feed on their farms.
—The people stood on their decisions. No going back.
—The government stood on her decisions. No going back.
—The killings continued. The few “Libyans” that were arrested after global cry were tactically released for lack of diligent prosecution. Note, the same government is the body responsible for prosecution.
—The “Libyans” were secretly called, given monetary compensation for their wrong prosecutions. One “height-challenged” Governor from the north couldn’t keep his mouth shut. He announced the gesture in pride.
—The “Libyans” were encouraged. This time they bought more sophisticated weapons to kill. They launched several attacks, displaced citizens off their lands, took over those lands and renamed them. As at today, over 52 communities have been captured and renamed by “Libyans”.
—There is a need to conquer more territories. They went for more.
—At a goal, the “Libyans” killed over 400 persons.
The government spokesmen openly took over their defence. “You can’t rustle their cattle, block their pathways and expect them not to kill”, they told the world.
“Leave your land if you don’t want to live under the land”, they admonished.
Now the twist:
—The government turned around claiming the killings are sponsored by opposition parties. They insist that they are political killings.
—A certain pastor decided to curse all those behind the killings.
—The opposition accused by the government are screaming “amen” to his prayers but the same government is calling for the arrest and prosecution of the pastor who is cursing “the opposition behind the killings”.
—The government is going from one place to another appealing that Nigerians give up their ancestral lands to the “Libyans” and the killers sponsored by “the opposition” if they want to stay alive.
—In the twist, the government has, shamelessly, given us 3 different narratives:
- The killers are from Libya who took over specific places in Africa to avenge the death of Gaddafi;
- The herdsmen are killing because they need grazing areas for their herds;
- The opposition, especially PDP are sponsoring hoodlums to carry out the killings for political reasons.
In its effort to confuse us and the world, the government has ended up confusing itself.
Now tell me why even a coconut head cannot process what’s happening in Nigeria.
Anyway, my aim is to tell my story so history will not be twisted when it’s needed.
Good evening!
© Itsede Itsede
THEN THE DEATH OF MY FRIEND – IBRAHIM COOMASSIE.
Ibrahim Coomassie, the 9th Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force, born in Katsina on March 18, 1942, died last week Thursday, July 19, 2018, exactly 7 days to my birthday – 26th July. The first calamity of his death to me, at least, is the fact that he would not say happy birthday to me in two days’ time. Neither shall he be able to say that again forever. Or until the time that l shall go “his way” since he shall never come “this way” again forever and ever, according to our Creator’s agenda.
But going his way has to be a very long time to come because l am not in hurry for that journey. No, it has to be many more years to come. Sadly enough though, it does not matter the number of years to come, that journey’s inevitability is as sure as the setting of the sun on every day. It is just the way that God has designed it. And it is this that makes life so beautiful. Oh yes, death is a leveler sort of a thing. Or else . . .!
I shall talk more of my late friend – “Olopa”, as l called him, next week, not about his sojourn as a Police officer or his career because that is already in the public domain. I shall discuss whom Ibrahim really was in his private life, which is not known to too many people; a spoil sort of a thing, which can only be accessed by privilege of intimacy of friendship or relationship. Yes, l had that advantage on my “Olopa” friend because we shared intimate times together.
It is for this reason that l cannot be in hurry to say goodbye or adieu to Ibrahim Coomassie until l finish with my odyssey on him, come next week. For now, suffice to say that l shall miss you greatly for the worth and quality of your friendship.
Godwin Etakibuebu; a veteran Journalist, wrote from Lagos.