By Prof James Omoleye
I salute your excellency. I write this because In the multitude of counsels (wise ones) there is safety. A little bit over a year ago Sir, I wrote you an open letter on payment of pensions. I thank you because weeks later pensioners started to receive their entitlement.
Thank you sir. Thousands that are saved from hunger and death have good will towards you today for your response.
I am not writing on our security today because I am a Christian but because I have an inner conviction not to just be praying but make God’s counsel known towards the security of our Nation.
The question is, should we do anything to stop this killing spreading all over? Definitely yes, because to do otherwise is to be heartless. Every good and right minded Nigerian irrespective of religion wants a stop to this inhuman slaughter of innocent Nigerians because it is against even the natural justice and humane feeling.
How do we stop it? We either stop it through reasoning and amicable settlement with the perpetrators or through enforcement.
Amicable settlement with the killers, even though their approach is unlawful, should depend on the reasons for the brutal killing of the innocent.
Three reasons have surfaced: (1) The land of Nigeria belongs to the killer tribe (2) The religion of the killer tribe must be enforced on all Nigerians (3) Political reason towards 2027.
On number 1, Mr President, I believe because the reason is wrong and unacceptable to you as it is to over 90 percent of Nigerians, amicable settlement on who owns Nigeria’s land is not a reasonable option.
Reason number 2 is not acceptable to about 50 percent of non-muslim Nigerians and Millions of moderate and peaceful Nigerian muslims apart from its contradiction to Nigerian Constitution of secularity.
Nigeria is 65 years old as a secular state so, such a demand can not hold water without a long time loss of peace.
Religion is a delicate issue to tamper with. Even if it is a small fraction of Nigerians that any group or government wants to enforce a change of religion, it will be a long time battle with loss of lives.
So it is either the Government protects such religion as a secular state or the people will seek a possible help from outside the country as it is today.
So the second reason of amicable settlement with killers either actively or passively is not wise. It will lead to big negative consequences.
The third reason to ensure the failure of the present government towards 2027 is unorthodox and undemocratic. It is unfortunate we set this bad unethical precedence in 2015. But it must be corrected and not allowed to continue – heartless killing of innocent lives for political gain. Otherwise, what magic do we want to perform to build a peaceful progressive Nation on the spilling of innocent blood just to take over governance in 2027?
Without any doubt this third reason is not negotiable because democratic election is not by arrangement between few politicians but by the will of Nigerians at the poll. Therefore reasoning and amicable settlement with the killers is not a workable option.
What should the government do? The only option to confronting the killers is keeping silent till after 2027 and allow innocent lives to continue to be wasted in thousands. This will.make no sense.
A former president said his political ambition is not worth the life of a single Nigeria – that is from a sensitive conscience. So, the Government has no option but to confront the killers without hesitation. It is not only the right thing to do but the wise thing to do, to have a chance in 2027.
The longer this waste of the lives of innocent Nigerians lasts the less the number of Nigerians that will ever pray this Government continues beyond 2027.
Before the escalation and spread of this killing more and more Nigerians were having positive feelings towards the improvement observed in our governance but because of the present Ievel of insecurity believed to be due to the passive response of the Government, the above achievements are getting wiped off the mind of Nigerians.
2027 is in the hand of God who installs and removes rulers. He only uses men to implement his choice. Fear of stepping on the toes of very few powerful but wicked individuals at the expense of many innocent lives can never earn any man the favour of God for enthronement.
When a man does what pleases God, he can keep his life irrespective of many wicked toes he has to step on in the cause of doing what is right and pleasing to God.
Mr President please make your decision but please know for the sure 2027 and your life are in the hand of God and not man. I pray you will make the right decision.
