Federal Government Should Not Play Politics With This National Security Breach 

By: Shehu Bashir Esq

There is no other way anyone can define it, this nation just escaped insurrection and coup attempt. Coup or any form of insurrection and even civil war don’t just start spontaneously, people plan it, incite it, sponsor it, orchestrate it and execute it. It may not be known immediately who and who are behind it and the real motive simply because the field soldiers for the execution are often times the unknown entities with no root. However, when and if a deep and dispassionate investigation is carried out, the truth will be revealed. On this, the truth must be known.

In this case, unless the federal government does not know what it is doing, everyone involved in this fatal riot called protest should be investigated and prosecuted. This is with particular reference to the riot promoters who incited the violencc and the sponsors who financed the treason, directly or indirectly. They all hid under the disguise of protest to rain havoc on the fragile peace of Nigeria. It must not go unpunished.

Everyone involved should be investigated for probable financial inducement for this treason against Nigeria. Should money exchange hands from any foreign agents, local private individuals, opposition figures or anyone at all to any of the organizers of the riot, no matter who they are, everyone with criminal complicity should be made to face the full wrath of the law.

This is one so called protest that threatened the Nigeria statehood and still threatening it. It is still a precarious situation.

This is one protest that promoted agenda for military coup. This is one protest that encouraged and committed arson. This is one protest that led to the looting of private businesses and destruction of private and government properties. This is one protest that led to the death of security personnel. This is one protest that led to the death innocent people who did not even know why they were in the protest in the first place. This is one protest turned riot that induced insurrection. This should never be allowed to spill away without consequences.

Coincidentally, one of the so called international “defenders” of human rights faced (and still facing) similar if not worst internal security breach like Nigeria. As such, there was little international “poke-nosing” on our internal matter because they had so much too to deal with. United Kingdom was overwhelmed by its own internal crises at this time.

This notwithstanding, the UK government has vowed to prosecute the perpetrators of the criminal act of destruction in the riot in that country. The Prime Minister had to give a national broadcast to vow to deal with everyone involved even when such is just slightly complicit.

Take note that the UK is regarded as a “human right protecting nation”. Notwithstanding, that Kingdom is bleeding now due to that orchestrated violence. It is now furious to do justice against the violent rioters. That is the right thing to do. No country will tolerate insurrection against it under the disguise of human right activities.

Therefore, with the attendant ugly incidences of terroristic riot that ravaged the country, especially more in the north, the FG should take the bull by the horn to do the needful, to punish everyone covertly involved. All the diaspora sponsors should be reported to the government of the country they are resident for their involvement.

The federal government should seek for their extradition back to Nigeria for investigation and prosecution. Where their extradition is proving difficult, all their assets here in Nigeria, should be seized. Their bank accounts, mobile lines, should be frozen. Their traveling documents should be cancelled until they report back for investigation.

Similar things should be done to those who are still resident in the country. Their assets should be seized immediately while they are being investigated. Their bank transactions should be scrutinized and deeper investigations should be done on their communication. This is a serious matter and it should be so treated.

All the ones resident here who belong to one profession body or another should be reported to their respective professional bodies for professional misconduct. This is not the time for the federal government to “chicken in” and treat this with political correctness.

Let us stop making a hero out of the people who feed on Nigeria in crises time. Let us stop celebrating unpatriotic elements who incite violence against Nigeria under the disguise of activism but purely for personal gains. Heaven will not fall if the right thing is done the lawful way. Nobody is above the law.

If nobody is legally prosecuted and penalized for this insurrection attempt, some of other disgruntled individuals will do worst in the nearest future. The federal government has a choice to either decisively deal with this insurrection attempt or indulge it.

GOD IS HERE.