That Nigeria is an ailing nation is a notorious fact. But what
irks is the way and manner its contradictions almost always find ways of
bubbling to the fore to submerge the inherent positive values of a people
otherwise marked for greatness. The case of the country seems to be that of one
week one trouble, ranging from the comical to the bizarre and the unbelievable.
Nigeria kills hope; enervates even the most endowed and inspired of her
citizens; and fritters away the goodwill of the world.
It takes a country like Nigeria to, in one breadth move close to
defeating boko haram terrorism and in another, deliberately recreate (by state
actions, inactions or both) the circumstances that led to the birth of the
deadly sect in the first place. What is going with the Shittes in Kaduna and
spreading to other states of the north is an example. The menace of herdsmen
who have become agents of death and destruction in the middle-belt and other
parts of the country in recent times is another. So also is the resurgent
militancy in the Niger delta. The list can go on and on. But the focus of this
column today is the fate of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) littered in
many camps and make-shift holding areas in the North-east and other parts of
Nigeria.
The situation with the IDPs has unfortunately become another sad
example of the contradictions of Nigeria; a representation of almost everything
that is wrong with us as a people forcefully bond together in a marriage of
convenience contrived by British colonialism. Images of malnourished children
from the camps are now juxtaposed with stories of sleaze by officials who cart
away food and supplies meant for them. It seems the country’s public officials
are no longer moved by fear of shame anymore. That is why a probe of this
highly distraught situation by the National Assembly is stimulating only a
half-hearted and haphazard response from those charged with the responsibility
of providing food and care for the millions of displaced persons.
The other day, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr.
Babachir Lawal, shunned a hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on
IDPs investigating allegations of mismanagement and misappropriation of
billions of naira voted for this unfortunate and underprivileged lot. It was at
this investigation that the nation was shocked with disclosure that N270million
was allegedly used to clear grass in the IDP camps where hunger and diseases
are threatening to finish up the blood-sucking campaign of destruction which
boko haram started. Another frivolous expenditure of N188.69 million allegedly for
Nigerian refugees living in Minawao, Republic of Cameroon also came under spotlight. About N12billion was voted for the
Presidential Initiative on the North-East (PINE) to alleviate the sufferings of
the displaced but a substantial sum of this money seems to have been deployed
to aggravate their misfortune.
Mr. Sani Zoro, Chairman of the Reps Committee rightly expressed
disappointment over the disdainful non-appearance by the SGF who “did not write
to intimate us on why his office would not come to explain why issues of
internally displaced persons have remained un-encouraging, in
spite of the billions of naira claimed to have been spent.” The lawmaker spoke
further: “As the secretary to the government under whose office the
rehabilitation of the North-East was placed, we had expected him to come to
throw light on the financial expenses made by his office. We also expected him
to explain the implementation framework being used to spend money. We have been
inundated by reports of diversion of materials and funds meant for the
rehabilitation of the IDPs, and the North-East and the scandal had led to
international embarrassment for the country. Given the issues of credibility
and integrity raised against the agency in charge of the North-East Initiative
(PiNE) which falls under the SGF office, we had expected him to respect the
invitation.” As I write, there has been no official reaction from Mr. Lawal on
these nerve-racking allegations against his office.
In a similar move, the Senate during the week commenced a separate
investigation of the IDPs situation. Its President, Bukola Saraki during the
inauguration of an ad-hoc committee for that purpose vowed that looters of the
funds will be fished out. He said the Committee chaired by Sen. Shehu Sani, the
renowned ex-civil society activist from Kaduna State, has a mandate to act on
behalf of the displaced 4.5 million families in the North East who are in
desperate need of assistance; another 1 million in danger of extreme
malnutrition; and the over 2 million who are beyond the reach of aid. “The
whole world is watching. We must ensure that there are no cover-ups as this is
the first committee of its kind that has been inaugurated to embark on this
task,” Saraki told the committee, adding that: “The recommendations that you
will submit from the investigation will help us ascertain how much has been
spent in our response to this crisis, and will also help us improve our
coordination efforts so that the international community will have confidence
in us.”
Speaking with the air of someone fully aware of the burden placed
on his shoulders, Sen. Sani expressed readiness to deliver on the task. “It is
alleged that billions of naira and countless trucks of grains meant for the
IDPs have been misappropriated and diverted,” he said, noting rather
regretfully that “this has been happening while according to UNICEF, an
estimated 400,000 children under the age of 5 will suffer from severe acute
malnutrition and more than 4 million people are facing food shortages. It is
very alarming that the UNHCR has put Nigeria at Level 3, being the highest
level of humanitarian emergency in the world. At a time when our gallant troops
are winning the war on terror, some people are choosing to engage in corrupt
practices and self-enrichment. This is sabotage bordering on treason. This is
blood money.”
But while the trail of this blood money is being tracked by
federal legislators, good news about the recovery of 21 out of the over 200
abducted Chibok girls filtered into town. It has been celebration and
chest-thumping by the administration which has come under intense criticisms
for its failure to rescue the girls as promised during the electioneering
campaigns. President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday captured the upbeat mood of
his government on the development when he hosted the freed girls at the state
house and promised to turn their lives 360 degrees. “My dear children,” he
began, “this is a happy moment for me and for all Nigerians. I welcome you back
to freedom. It is a moment your parents, the nation and the international
community have been eagerly waiting for, since your abduction on 14th April
2014. These dear daughters of ours have seen the worst that the world has to
offer. It is now time for them to experience the best that the world can do for
them. The government and all Nigerians
must encourage them to achieve their desired ambitions.” For emphasis, the
President said: “Aside from rescuing them, we are assuming the responsibility
for their personal, educational and professional goals and ambitions in life.
Obviously, it is not late for the girls to go back to school and continue the
pursuit of their studies. These 21 girls will be given adequate and
comprehensive medical, nutritional and psychological care and support. The federal
government will rehabilitate them, and ensure that their reintegration back to
the society is done as quickly as possible.” That is heart-warming. But it will
be more than heart-warming if the hundreds if not thousands or millions of
girls, boys and toddlers threatened with extreme malnutrition, diseases and
death in IDPs camps are protected from blood-sucking vampires in government. In
that way, we can retain some hope that Nigeria is not an entirely lost cause;
and that we have not all become IDPs in morals, sense of humanity and
humaneness.
––Epia, Publisher of OrderPaper.ng is on Twitter @resourceme.
Source: THISDAY
No comments:
Post a Comment