Political expediency and overrunning political opponents

In 2013 under the Jonathan administration, over 60 security officers were killed in Nasarawa state for which no one was arrested or charged to court even though those responsible for the killings were not unknown.

It was at the height of the political struggle for Nasarawa state between the APC and the PDP, and the decision to turn a blind eye to these killings was not unconnected with what you can refer to as political expediency.

Today it is the turn of Borno State and the ongoing war between the Nigerian Army and Boko Haram, with the soldiers at the receiving end of confrontations that has resulted in the killings of many of them.

Communities have also been at the receiving end of what is turning out to be an unending war as people are killed, maimed, displaced, pillaged, kidnapped for ransom and life made almost hopeless for them.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umaru Zulum after surviving an armed attack in Baga he blamed on the army, recently came out to accuse the army leadership of being complicit in why the war against Boko Haram is unending.

Armed with his assessment of the military situation in Borno State, Governor Zulum led other governors of North East States to the Presidency to meet with Mr. Buhari only to be confronted again by political expediency.

Mr. Buhari is reported to have said at the meeting:

“Some of those that defeated us are sitting here. We know we are a developing country but we respect our country, otherwise, with the use of the army, the police and the rest of them, we could have overrun you.

We just wanted to show that we are humane and we are Nigerians. We will continue to do our best.”

What Mr. Buhari omitted to add was that the military and other security personnel played a substantial role in securing the victory of the APC during the 2019 General Elections, and in politics loyalty is well rewarded.

So just like in 2013, and just as politicians have repeatedly shown since 1999, winning the political war is much more important than addressing the myriad of wars and insurgencies that dot the landscape.

It is irrelevant that General Buratai and his fellow service chiefs have exceeded their time in office or worse are complicit as Governor Zulum as alleged or should be removed from office as the National Assembly has demanded.

The only thing that counts is that when the military and other security forces are required to overrun the political opponents of those in power to ensure they retain power, that they deliver on that mandate.

Whether these same security officers run into deadly ambushes in the hands of cult groups like in Nasarawa State in 2013 or Boko Haram, no one really cares as long as the political interests of those in power are secured.

With securing political interests comes the corresponding access to Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government that provides unbridled opportunities to help the politicians pillage the resources of the state.

So Governor Zulum and the other governors in the North East or all opposition governors for that matter including in the national elections may just find out that these current service chiefs are the ones they will be contending with in 2023