But seriously …how does Buhari sleep?

By Etaghene Edirin…

As a young graduate who had just concluded the compulsory National Youth Service Corps scheme in Jos, Plateau State, I witnessed firsthand, the first ever bloody religious riot that engulfed the peaceful and serene city in 2001.

I witnessed how humans were slaughtered like chickens and goats by fellow humans just because they did not practice the same religion.

Some people were bound, legs and hands, tyre placed on them, fuel poured on them, and they were roasted alive. Some were beaten to stupor with sticks and metals, until they could barely move a limb, save to groan for mercy. Their tormentors not satisfied with this will then set the victim ablaze, or slice their throat and watch them bleed to death, even while still hitting the victim with whatever weapon they could lay their hands on.

It was an experience that makes me cringe, even till this day.

Even after sanity was restored to the city by a combined team of the police and the Nigerian Air Force, I could not sleep properly for several days, as I kept hearing the cries of victims, and seeing flashes of those being killed, as I was lucky to have escaped.

There is no denying it, even seasoned or professional killers, or those who have to kill people while performing legitimate duties defending their countries, or other people still need therapy to overcome the trauma of remembering what they have done, and gone through, at least those who still have some humanity in them.

The first, and primary purpose of any government is to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of citizens. However, Nigerian political leaders have lost sight of this fundamental basis for the existence of any administration. Maybe, they don’t know this in the first place, or know it but just don’t care!

Read also: Where is the Nigerian opposition?

But it seems politics and the struggle for power, via offices as a means to improve personal, and familial status, seems to have deadened the consciences, beclouded the thinking and negatively impacted on the humanness of occupiers of exalted offices of authority in the land.

If not, how does one fathom, that criminal elements in whatever name parade the length and breath of the country, wrecking havoc and slaughtering innocent people, even babies in their sleep.

What explanation suffices to justify why marauders now tagged herdsmen are on a free raid, unhindered as they invade villages, killing, maiming and displacing inhabitants, but government and security agencies paint a picture of hopelessness in dealing with the situation.

How does one comprehend, that an innocent young girl, has been in the den of a murderous terrorist group for well over two months, since she was snatched away because her parents dared to send her to school.

The girls were 110 in number, after negotiations, 104 were set free, five died in captivity. But Leah Sharibu is still being held by the terrorist, because she reportedly refused to renounce her religious beliefs.

One would have thought that anyone in a position of leadership, or authority who can make a difference in these cases would not rest or sleep proper, until this little girl is set free, reunited with her family, and the perpetrators dealt with to send a clear message that such atrocities will not be tolerated by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Instead, Nigerian leaders, from the executive to the legislature, even the security agencies, act as if it is just another day, another count, another incident in a long list of issues that have to be handled when time and exigencies allow.

The question that bugs my heart daily, is; how do they sleep at night? Are we to believe that they care-less what the man and family on the street goes through, since their own families and daughters are safe and secured?

 

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