By Maiwada Dammalam

Sad as the new spate of bombings across the country is, it's not enough to question the capacity of the new regime to put an end to the senseless bloodshed that was the first, middle and last chapters of the sacked regime of GEJ. Insurgency was a monster handed over to GEJ at infancy and he nursed it passionately into the mature and raging monster it is today. Amazingly, while it took GEJ 5 years to nurse this monster, some people seem rigid in their expectation of a President "Houdini" out of Muhammadu Buhari. Regardless of such "rabbit out of the hat" expectations, it's easy to see the humanly determination of President Buhari to provide a humanly solution to a crisis orchestrated by few to feather their nests.

Now the question. Why do the bombs always find it convenient to start exploding each time the right questions that could end the wanton destruction of lives are asked? Are these bombs exploding to distract the public from looking deeper into the crisis and the profile of the major actors on both sides of the divide? Certainly it don't add up when trillions of Naira is thrown into the crisis with nothing to show but new multi-billion estates owned by high ranking security officers that springs up with the ease of a mushroom in rainy season.

It's too coincidental that few days after President Buhari demanded for a comprehensive audit of monies spent in fighting the ongoing war in mostly N'Eastern part of Nigeria, suicide bombings, the modus operandi of the "insurgents" waging the war that seemed contained and we'll under control will return with alarming ferocity. Somehow, it gives one a feeling of desperation by the "insurgents" to convince the public that the war is actually as "expensive" as the "Generals" told us. Certainly, somebody with nil belief in the supposed fundamentals of the war is cashing in on the crisis and is either not ready to let go the "big business" the war has turn into or, is scared the bubble will bust hence, the "emergency" relapse of hostility.

Despite cynical remarks by mostly the foot soldiers of the immediate past regime and the large army of sponsored "e- rats" painting a gloomy picture of a Buhari Presidency, it's easy to see the flames of the war dying. The first step to winning a war is the willingness to fight the war and President Buhari is leaving no one in doubt about his determination to make Nigeria safe and habitable. It's a whole different thing if some egg heads imagine his plans will be published daily to be enjoyed along with their early morning "kain-kain" or coffee.

One thing that shouldn't be lost to any right thinking Nigerian however, is the fact that continued onslaught by the insurgents should, by no means be misconstrued as failure to contain the situation. If anything, recent bombings in some places across the country should be seen as nothing but desperate efforts by "insurgents" to remain relevant in the psyche of the nation to justify the generous security budget that's turning most of these "insurgents" into billionaires.

It's important for Nigerians to see this war for what it is and respond with the mindset required for winning it. Regardless of those behind it, this war is not a conventional war with identifiable enemies. It's a war which success defend more on unconventional variables than on variables like military hardware. It's a war that's so confusing that the enemy look just the friend on whom hope of salvation is rested.

Of course, there were expectations of magical results from PMB but, desperate as we may be for results we shouldn't lose focus of the complexity of the problem. It's good enough that nobody is denying the monstrous problem for what it is. It's good that unlike few weeks ago, Nigerians are now comfortable that somebody with the right credentials to tackle the problem is in charge. It's good we now have a team that inspire and encourage Nigerians not to succumb to intimidation by a cowardly bunch that wholly relies on element of surprise for success.

Perhaps, the best gain is the knowledge that we now have a team that will not play politics with lives of innocent Nigerians by deliberate refusal to act properly so as to cash on the benefits of the war which, next to oil was the biggest business of GEJ's regime. In this type of war, sincerity and strategy are siemese twins that most work together to achieve result. Vice President Osinbajo was in Maiduguri last week on a support visit to the region. When viewed against GEJ's votes seeking, bullet proof vest wearing visit to the region, one could easily see the efforts of the new government to deprogram the people of the region and lift them out of the abyss of hopelessness they were pushed into by the previous regime. Today, the know those at the top cares about their plight. They are now comfortable some people are not using the misery of the region as pin code to open the nation's vaults and increase the size of the pot bellies. Agreeably, even if the war is not yet won, it's not getting any worse as the situation is reacting favourably to the new approach adopted by the new regime.

Unlike before, we now have the military leadership command directed to move right into the heart of the crisis to take charge of the war. Previously, the war was fought "online" with the command centre safely leading the war from the comfort of their villas with or from the sites of their "blooming" upcoming estates. Today they are in Maiduguri where they are as much potential targets of each bomb blast as any citizen of the region therefore, as much concerned about seeing an end to blasts .

In one month he's been in charge, PMB have spoken to just about anybody that have a role to play in bringing an end to this madness. He was at different times in Chad, Cameroon and Niger to rub minds on how best to subdue a monster that's obviously out to consume the three countries and go even beyond. If you imagine doing so is a tea party certainly, you are a case worse than BH. Without the least military background, I can say with a certain level of certainty that not all wars are won by brute force and this is one of such wars. Even the most sophisticated military arrangement could be overwhelmed by an unconventional war. What matters is for somebody with right mental make- up, commitment and sincerity of purpose to be on the ground. Perhaps, that's what was missing with previous regime which aided the growth of insurgency from infancy to maturity with relative ease.

Considering the dynamics of the war, it's cynical to assume bombs will stop exploding in the N'East just a month after PMB is sworn-in. PMB is not a magician but a leader with the requisite credentials to lead Nigeria out of this mess given the required public support needed to deal with the complexity of the situation. Of course, to a novice the task may sound easy but, a more pragmatic view will prove that even nations operating with the best military tradition while being supported with the most sophisticated military hardware and software like US/UK are not immune to the dangers insurgency. On a single day, USA lost over 3000 people along with its pride on 9/11. Refusal to succumb to the ghostly tactics of the insurgents saw US coming out of the 9/11 attacks stronger and smarter to tackle a new unconventional source of danger to its public. It didn't achieve that in a month or even a year. Rather than expecting magic from former President Bush, USA concentrated on remodelling its sophisticated security system to accommodate the new threat 9/11 forecasted for the country. Today one hardly hear of a successful attack in US. This is the spirit emergence of PMB should stimulate in the Nigerian system not unjustifiable expectations of magical results.

.

Good write up. I sincerely share your view, I just hope people will understand that some wars are strategic, thus, forceful act is not the main application to these wars.









2nd to comment..






Gonna get there soon

I stopped after reading the first two lines, why are you change agents stii blaming Jonathan, Buhari didn't know he wasn't hoddini when he promised to eradicate book haram in two months. He had better fulfill his promise because that is why he was voted.

jackymfon:
I stopped after reading the first two lines, why are you change agents stii blaming Jonathan, Buhari didn't know he wasn't hoddini when he promised to eradicate book haram in two months. He had better fulfill his promise because that is why he was voted.

Pls have exercise patience to read the article from the beginning to the end before you comment.

Thank you.

Bros, do u expect me to read this epistle? Hell No!!