Opinion
CHRISTMAS: WHEN DESPAIR CHALLENGES HOPE
By Gloria MABEIAM Ballason Esq
In Nigeria, many celebrated the 2024 Christmas without the merry. In the evening of Sunday 22 December, 14 people from Ari Doh of Ganawuri, in Plateau state, including a pregnant woman and a one-year-old baby, were gruesomely murdered. The Irigwe people believe that the murder was perpetrated by a combined operation of Fulani militias and security personnel attached to the Ari Doh Checkpoint, Sector 6. In 2023, it was more grim: 200 people were killed and over 500 injured in series of armed attacks that occurred between 23 and 25 December, 2023 in 17 rural communities of Bokkos and Barkin Ladi of Plateau state. To be clear, this is not a contest of murder figures; the death of one citizen is one too many.
The Ganawuri killings were preceded by lethal food stampedes in Oyo, Anambra and Abuja all of which claimed over 80 lives. The organizers of the philanthropic gestures have been arrested. The good they sort to do has now caused unspeakable pain. We must focus on the circumstances that have made these avoidable deaths possible: a Tinubu economy so harrowing that parents fling their children into arenas to lap up morsels to stitch body and soul together. These victims tragically exchanged hunger for their lives. It doesn’t get any more excruciating than that.
By Christmas day, the itinerary of mass atrocities would prove to have more in store: Nigerian military fighters bombed innocent people in Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities in Sokoto State, resulting in the loss of at least 10 precious lives.
The military claimed it was a mistake that intercepted their efforts at stamping out the terrorists ravaging the nation. The problem is this sort of mistake has become all too common and the number of innocent lives exterminated to reach terrorists is simply, unjustifiable.
The Sokoto accidental killings has added up with the “Ocean of Innocent Blood Flowing In Eastern Nigeria,” report statistics published by the International Society for Civil Rights and Rule of Law, which alleges that Nigerian security operatives have killed about 32,000 civilians and extorted N3trn in the South East part of Nigeria.
The said report also states that thousands were unlawfully detained and tortured, whereas over 6,000 were blindfolded or face-bagged and bundled at late night from the East.
In another breath, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports that N2.23trillion was paid as ransom to terrorists in twelve months. How dizzying does it get?
But what is Christmas if despair can muster such audacity to challenge hope? It reminds of King
Herod’s obsession with an infant- a preoccupation so extreme he was willing to kill thousands of babies to reach that one baby he imagined would rival his kingship but who in reality was born for a different kingdom.
I often wonder what threat Jesus posed, for even if He were to be fed the most potent baby formula; how could he possibly have grown exponentially enough to be a contender to Herod’s throne? Yet Herod would have none of it. The illogicality of Herod’s actions led to a nadir of suffering and the wiping out of a generation. Herod’s model continues to be used by tyrants today.
Take Hunger: With 70.8 million hectares of agricultural land, the seventh largest globally, Nigeria has no business courting lack and hunger.
Consider resource-related killings: pauperized villagers live on wealth mines and never really know why they are massacred until they learn that there are resources that attract organized killings. If the government holds resources in trust then that trust should yield an even distribution otherwise the principle of quicquid plantatur solo solo cedit (fixtures of the land belongs to the land) should apply so the people till their ground and live by it.
Turning to the tragic case in Sokoto, it must now be asked if military precision is no longer attainable and if collateral damage should be imbibed as state art. On 6th December, 2023 over 300 unarmed civilians were killed by Nigeria’s military at Igabi local government of Kaduna state while trying to exterminate terrorists. Surely, the unfortunate incident which happened barely a year ago, ought to have been a learning curve- assuming without conceding, that learning was needed on the execution field.
Amidst reminiscing about these tragedies I sat in a pew on Christmas morning as the President of the COCIN Church read from Exodus 3:7-9, a text I thought was unusual for Christmas. God, in that scripture heard and saw the misery of the Israelites in Egypt, the land of their captivity, and the Almighty decided to act by sending Moses as their deliverer just as He sent Jesus as the Saviour after seeing the misery of mankind occasioned by sin. The Preacher went on to urge us to keep our eyes and ears on human suffering and to act on it.
The hardship of Nigerians is man made. The angst will come to an end when people of goodwill resist the reign of despondency and in its place, enthrone hope; only then will the Nigerian people who dwell in darkness find light and the land where death casts its shadow, find life. Merry Christmas!
Ballason is the Chief Executive Officer of the House of Justice and may be reached at gloriaballason@houseofjusticeng.com
Ken Nnamani, a former president of the senate, says he did not beg Elisha Abbo, a former senator representing Adamawa north, on behalf of any judge after the ex-lawmaker lost his election case in court.
In October 2023, the court of appeal sacked Abbo and declared Amos Yohanna, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the Adamawa north senatorial election.
Appearing on Channels Television on Wednesday, Abbo said he was a victim of “miscarriage of justice”.
The former senator said Nnamani pleaded with him on behalf of a judge after he lost his election case in 2023.
Reacting in a statement, the former senate president described Abbo’s claim as “blatant lies”.
“My greatest surprise was to hear him state that Senator Ken Nnamani visited him to plead with him on behalf of a judge for the miscarriage of justice. This statement is a blatant lie. I do not know how Senator Abbo can boldly fabricate an event that never happened to buttress his allegation of judicial miscarriage against him,” he said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I have never visited Senator Elisha Abbo at his house or anywhere. Up to this moment, I do not know where he lives. I have never discussed with him about his case, or any case pending or decided by any court of law in Nigeria.
“The only time I met with him was when he visited me in my house. It was more of a social visit by him. At this meeting, we never discussed his case or any case. I recall that when the matter of his political career came up, I advised him to avoid controversies as a young politician.
“The statements Senator Abbo made regarding me and his case are all fabrications. I believe I have had a sterling and distinguished public service career. I am determined to maintain my integrity and commitment to excellence till the end of my life.”
Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources, says the federal government plans to commence implementing the drill-or-drop provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Section 94 of the PIA gives operators a period of three years to begin oil production or relinquish the assets to the federal government.
Speaking during the Cross Industry Group (CIG) meeting held on Tuesday in Florence, Italy, Lokpobiri said it is in the best interest of the country that all inactive wells go to work.
He said the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has provided every necessary incentive to ensure international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria run smoothly and profitably.
“Now, it is imperative for these industry players to match the government’s efforts with increased investment by announcing final investment decisions (FIDs),” he said.
Furthermore, Lokpobiri discussed “the challenges, expectations, and measures to enhance the sector’s contributions towards domestic energy needs and regional expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa”.
He emphasised that while IOCs have highlighted engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors as a challenge, “EPCs will not come unless they see strong commitments from industry players”.
“The government has done its part to provide the requisite and investment-friendly fiscals, the ball is now in the court of the IOCs and other operators to make strategic investment decisions that will drive increased production and sustainability in the sector,” he said.
“We must also recognise that domestic crude supply is essential to national energy security. The best solution to this challenge lies in increasing production, which will ensure a balance between domestic supply obligations and external commitments.”
The minister further urged industry players to explore collaborative measures, such as shared resources for contiguous assets and the release of underutilised assets to operators ready to invest in production.
The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a leading Pan-African student body, has commended the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Ogun State under Commissioner of Police (CP) Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, for its commitment to security and community engagement.
In a statement released on Thursday, the President of PSM Nigeria, Comrade Ambassador Okereafor Bestman, highlighted the CP’s efforts in strengthening collaboration between the police, stakeholders, and other security agencies to maintain peace and stability in the state.
“It is worthy of note that CP Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, has further fostered a harmonious working synergy between the police, stakeholders, and other security agents aimed at ensuring peace and tranquility in Ogun State,” Okereafor said.
The student leader expressed confidence in CP Ogunlowo’s leadership, stating that Ogun State is on track to becoming one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria under his administration.
He also praised the professionalism and dedication of the Ogun State Police Command in tackling crime, regardless of its scale.
Additionally, PSM acknowledged the Ogun State government’s continued support for security agencies, particularly in providing mobility and logistics to enhance their operational efficiency.
The commendation comes at a time when security remains a top priority for residents and authorities in the state, with ongoing efforts to curb crime and ensure public safety.