Senator Maina Lawan a former governor of Borno State
disagrees with the number released by various sources in the Baga massacre. The
initial number reported by the media stood at 185. The Red Cross maintained
there were 187 dead. The Army high command in contrast put the casualty figure
at over 30 including terrorists and a soldier. The Senator puts his figure at 228
higher than previously reported by the Red Cross and reporters.
The senator expressed worries that the community will
descend into an epidemic state if aid and relief materials reaching the
survivors were not hastened up with. He described the situation in Baga as a
humanitarian crisis while disagreeing with the figures released thus far. The senator appears to be in a better position
to make these declarations as he says he spent two days in the ravaged
community.
TRIVIALIZATION OF THE ISSUE
You will recall that the president had dragged his foot
on reacting to the killings. When he did, he chose to trivialize the number of
the dead as being exaggerated by the international media. Rather than take a
trip to Baga, the fedora wearing president decided to set up an investigation into
the matter. Indeed, while the Baga issue troubled the nation, the president equally
insisted that corruption was “over-amplified in Nigeria.”
It is a worrying concern to well meaning Nigerians that
trivialization of grave issues have become common place in our country. Declarations
that the number of dead civilians were exaggerated and that corruption is
over-amplified are typical examples of do not cry wolf when a pack of wolves
overtake the flock.
One dead Nigerian is a great number. There is no such
thing as exaggeration of the number of dead people. Just as there is no such
thing as “over amplified corruption.” A spade needs no other name than a spade.
A prompt reaction condemning the killings and condolence with the dead would
have been most appropriate. Sadly, our president chose to trivialize the issue
by contesting the number of the dead whose sole guilt was their innocence. Civilians
whose deaths could have been avoided had commanders of the JTF chosen not to
trivialize civilian presence while engaging terrorists.
That magnitude of trivialization is a reason to inaction.
Need a thousand lives die? Needless, the reaction would have been the same exaggerated
or not by the international media. Sadly, there is little urgency to issues of
grave concern in Nigeria. But it is not just the presidency that exhibits this
attitude, Nigerians generally are indifferent on issues where they are not
directly affected. Make them the victim the next minute and see a totally
different person.
Whether as an office or person, indifference and
trivialization have eaten deep within our society. These attitudes suggest
inaction to a burning house or to rescue a drowning man. Clearly, there is
urgent need to rethink our national consciousness and sense of urgency to
issues. Corruption Mr. President is at a worse state than over-amplified. More
than one dead person in Baga should have been sufficient to require urgent
reaction and action.
So many other issues have been ignored where they should
be put on the front burner. This is a time when we must move with the urgency
of now to meet the issues that challenge our nation at the gate. It is these exaggerated
deaths and over-amplified corruption that grows large and develops lives of their
own because there was no stitch in time that just might have saved nine.
Once again, may God grant the dead in Baga, a peaceful repose.
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