The Moment of Violence in Kastina, Nothern Hemisphere, Nigeria & The World at Large: We share in your pain. 

Like Jacqueline Woodson once said that “I know now that what is tragic isn’t the moment, it is the memory”.

Permit me to sympathize and empathize with the Emirates Council, His Royal Majesty, the Emir of Kastina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, the good people of Kajure in Kaduna state, those of Zamfara, Borno, the entire Nothern hemisphere and the world at large, be it in America, Europe or Asia where the waves of aggression, violence and killings have occurred.

It is sad, very painful and uncalled for the renewed hostility, especially at a time when we are appealing to the world leaders especially the United Nations Organization to see towards building a center for peace building and tolerance study in Kastina State, the home of President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), due to the peaceful nature of Kastina State and the level of tolerance for other tribes and religion. My visit to Kastina State revealed that indeed, Kastina is a model for other states in Nigeria when it comes to peaceful coexistence and tolerance for other tribes and religion which needs to be emulated.  It is however worrisome with the level of banditry, killings and kidnapping going on across the once upon a time “monolithic northern part of Nigeria”.

These waves of aggression and violence in the Nothern Nigeria should concern every right thinking Nigerian, bearing in mind that no meaningful development can take place in an Insecured environment. It is therefore imperative to call on all Nigerians both at home and abroad for our collective action against the security challenges facing our dear nation, so that the death of our heroes past and the sacrifices of our living legends will not be in vain. There is a prospect for new Nigeria, if we all collectively unite to build our Jerusalem which lies in ruin, irrespective of our religion, sex, race, creed and political affiliation.

As a social commentator, policy analyst and counter terrorist strategist, the effort of General Tukur Buratai counter terrorism approach must be commended, owing to the fact that terrorism is cheap and counter terrorism is expensive. However, there is urgent need to merge the strengths of the military with that of the people for a total victory. Efforts must also be geared towards the development needed in making Nigeria a better place, even if the need be to securitize such development as the first law of war is to preserve ourselves and destroy the enemy, with much respect to Mao TSE- TUNG, 1937.

It is in view of this that I want to appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), to find lasting solutions to end terrorism, banditry and criminality across the country.

Mr. President should also focus attention to building more on human capital development, infrastructure and increase budgetary allocation to education. In the spirit of the ongoing Ramadan, we appeal to all our royal fathers to pray for peace and unity. Also, the Major Gen. Paul Tarfa Led North East Development Commission and his entire team to hit the ground running with issues driven, development focused and people’s oriented approach required to fast track development thereby reducing crimes .

In conclusion, we salute the courage of the Governor of Kastina State for telling no lies and claiming no easy victory in telling the world about the worrisome situations. Nevertheless, as a beneficiary of the large heart and kind gesture of the Emir of Kastina during his glorious days as the chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, the Unity Party Of Nigeria U.P.N Kogi State Chapter wish to most respectively inform His Royal Majesty, the Emirates Council, the Nothern hemisphere and the world at large that, we share in their pain at this critical point, we pray that the souls of the dead continue to rest in peace.

It is on this basis, that myself and the nominated six people have arranged for a seven-man delegation to pay homage, condolence and solidarity visit to His Royal Majesty and the Governor of Kastina State to deliberate on lasting solutions that will end violence, crimes in Kastina, Nothern Hemisphere and Nigeria at large, since we have no other place to call our home.

May God bless the Emirates Council!

May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!

Hon Oluwaloseyi Solomon Babaeko was the U.P.N candidate for the Kogi State House of Assembly.