The Python Dance in the South East

The Python Dance in the South East

There has been serious tension in Nigeria since the president embarked on a sick leave that lasted more than three months. Some embittered people wished him dead as a result of frustration of living in Nigeria, some well meaning Nigerians prayed for his recovery and at the same time for him to resign, while some selfish and pretentious persons have been enjoying the madness of Napoleon leadership style, and trying hard to justify the situation.

On return to Nigeria from his sick leave, Nigerians welcomed their president and while expecting him to resume duty and address the ugly situation of things in the country, instead of listening to his sheep as a good shepherd would, instead of using words that will ease the pains of his people, instead of brainstorming to find a workable solution, our dear president added fuel to the already ignited fire by his words of stubbornness. Is it not a good practice for a father to listen to his agitating children to know what their problem is and make things right? Is it not a common practice for parents to know that all is not well when almost all their children are crying? Would they not rally round to find a workable solution? Agitations has been ongoing in different geopolitical zones of the country before and after our dear president embarked on his sick leave, and has continued even at his return, yet, all we ever see is negative approach and strategy that only aggravate the situation instead of solving it.

The approach or strategy of deploying the military to the South East tagged Python Dance is a useless approach to the insecurity situation in the country because South East is the least place for that. If there should be a military parade on armored vehicles, then it should be in the north were Boko Haram group are destroying lives and properties with bombs and guns. It should be in the north where the Arewa youths have given the South Easterners quit notice to vacate before October 1^st. The military should go there and parade with or test-run their armored vehicles. They should go there to protect lives and properties and see to it that the inhabitants of the north are safe come October 1, 2017. They have no business in the East with peaceful people who are only agitating. There is freedom of speech in Nigeria and everyone has the right to free speech. If it happens that anyone abuses this right, it is only right for the person to be taken to the court and tried. The military should desist from intimidating innocent citizens and instilling fear in them. They should desist from provoking people who are only agitating. This is not to support what the IPOB group is doing but to call a spade a spade. They are not destroying lives and property and therefore, it is unconstitutional for the military to provoke them into doing anything harmful in the name of Python dance. Are we still practicing democracy or are have we gone back to military regime? Nigeria is not a lawless nation. We have laws, we only know how to make laws but we don’t keep them. Why is it difficult for us to apply the laws we have made and give equity a chance?

A Kite that is gliding stylishly, lower than its altitude has a secret and selfish mission, which is mainly to grab a chick it has sighted. Pythons are ambush hunters; which means that they lie in wait for their prey and launch a surprise attack. Why is the Python dance launched around the residence of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu; why Abia state and why the South East? Who is fooling who? This only suggests that Nigerian Army is consciously converting this group to a terrorist group by way of provocation. Any polity where people do not talk or agitate about what is going on is either filled with very happy people or zombies, and from all indications, Nigerians are neither happy people nor are they zombies. The hate speeches and agitations are conflict situations meant to help our leaders to identify the loopholes within their leadership boundaries and work towards them. Wise leaders create something good out of conflict situations; but no, our leaders seize the opportunity to exercise their veto powers and silence their subjects. The Federal Government ought to be making consultations and looking for a workable solution and not the other way round.

It is obvious that we only have gold diggers and opportunists parading themselves as leaders in Nigeria. There is no leadership and no control.

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi