Nigerians are avoidably facing some serious socio-economic and security challenges. But those worst hit—the poorest of the poor—seem not to understand the source of their issues neither do they ever think that their situations could be anything better. This brings to mind, the third serious issue with Nigerians —religion. Most Nigerians seem to be at the extreme points of the two dominant religious influences: Christianity and Islam. In expression of their faith, Nigerians seem to be insulated from all logic and realism.
The number of terribly poor Nigerians has risen sharply, overtaking other hitherto most vulnerable countries like India and Pakistan. But it is funny that the most affected people do not see any problem with that. According to a recent survey by the UNICEF, the largest clusters of poorest Nigerians can be found in the states of Nigeria’s North-East and North-West. These people are so poor that they live below half a dollar per day. And they earn their living by depending on the nearest person for their survival.
Nigeria’s North also owns the largest portion of the country’s share of global insecurity. Between 2015 and January 2019, no fewer than 32, 000 people have been reportedly killed by the combined forces of Boko Haram and herdsmen. And the number consists of 95 per cent Northern peasants.
Latest report by the International Organisation for Migration says there is an upsurge in violent attacks in crisis-ravaged North-East Nigeria since 2015. Between November 2018 and January, 2019, 59,200 people were displaced in that particular region.
When these people are displaced, they find ‘refuge’ in the worst places to be: Internally Displaced Persons’ camps. The IDPs are not in any way living any good life because of widespread corruption in the ranks of the military and other officials who are in charge of their well-being. There have been reports of how the authorities stole the reprieve meant for the displaced persons. Items donated to the IDPs by good-spirited individuals and international humanitarian agencies find their way into the open market where they are sold for the gain of government officials. On Monday, the IDPs protested neglect.
Armed extremists, notably, Boko Haram militants, contributed to the humanitarian crisis in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, and this has spilled over into the Lake Chad region.
The government of President Muhammadu Buhari has not been able to improve the security and economic lives of the people. His body language has exacerbated the burning issues instead of abating them.
In the areas of insecurity, the poor civilians continue to bear the brunt of conflicts that have led to widespread forced displacement and violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws.
On the economy, the worst-hit are the poorest of the poor. And at the same time, ironically, the poorest of the poor are the major supporters of the government which has inflicted so much poverty and death on them.
The massive turnout and following by the Northern youth at the last political rally of the All Progressives Congress in the Northern states was evident. This writer self-sponsored a trip to Kano to cover the rally and conducted some survey on the reasons for the intimidating following for Buhari. The result of the survey confirmed my earlier conviction that millions of President Buhari’s supporters do not have any reason for showing their support.
When we asked some members of the multitude why they preferred to re-elect Buhari for another term of four years, the answer they give us was ‘Sai Baba Buhari’. Their support was not that Buhari would solve their economic or security challenges. In fact, most of them did not even know that there were economic challenges in the first place. They did not understand that their lives could be anything better if right things are put in place.
Nigeria is at a crossroads presently. By the 2019 elections, opportunities dangle before Nigerians: an opportunity to elect leadership that can re-float Nigeria’s economy and improve on the well-being of her people. There is also an opportunity to forestall further degeneration of security challenges for people living in Nigeria. And, there is also an unfortunate opportunity for Nigerians to ignore all the other opportunities and re-elect Muhammadu Buhari.
Fatoumata Oumar is Editor at Discover Africa News
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