Anthony Iwuoma
A cleric, Pastor Mcflanigal Uche Uduji, has berated the Federal Government for what he described as unseriousness in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency.
The Head Pastor of The Glow Christian Church, aka Christway Assembly, Lagos, who spoke with Anthony Iwuoma also accused the government of applying double standards in its dealings with Nigerians.
According to him, “the government has not shown enough commitment to fighting terrorism in the North-east. Rather, it is covertly encouraging its exportation to other parts of the country through unrestrained attacks by Fulani herdsmen. The war against terror seems to be sabotaged from within and many of the managers it have turned into a milk cow. So much is being spent, yet so little gains are made. We were told some time ago that Boko Haram had been defeated. The terrorists became more menacing, forcing the government to describe its claim, as technically defeating Boko Haram. To me, there was no substance in the statement; it was only meant to deceive. What we hear now is that Boko Haram has been degraded. Whatever they mean by technically defeating Boko Haram or degrading it, the truth is that Boko Haram is showing more strength and government must show more seriousness in the war against terror.”
He charged the government to heed the people’s call for restructuring, adding that the recent creation of Amotekun by South-west governors was a step in the right direction.
“Nigeria is tottering because of the yoking together of dissimilar peoples by force. The British colonial masters committed a great crime against the people by forcefully bringing people from different history and culture together as a country because of their selfish economic interest. Be that as it may, the only way out is to restructure this country and allow the various peoples to run their own affairs at their own pace. The North has been dragging the country backwards for far too long but unfortunately, because the British found them easily pliable, they put them in charge of the military, a development they have continued to exploit to the maximum to the detriment of other sections. Why are they afraid? Is it not a travesty of sorts that only the Fulani occupy the highest echelon of the country’s security network, deciding the fate of sections of the country? How do you see governors as chief security officers of their states but yet do not have control of the police commissioners, who take instructions from Abuja? That is why I hail the initiative of the South-west governors, who took the bull by the horns by creating their own security outfit, codenamed Amotekun. I am, however, not happy with other zones for foot dragging in the matter. I had expected the South-east in particular to respond immediately by creating their own outfit. The South-east has been most hit but the governors seem intimidated, as if they are being careful not to offend the powers that be in the North. “
“You see,” he said. “The South-east has been officially penciled down for decimation since the end of the Civil War. Whatever other regions do and get away with, once the Igbo do the same, the military would descend on them with brute force. The atrocities against the Igbo are brazen and unchallenged. The South-east is under security cordon and nobody can move around freely unlike other sections. Of all heads of security agencies in the East, only northerners could be found doing the bidding of their masters. All this led to calls for self-determination, which was brutally put down. Unarmed members of Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and Independent People of Biafra, IPOB, are mown down at the least sign of protest. Even IPOB was proscribed and labeled a terrorist group yet marauding Fulani herdsmen are given free rein of terror on hapless people. Such double standards are not witnessed anywhere in the world. That is, perhaps, why the governors may be treading with caution. They took an oath to protect the people and they must. They should be bold and urgently launch the South-east security outfit.”
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On the way forward, the clergyman called on people to return to God, saying only in God could one find justice. “The world is evil. Nigeria in particular operates an evil system that is more like an evil cult; only the initiates have access. Therefore, the wary must embrace God, who is fair, righteous and just.”
Pastor Uduji described the rampaging coronavirus pandemic as spiritual. “God has allowed the Covid-19 affliction to draw man’s attention back to Himself. It is an Egyptian disease, which the Lord promised would not come near the dwelling of His people. The only way of escape is not in all these frenzy and panic measures but to remain in Goshen where the righteousness and grace of God rule.”