The precarious state of Internally Displaced Persons across the country has been addressed several times on this blog, international and local humanitarian organizations have also bemoaned the abysmal manner in which these persons have been treated, with government officials siphoning much needed supplies away from the IDP’s and often trafficking them or soliciting sex in return for basic amenties. We have brought to the attention of the Nigerian youth the inability of the government to close these IDP camps as promised especially in Borno state, and we’ve challenged government and the necessary stakeholders to live up to their responsibilities.

However, it seems in addition to all the indiginities the IDP’s have suffered in the hands of the government they are now being conscripted as both economical and political pawns  in the FCT. Yesterday April 23, 2018 while the Senator representing Kogi west senatorial district Dino Melaye’s house was surrounded by police officers, as reported by TheCable some members of the eight Senate paid a solidarity visit to the embattled Senator but were denied thoroughfare by the police officers on duty, while this was going on, one of them was heard saying “they will mobilise protesters.”

True to it, in less than 30 minutes, the environment was filled with protesters. Led by one Philemon Emmanuel they claimed no one has taken care of IDPs in Abuja better than Dino Melaye. According to the leader of these protesters, this was their grouse.

“We heard they have arrested Senator Dino Melaye because of the truth he has been speaking. We have not seen any senator that can speak the truth like Dino,” he said.

“We have more than 36 camps in Abuja and Nasarawa. It’s only Dino Melaye that can visit the IDPs. He gives us food items, drugs and books for our children . We will not allow any bad thing to touch him.”

What played out at Maitama with the IDPs is to say the least shameful, these IDPs have been impoverished so well by the powers that be that they are now forced into sycophancy as a way to survive. It’s a known fact that mobilizing for protest is usually a long term, carefully orchestrated event. Even for civil society organizations, it is near impossible to mobilise crowds in thirty minutes but for Philemon Emmanuel, he is a master of his craft.

With fast mobilization by his paymasters, the IDPs are ready market. What we’ve chosen to do to ourselves as Nigerians is what we will jointly suffer for in the fullness of time. This occurrence has show to us that those benefiting from the evils of the Boko-Haram crisis won’t pray for it to end anytime soon, however we will pay for it.

tosin adesina