by Tunde Leye

In the North East, we have lost territory. We cannot keep our citizens’ lives and properties secure there. What is worse, the government announces dubious ceasefires with the insurgents when it is evident to all that they have been dealing with charlatans.

One of the worst things that a country can be plagued with is a government to whom the most important things are not the really important things. The members of the Nigerian government, headed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria swear to the uphold the constitution of the Federal Republic with all their might.

Now, let us juxtapose the events of the previous week, the actions, inactions and reactions of the government with the stated goals of the constitution.

The preamble of the constitution reads as follows

“We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Having firmly and solemnly resolve, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God, dedicated to the promotion of inter-African solidarity, world peace, international co-operation and understanding”

Nigeria is meant to be one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation. The primary role of the armed forces is to keep it so and our government must not settle for any options that will negate this most important portion of our constitution. Boko Haram has clearly expressed intent to take away territory from Nigeria. In fact, they have gone beyond an expression of intent and have effectively taken control of parts of our territory. Within this context, except the government is willing to let go of territory, an action which will violate our constitution, there is no reason to negotiate a ceasefire with such belligrents. As I have said repeatedly, the only real option that we must explore is to defeat Boko Haram militarily and then degrade their ability to wage guerilla hits and bombings and take back our full territory. It is only then that we can begin any negotiations from such a position of strength.

There is one more portion of the constitution I would like to quote for this piece. It states the primary purpose of government.

“13. It shall be the duty and responsibility of all organs of government, and of all authorities and persons, exercising legislative, executive or judicial powers, to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of this Chapter of this Constitution.

4. (1)The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice.

(2) It is hereby, accordingly, declared that:

(a) sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority;

(b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government: and

(c) the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution”

(b) above clearly states what the primary purpose of government in Nigeria is. By using the qualifier “PRIMARY”, it clearly relegates every other function to be less important than this one. In other words, where the government fails to fulfil this purpose, that government has failed to fulfil the most important reason the constitution that gives it legitimacy provides for its existence.

In spite of the media blackout that North Eastern Nigeria is shrouded in, through social media and reports from actual survivors of the repeated rampages of Boko Haram, the government has failed in its primary purpose to the Nigerians in the North East. It is particularly appalling that the government has forgotten this and is preoccupied with the returning to office and all the politicking that the general elections of 2015 will bring.

In the North East, we have lost territory. We cannot keep our citizens’ lives and properties secure there. What is worse, the government announces dubious ceasefires with the insurgents when it is evident to all that they have been dealing with charlatans. Clearly, government has failed these people and they are not fazed by the magnitude of this failure. We the people demand that our government does the thing they are sworn in for – uphold the constitution.