Mourning the Potiskum college students

One of the saddest things that has happened to Nigeria as a nation in the last few years is the menace of insecurity. I read the papers with tears the attack on some innocent students in a school in Potiskum last week. In my blank state, several unanswered questions kept running through my mind. Who is that man, that woman, that group who will rather see their own destroyed? Who will comfortably sit back and play the dumb master while houses are been burnt; while properties are destroyed; while human lives are wasted in Nigeria on daily basis? Who is that? Is it you, members of the Boko Haram sect; or is it you, sponsors of the sect.
Every time you attack and kill Nigerians, I ask myself; where we went wrong and what offence we have committed to makes you hate us this much?  Whether our sins are unpardonable, we, ordinary Nigerians feel what you feel, we suffer what you suffer, we cry in hunger every single day and we experience what you experience, so, why kill us? Why burn the little things that we look and hold onto for a better tomorrow? Why punish us by inflicting more pains on us? Ask yourselves members of Boko Haram, these people that request you do this, these people that sponsor you to do this, ask yourselves, where were they when Nigeria was heading to the rock? Where were they when Nigeria was crash-landing? Where were they when Nigeria’s population was growing and nothing  being planned to accommodate such growth, where were they? Have you asked them? For years, they ruled this country, they brought this country to its knee, they expanded the frontiers of corruption in Nigeria, lowered the standard of education, refuse to engage the youths.
We are angry just the way you are! In fact, we are not just angry, we are in pains. We look at other nations who don’t have as much as we do in terms of natural and human resources, yet, blossoming in all sectors. We look at other countries with same history as Nigeria but have landed themselves in world stage while we are still wallowing in trial and errors. We know that all these could hurt any feeling;  we know that all these could generate hate for your country men and women, for your own very existence, but how can you justify your actions with the killing of innocent Nigerians?
As I weep for the death of these young students, I weep more for Nigeria, a 54 year old nation that has failed to offer protection to her children. I weep because our leaders have failed us. We have been unlucky as a nation because we have had leaders that are so insensitive to the pains of the led. Nigeria is in pains and our leaders are feasting. Our country is sick and our leaders cannot diagnose her. Nigeria needs healing from her diseases, sicknesses and pains. Nigeria needs a surgical operation.
I weep, because truth, righteousness, modesty, zeal, excellence and hard work have disappeared like the dew from our beloved country.
The usual government response whenever there is a major case of insecurity or security lapses is to call for investigations that never lead to any improvement on the security situation. Whether we accept it or not, Nigeria is steadily sliding into a state of lawlessness. Institutions that should respond promptly to the needs of the citizens are non-challant and inactive.
The evil in our society today is so alarming that if nothing is done fast we will all perish. Where lies our hope then when nobody is sure of what tomorrow will bring? There is no place in Nigeria that is safe. Assassins, armed robbers, forgers, scammers, liars, have virtually hold all of us hostage. Nobody trusts the other. Everybody is running a rat race, struggling as if there is no tomorrow. I weep for Nigeria, which in spite of its global fame, abundant resources, mighty men and women of valour is still a limping giant. We are told about the great exploits of our founding fathers who laid down their lives that Nigeria would survive. We read about their courage in the face of adversity and how they patriotically defended the sovereignty of our country with their blood. Their feats leave many of us in disbelief. But what have we done to emulate them? Nigeria as it stands today is in deep distress. For 54 years, we have fought over who should control its destiny. Every group claims it is its turn to rule. Even, those who held the reins of power for 30 of the first 45 years still lay claim to its leadership as if it is their birthright. Those in power say that those who fought in the war should not be trusted with power. But the war was a divine design to restructure Nigeria. We fought the war that Nigeria’s unity would be preserved. Even, those who did not raise a sword during the war, like my generation, are made to bear the repercussions of that war. What is the sin of my generation that it should be made to suffer for the sin of another generation? As we mourn our dear children murdered by the Boko Haram insurgents, I pray that God will grant them eternal rest and we also console their families as they grieve for the irreparable loss.