OPINION: My northeast experience and prayers for President Buhari by Brown Adeyemi

OPINION: My northeast experience and prayers for President Buhari by Brown Adeyemi

Editor's note: In this piece Brown Adeyemi, a development consultant based in Lokoja writes on the fight against terrorism by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

Adeyemi also narrates his experience visiting the northeast region of the country not long ago.

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“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayer, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” 1 Timothy 2:1-2.

I am excited about the happenings in northeast Nigeria. I also marveled at what I saw on the ground, which is a complete departure of what we read on the pages of newspapers every day. I must add that I was somewhat confused and wondered if it was the same northeast Nigeria that was ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgents that I had visited.

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In Nigeria, we must admit that it has been such a herculean task when it comes to leadership. Since the advent of our democratic experience in 1999, Nigerians have reeled under various leaders whose actions and inaction brought out the best, as well as the beast in us. In all of these, I can't help but heap praises on President Muhammadu Buhari for his leadership strides, especially in the rebuilding of the economy of northeast Nigeria.

I know some might be wondering why I started this piece with prayers from the scriptures. Some might also want to ask what is in northeast Nigeria that is worth celebrating given the wanton level of destruction occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency. But I have a shocker for this category of people.

Since the Boko Haram crisis started in northeast, Nigeria, it has been quite an emotional one for me having lived my childhood years in the region. In those years, I recall how we use to transverse Borno to Yobe, Gombe and Bauchi states. I also remember how bubbly the region was in terms of agricultural activities and when its harvest time it is also a beehive of activities with Nigerians from various parts of the country trooping en masse to for commercial purposes. Then boom. All of that stopped and the order of the day was sorrow, tears and blood—quite a sad episode.

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Since then, I hadn’t had the opportunity to revisit northeast Nigeria until recently when I took the bulls by the horn and embarked on a road trip from Abuja. Even though I was advised against a road trip, I still went ahead. I must confess that it was worth every inch of it and I indeed fed my eyes with nature at its purest form given the fact that we are in the raining season.

Life has indeed returned to northeast, Nigeria. Farming activities have commenced in droves, and, amazingly, this fact in northeast Nigeria does not make front pages in the newspapers. All through my journey through states in the northeast, I would say that the presence of security operatives on the highway was minimal. You could travel for close to 50-kilometre stretch before encountering soldiers on patrol.

You are not harassed or intimidated. You are only questioned if you looked suspicious. My journey was smooth, and I could not believe my eyes. I also wondered where the bulk of the information from northeast Nigeria emanates from. Could it be that some people somewhere sit in the comfort of their offices and conjure situations in their heads and pass such misinformation to the general public?

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I also wondered why the governors of states in the northeast also have not found it expedient to tell the real situation of things in the region. Maybe they find it politically necessary for such silence. But whatever be the case, and with what I saw on the ground in northeast Nigeria, my joy knew no bound and I could not but sing the praises of President Buhari to high heavens.

For those that have not had the opportunity to visit any of the states in North-East Nigeria, it might sound too good to be true that indeed peace had returned to the region. But that is what it is, and all credit must go to President Buhari, as well as the Nigerian Military for bringing hope alive and for ensuring that the activities of the Boko Haram insurgent group are curtailed to the barest minimum.

In all of my stay during the trip and the places I visited in these states, I must add that there is however an urgent need for infrastructural development in some of the communities that were left devastated during the thick of the Boko Haram crisis.

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The various states government must rise to this occasion by ensuring that these destroyed infrastructures are rebuilt to complete the resettlement process in these communities. This is on the fact that since there has been the massive return of those that were displaced back to their communities; it would only be fair if the government ensures that life returns to normalcy for them through the provision of necessary infrastructures.

My experience in northeast Nigeria is worth the while, and I am glad that President Buhari has indeed provided that leadership needed in the country to overcome our challenges. The experience has also opened my eyes to the realization that the task of making Nigeria great is not for the leaders alone. It is a task that requires all hands to be on deck and without exemption.

I also wondered who would have ever thought that the situation in northeast Nigeria can improve with the experiences of past administrations where over 16 local government areas were under the control of the Boko Haram insurgents, where monies meant for the prosecution of the war ended up in private pockets while the casualty figures increased dramatically daily.

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I must also add that if the Muhammadu Buhari administration had continued in the same fashion as previous administrations, restoring peace and normalcy in the northeast region would remain a mirage for eternity. If the leadership of the Nigerian military had diverted monies meant for the welfare of troops, as well as the purchase of arms, displacing the Boko Haram group from their operational headquarters in Sambisa forest would have been grossly impossible. And if the Nigerian Army has not risen to the occasion, my trip by road to states in northeast Nigeria would have been impossible.

I returned from my trip across states in northeast Nigeria with nothing but admiration for President Buhari for his extraordinary efforts towards the return of normalcy to northeast Nigeria. I also commend the chief of army staff, Lieutenant GeneralTukur Buratai for the way and manner he has led the troops in confronting the Boko Haram threat since 2015 and for no betraying the trust of the people unlike in times past.

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What the generality of Nigerians might not be aware of is the fact that the Buhari administration indeed got it right with regards northeast Nigeria and as citizens, we duty-bound to extend our support at all times. We must continue to appreciate the sacrifices of our troops in the trenches that have laboured day and night to ensure that northeast Nigeria is what it is today.

I returned from my trip across states in northeast Nigeria with nothing but admiration for President Buhari for his extraordinary efforts towards the return of normalcy to northeast Nigeria. I also commend the chief of army staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai for the way and manner he has led the troops in confronting the Boko Haram threat since 2015 and for no betraying the trust of the people unlike in times past.

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