Friday Lines (47) With:
Dr Abubakar Alkali

On a personal note, I feel a bit down over the refusal of a Canadian entry visa to a former schoolmate, our CDS. Christopher (as we call him a very sharp and smart guy during our days in form 1 at vocational training centre (VTC) Gummi, Sokoto state in the 80s. On a non -personal pan-Nigeria note, i am actually very happy about the refusal because I see it as a good omen for our leaders to change their ways.

May be we could get it right if they do. Who knows?
Clearly, only the international community can prod our leaders to sit up. What we say or write as concerned citizens and political analysts does not matter to those in power in Nigeria today. They don’t pay attention to us at all, often times labelling all activists and lovers of the truth as ‘nuisance’ but we have to continue anyway because:

‘The greatest danger to a society is for those who speak the truth to stay silent’

A mere entry visa refusal has caused so much anxiety in Nigeria’s leadership circle today just as ordinary citizens like us adopt a ‘siddon look’ approach.

I see no reason for the trip allegedly involving 70 officers. Haba! In this era of economic hardship? When the Tinubu government is telling all of us to tighten our belts and brace for more hardship in 2025 and beyond? More taxes, 50% increase in telephone tariffs, Dangote potentially increasing his ex-depot price of petrol to N1,500 by December 2025? increase in electricity tariffs, tuition fees, transport fares, foodstuff, etc?

To make matters worse, the national security adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, in a brash and undiplomatic tone, told Canada ‘to go to hell’ Haba! Mallam Nuhu Ribadu Why don’t you stay on your lane ‘security’ and allow the Minister of foreign affairs, a diplomat, to handle the situation? Our NSA, your unguarded statement will not help matters. Rather, it will only raise further diplomatic tension between Nigeria and Canada.

Just to celebrate fallen heroes in invictus games organised by Prince Harry of England and his wife? Is it really worth the time and resources? Don’t we have fallen and/or injured heroes in Nigeria from Boko haram, bandits, IPOB/ESN attacks? Why don’t we face our own problems first? Why don’t we continue to honour our gallant soldiers fighting to keep us safe against Boko haram, bandits? Why 70 officers to Canada Invictus games just for Prince Harry and his wife? Is the estacode worth it?
A Boeing 737 max8 has a seating capacity of 172 passengers. If that aircraft is to be used for the CDS planned trip to Canada, his team would have occupied almost half of the seats (45%). Haba!

Away from the local dimensions of the visa refusal, there is an international dimension and lessons to learn from it.

The key lesson is that the international community is watching with keen interest as the Nigerian government systematically continues in its cul-de-sac amnesty to Boko haram,d terrorists. Haba!

No country grants amnesty to terrorists and killers. Amnesty is for political prisoners excluding those who want to dismember the country, trade unionists, freedom fighters, students, peaceful protesters, etc. Nigeria, with all its resources, has now resorted too lowly to beg and grant unconditional amnesty to Boko haram, bandits, and terrorists.

‘A weak leadership can only bequeath a weak nation’

Now, remember that the international community, including Canada, the U.S., France, and the U.K., are very sensitive and rightly so, to terrorism.

The international community doesn’t support the current de-radicalisation and amnesty programme of the federal government on Boko haram, bandits, and terrorists. More importantly, world powers, including the U.S., Canada, and U.K., do not understand or even trust Nigeria’s deradicalisation policy to bandits and terrorists.

Some of these ‘de-radicalised’ terrorists granted amnesty end up as spies for their terrorist colleagues in the forests. The constitution says these terrorists should face justice and not granted amnesty. How about the innocent people they killed, raped and maimed? Don’t these victims deserve justice?

Neither the U.S. nor any nation on earth will grant amnesty to home-grown terrorists who are within territory. You can only engage foreign-based terrorists through diplomatic channels outside territory with a view to understanding their network and diplomatically disarming them and strengthening your defence.

The Canadian entry visa refusal to our CDS is the latest message yet from the international community that they don’t trust Nigeria’s amnesty policy to Boko haram, bandits, and terrorists.

The amnesty policy is not working. More attacks happen as more amnesty is granted, so what’s the point?

This so-called de-radicalisation and amnesty policy to terrorists should stop, and the law should be applied to hand justice to bandits and terrorists.

What is required to fight terrorism in Nigeria is not amnesty but new laws (including capital punishment), special military courts, new judges, equip local vigilante, and the use of technology.

Potentially, more entry visa refusals by the U.S, Canada, the U.K, France etc to our governors, ministers, senators, members HoR, and other top government officials including our President is on the way if the federal and state governments continue to glorify and grant the so-called amnesty to Boko haram, bandits, secessionists and all terrorists. All criminals should face justice.

A word is enough for the wise.