TwoCents | Nigeria: The workings of a failed state

Just a few days ago, it was reported that the advance team of the Presidential convoy carrying aides was attacked by bandits in Katsina, the home state of the President. Unknown gunmen opened fire on vehicles traveling ahead of the president's visit to his hometown of Daura, but were successfully repelled by the presidential guards. The attack was carried out on the same day Kuje medium security prison was broken into by suspected members of the Islamist group Boko Haram. About 300 of the 600 escaped prisoners still remain at large. Two major security infractions on Africa's largest economy, less than 24 hours apart makes your mind wander. As if these are not enough, there is a follow up report of inmates of Kuje prison threatening a deadly riot after correctional officers claimed a large chunk of money given to them by inmates for safekeeping was stolen by the suspected Boko Haram insurgents who stormed the facility. It is claimed that #82 million and another $36,000 has gone missing. Is this a prison or a bank? President Buhari who rode to power on the back of an anti-corruption campaign, promised to end the Boko Haram insurgency in three (3) months and improve security in the country. Seven (7) years after, Boko Haram is stronger and more emboldened than it ever was. The security situation, worse than ever, particularly in the North as Boko Haram, bandits, killer herdsmen, "Unknown gunmen" have a field day maiming innocent citizens. President Buhari promised to provide three (3) million jobs each year during his campaign but his time as president has seen Nigerians lose their jobs and relegated to poverty. Foreign companies have left the country in droves and taken their investments as well as much needed jobs to other African countries. Despite being Africa's largest economy, Buhari's tenure has ironically seen Nigeria become the poverty capital of the world. How are these things calculated? How are we Africa's largest economy with minimal industry, manufacturing, infrastructure, high unemployment rate, a continually sinking economy and a very weak currency? Interest rate hiked to 13%. Inflation is at an all time high. It is just baffling that we have a GDP of about $440 billion and our GDP per capita is a little over $2,000, yet majority of Nigerians are living in poverty. How is there this huge disparity between the official figures and the reality. In the real sense of it, security comes before development. Who will be willing to invest their hard earned funds in a volatile environment and without these investments, what and where is development? The attack on the president's convoy is an index of the Nigerian security situation. The president is the number one (1) citizen in the country and as such is meant to be the most secure and protected. To attack the president of a nation is to declare war. You'd think, who would be bold enough to attempt such but Nigeria has the answer you seek. I ponder over this issue over and again and I can only remember how the Buhari presidency has been in cahoots with these extremists and have refused to label them terrorists when their activities constantly scream in affirmation. Still, it doesn't make sense to attack their patron who has all but treated them with kids glove. There's something deeper and more sinister at play here. There's a narrative which those in power want to sell. Since the attack, I have seen many people on social media asking Nigerians to boycott the elections as nowhere and nobody is safe. "If the president can be attacked who are you?" The controversial blogger, Kemi Olunloyo made a whole post where she pointed out that the children of most of those in power aren't even in the country and so won't vote so the rest of us should stay home and not vote either as the polling units will not be safe due to the insecurity in the country. Some Nigerians are beginning to buy into this badly staged play. Again, I ask, if we don't vote, won't a new leader still be elected? The ruling class has seen that Nigerians are finally ready for a real change and in a bid to discourage the people, staged an attack on the president's convoy. Nigeria, already has all the WORKINGS OF A FAILED STATE but with all this, we're in much deeper mess than we know.

Other insights from Tari Ogbowei