There is a saying of the Yoruba which goes thus: Oracle, if you cannot save me from my predicament, leave me gently as you met me. According to Shakespeare’s Macbeth, “It is not the deed that matters but the aftermath of the deed.” Whatever decision one takes in life, the consequences thereafter must be thoroughly weighed, before effecting such decision or action.
In short, the application of power must be in tune with the expected final result. In other words, power must be weighed against the effect.
It is imperative that in the final resettlement of the IDPs, security and means of livelihood of the affected persons must never be compromised on the altar of politics or sentiments, as human lives are involved
What I am simply saying or trying to say is that, it is essential, if not imperative, for one to take a leap or see before taking the jump, to avoid the plunge of an endless ditch. Starting a journey to a great destination is such a nice experience, but it is of no use if the journey does not end at the expected destination. It is of utmost importance, not just to finish a journey, but to finish it well.”
This brings me to the subterranean influence allegedly being precipitated from certain quarters with political undertone within and outside Borno State of recent, to fasttrack the return of some of the Internally Displaced Persons to their original homes without recourse or attention to the security implications of such hasty move on those affected.
For example, it was alleged that the concerned group was the mastermind of the protests by the IDPs from Bama Local Government area in one of the camps in Maiduguri, which agitated to the state government at the approach to the 2015 elections for the immediate return of the IDPs to their respective homes.
Similarly, of recent, a delegation of Bama indigenes, led by the Shehu of Bama, Kyari Umar El-Kanemi, was at the presidency in Abuja where it expressed its desire for the return of the IDPs from Bama at the camp in the state capital, to go back home soonest. Pundits pointed out that the meeting of the delegation with President Muhammadu Buhari, said not to be with the knowledge of Governor Kashim Shettima, was allegedly facilitated by one of the prominent aides to the President who incidentally hailed from Borno. As a matter of fact, sometimes back, the IDPs from Bama Local Government area in the camp in Maiduguri embarked on physical movement to Bama town, only to be stopped by the police on security grounds.
However, the latest response from the army with regard to the movement of the affected people back to Bama, indicated that the army was not averse to their coming home, but stated that their farmlands are still no-go areas.
Speaking lately in Bama town to a team on the assessment visit of Humanitarian matters regarding the IDPs, led by the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Hajiya Amina Mohammed, the Brigade Commander, 21 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier-General G.B. Audu, pointed out that while Bama town and its environs were largely safe for occupation by the IDPs, the army was still faced with the challenge of farmlands littered with landmines by the insurgents.
This according to Gen. Audu, would make farming difficult for the returnees. The Brigade Commander who spoke through the Brigade Chief of Staff, Colonel A. A. Adeleye, implored Hajiya Mohammed to impress it on the world body to fasttrack the clearance of the landmines from the affected areas, to enable the displaced persons to take possession of their farmlands.
Also briefing the team, the Borno State Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement of the IDPs, Professor Babagana Umara, said the state government had already reconstructed 11,000 private homes, 170 classrooms and school buildings, township electrification, and rehabilitation of 10 boreholes in Bama.
Before now, the state government had announced that by May 2018, all IDPs in the state would be relocated to their respective homes. To this effect, Governor Shettima’s administration embarked on massive construction of infrastructure, including schools, clinics and private houses in the affected areas. Already, some IDPs have been relocated to their original homes in places like Konduga and Benisheikh.
As a matter of fact, in his resolve to ensure that displaced persons in the state were properly resettled, Governor Shettima, on one occasion, moved temporarily the seat of Government from Maiduguri to Bama town, from where he was running from pillar to post, inspecting all projects relating to the resettlement of the IDPs in the state.
With the pronouncement from the army with regard to the final movement of people to Bama, the tension, suspicion, ripples or misrepresentation of facts generated either out of mischief, sentiments, politics or otherwise, between some stakeholders from Bama and the Borno State Government on the resettlement of the displaced persons from Bama, appeared to have been settled.
For the overall success of the present rehabilitation and resettlement programme of the IDPs, there must be synergy among all the stakeholders-the Federal Government, Borno State Government, the people of Borno, the Non-governmental Organisations, and other partners in progress with the state. Any division, misgiving, suspicion and bitterness, especially from within the Borno enclave, will have adverse consequences on the on-going resettlement programme, including possible loss of confidence of the International Community and other individuals or groups in the on-going exercise.
Borno State, in particular, has suffered greatly in this war of insurgency. It has witnessed unprecedented blood, deaths and sorrow. Of the over two and half million IDPs recorded so far, the state accounts for about 70 percent, in addition to over 100, 000 souls that had perished. The state now parades a legacy of over 50, 000 orphans and 60, 000 widows while a million houses have been officially reported lost to the insurgency. An estimated infrastructure destroyed so far stood at about seven billion dollars. The cost is still counting, so long the insurgency persists.
It is, therefore, imperative that in the final resettlement of the IDPs, security and means of livelihood of the affected persons must never be compromised on the altar of politics or sentiments, as human lives are involved.
*Izekor, a journalist, public affairs analyst, is a member of the Board of Advisers of The Point.
