Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: Welcome To Abuja-Kaduna Expressway
In less than two weeks, three audacious kidnappers’ attacks had taken place on Nigeria’s most busy road access to the commercial and industrial hub of the 5th biggest economy in Africa. That road is not somewhere in the wilderness.
That road is one of the commonest roads plied by all Nigerians. Hence, from the frequency of the attacks any one of us is vulnerable! That is scary, really scary! It is definitely clear that just like Abuja- Kaduna expressway has been rendered a no- go area by kidnappers and bandits, except something drastic is done fast to step up security on the Lagos- Ibadan Expressway, it may also be rendered a no- go area. I just shudder on the implication of that for the welfare and conditions of living of people already pauperized by a bartered and mismanaged economy.
If the truth be told, we no longer have any government at the center any one can count on to stem this pervasive insecurity, which initially most of us in a rather unconcerned disposition have seen as a problem of the North. Now the chicken has come home to roost as the evil is right at our backyard. What was once a distant specter has become common place in our midst.
If we cannot count on any meaningful counter response from the Federal Government, shouldn’t we look in the direction of the collectivity of the Governors in the South West to rise up to destroy this monster at our backyard before it ruins our economy and renders our land an arid nightmare? It is quite evident that the Amotekun’s governance response has been very ineffective in stemming the rising tide of bandits and terrorists from the North. This is not the time for party politics of pleasing the Centre or pandering to the political ambition of any one personality. The South West is under existential threat. Where are our leaders? We know who we are. With our education, civility and technology, are we going to continue to act helpless in the face of this invasion?Are we going to continue to play politics as “janjaweed” and ill bred scums from the wilderness of the hell of the Sahel turns our land into desolation? Our Governors are irresponsibly quiet at a time like this when their residents are under siege. No word of succor. No initiatives to calm scared and frayed nerves. Jide Sanwo- Olu, you are certainly not a wimp. Dapo Abiodun, is this time for a golden silence? Seyi Makinde, is the election a priority now as your people are mauled by marauders?Who do we turn to at a time like? May the Good Lord please have mercy and protect us. Amen!
