When Political Survival Surpasses Public Good

Nothing is new about the continuous killings across Nigeria by armed criminals that Nigerian leaders should protect the people fail. In the alternative, the leaders issue press statements helplessly condemning the gruesome murders!

But a change from the act appears strangely from the elite leaders in Plateau State making the whole scenario new as they have thrown away their individual or group differences and united amidst divisions that fuel insecurity destroying communities across the state.

The Plateau example teaches good lesson that with unity, leaders across the political parties, traditional rulers and elite professionals can move the proverbial mountain the society talks about.

The people accompanied Governor Caleb Mutfwang to the Villa and dialogue with the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the insecurity raveling their state. This commendable feat in unison exemplifies that service to humanity is greater than personal desires.

According to reports, that at the end of the meeting with President Tinubu, the visitors departed the Villa for Plateau with assurances of improved security conditions added to over two billion naira pledge by Tinubu to assist victims of insecurity in Plateau State.

The exemplary leadership style in Plateau State needs emulation, but above all, it is the result from dialogue that draws attention worth seeking from the elite politicians, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in Benue State why seemingly unwilling to unite in the manner Plateau stakeholders have done for guarantee of security to the people, especially those in the rural communities?

The seeming dislike for unity appears contradicting Mr. President's stance on security in the country on the basis of the seeming disregard for his invitation to elite stakeholders of Benue State to visit him in Abuja after he left Makurdi on condolence for the Yelewata reported massacre of over two hundred people! 

At moment, evidence does not exist of the honour to the President's invitation and the seeming failure gives room for presumption that leaders of the state may not be willing to honour the President and end the continuous murders in the state.

While the presumption stares in the face, what justification has the recent meeting of the most top political leaders who disguised as reconciling their political differences in Benue State?

If it becomes possible to sit and discuss political crisis affecting personal interests and reconcile for personal benefits, it would be possible equally to come together and strategize on ending the insecurity that has sacked people from their ancestral homes and live in the Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) for many years today? 

The inability to answer the questions may imply that personal political survival has priority over safety of people contrary to the oath of office to prioritize safety for the citizens!