Unending Chaos in Ebiraland

Unending Chaos in Ebiraland

Buhari Sani

The Ebira people of the central senatorial district of Kogi State have an interesting history. They were known generally for good character which is indicative of their name. Such qualities as integrity, valor, gallantry, honesty and hard work were associated with them. Religion, culture and tradition were the bedrock of their integration as a distinct social group in Nigeria with a common history, language, and world view. Their love for one another and even more for strangers is legendary. History is replete with several instances where such deep affection for one another had united them to pursue a common course.

This is why it is difficult to understand or rationalize the seemingly unending chaos and killings in the area today. It is most disheartening that gun fights have become a daily routine in this homogenous community. A whole generation of children is growing up in Ebiraland who have known no other life than wanton killings and hooliganism.

Fueled largely by ruthless political agenda and retrogressive clannish sentiments, violence in Ebiraland has become banal. Ebiraland is today as dangerous as the Niger Delta. It has more guns per capita than anywhere else in Nigeria. Yet, the state government is ringing its hand as if it is powerless. Traditional institutions in the area have been compromised, commanding no respect from the rampaging young thugs. The state government sees political benefits in the turbulence in the most vocal section of the state. If they keep killing themselves, it is reasoned, they will not be in a position to complain about marginalization. As for the embattled traditional leadership, such unending hostility distracts attention from the questions currently being raised about its legitimacy and morality.

Everyone ought to be concerned about the mayhem in Ebiraland. The needless loss of human lives daily should stir our collective conscience. The Ebira killings dehumanize all of us. Okene, for instance, is a strategic intercession between East/West and the North. Each time the town explodes, travelers experience a lot of hardship, taking tortuous detours to avoid the eye of the storm. The area is the nerve centre of commercial activities in the state. It contributes more than 70 per cent of internally generated revenue in the state.

One of the factors responsible for the continued political turmoil is its criminal neglect by both the Abubakar Audu and Ibrahim Idris Administrations. Since 1999, there have been no major state government project in the area that can engage the army of restive youths there. The Obehira – Ihima Road and Ege Roads which the state government claimed to have spent billions of naira constructing are already falling apart. Local government allocations are allegedly heavily “audited” before they get the five local councils in the senatorial zone. What finally gets to the local government is spent on salaries and overheads. Nothing is left for public works projects that can generate mass employment for idle youths.

State and local governments in the areas must urgently provide resources for the engagement of idle and vulnerable young people in the area. This is one of the ways to stop the political unrest in Ebiraland. The state government can no longer continue to hide its head in the sand as if the problem does not exist. It is time to confront it with sincerity and an open mind. It says a lot about the quality of leadership in the state that the killings have gone on for so long without intervention. The police are outnumbered, under-equipped and confused over whether the political leadership in the state actually has the political will to tackle the problem.

Political leaders from the area also stand indicted. They have not offered true leadership. Most of the dysfunctional youth in the area today were allegedly recruited and armed by politicians in desperate quest for power. The monster they created is threatening to consume them too as some of them can no longer go home because of the fear of molestation or being killed. It is unfortunate that Ebira is being represented or led by thugs who fought their way to power. The quality of representation is so low that Ebira people frequently compare their political leaders to the tenth eleven team of a soccer community.

Instead of mobilizing the people against economic and political injustices in the state, such as the lopsidedness in political appointments, in the state civil service and in the provision of amenities and social services, Ebira leaders are pursuing only their selfish interests. Calculations for 2011 or 2012 have been cited for renewed violence in Ebira recently. Instead of engaging youths in productive employment, Ebira leaders are restocking their armouries with sophisticated weapons such as Kalashnikovs, Pomp-action, Lars, S.M.G and even grenades.

It is on record that in February 2007, the Special Anti-robbery Squad stormed Ebiraland and arrested some thugs found in possession of small arms and light weapons, but they were bailed out by their sponsors and the case has not been pursued again. This sort of thing breeds impunity and allows thuggery to flourish. Last month, one of the local governments in the area decided to dole out huge sums of money these same hoodlums as part of its poverty alleviation programme. It led to more killings and mayhem as the beneficiaries fought themselves over the sharing formula. Needless to say that some of this money will go into the purchase of more weapons for more killings. By doling out such money, the impression is being created that criminality pays. Of course it is a well known fact that some of these thugs are millions who ride the best cars and live opulently. They have made thuggery attractive to thousands of young people.

The social dimension of the problem is to be found in the break down of the family system in Ebira. An average Ebira man marries many wives and still keeps plenty of concubines. A lot of wayward children are therefore produced in the process. These children are untrained, uneducated and left on the streets to fend for themselves. Such children often do not value either their own lives or other lives. They do not respect authority. They do not respect elders. They are anti-social. They need serious rehabilitation to be productive members of the society.

I would like to appeal to President Umar Musa Yar’adua and other leaders of this country to save Ebiraland from self-annihilation. It is obvious that our leaders have failed to disarm those they have armed. The state government is playing evil politics over the crisis.

Ebira people should desist from taking politics as an occupation and imbibe the hard working spirit of their fore fathers. The must end to the violent clannish rivalries. Ebira is too small to be fragmented along clans. Continued obsession with clans is a sign of backwardness. All progressive societies have gone beyond such atomization.

Similarly, abusive songs by folk singers should no longer be encouraged. Such songs are the triggers of conflicts. We must rebuild our family system to be able to impact in our children the sacredness of human lives, respect for authority and age, the ethos of hard work and honesty. Parent must be more responsible. They should not bring children to this world if they are in no position to look after them.

I feel greatly pained by the bloodbath in Ebiraland. The actions of a few misdirected people have stigmatized a noble and proud people. My heart bleeds for Ebiraland.