President Jonathan, the Commander-in-Chief has Chickened Out

The cancellation of the president's visit to Chibok
on any ground whatsoever is an abandonment of
the unwritten responsibilities of the office of the
President. It is now clear that the President and
his aides do not understand the scope of his
presidential responsibilities and this is very scary.
The President, for God's sake, is first and
foremost the Father of the Nation. In that
capacity he is the chief mobiliser and galvanizer
of the people.
The President is expected to give hope to the
people even when all seems hopeless; it is the
part of the functions of the President to show
courage when fear looms everywhere. What
manner of father would desert his children and
refuse to visit them on account that danger
looms in the abode of his children?
As one African writer puts it, whenever the
lives of others depend on us, one has no
right to fear even when one is afraid.
I am saddened, disappointed and embarrassed
that the President could not damn the security
report and visit the people of Chibok four weeks
after the unfortunate abduction of our girls by
the Boko Haram sect. The President ought to
have visited Chibok by all means and at all costs
to do his duty to our nation. By failing to visit
Chibok, the President has abandoned his
unwritten sacred duty to guide our people and
to be a beacon of hope.
This may not be an impeachable offence but it is
undoubtedly a moral dereliction which must
truly disgust everyone who values the exalted
office. Just a hug to one of the women whose
daughter was abducted would have reassured
our people that we have a father who cares. How
can the President rely on the security report of
the security agencies who weeks after the
abduction of our girls do not have any idea
about their location? It is amazing and
unbelievable that the President could cancel the
visit.
But is not the President also the Commander –in-
Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria? My position is that it would
have been better for the President to die in the
hands of Boko Haram and become a martyr than
remain in the cozy environment of Aso Rock. The
problem with this Presidential retreat is that the
people of Chibok and other parts of Nigeria can
no longer trust that the Nigerian State
personified by the President can guarantee their
security.
How can the people of Chibok think they are safe
in their own community when the Commander-
in-Chief is [by all indications] scared stiff of
visiting that small community? Even those who
love the President so much and think he can do
no wrong ought to criticize him for this
unpardonable retreat.
By Bamidele Aturu
Bamidele Aturu & Co.

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

22:54