Chibok Gate: Decisions and Indecisions
oral evidence – hard evidence = fiction, oral evidence + hard evidence = fact…Ena E. Orugbo
The Chibok saga has brought to the fore existing fault lines within the Nigerian establishment. It has also sprouted posers which signal that a cold war exists between the Borno and Federal Government's. For example, why would these critical stakeholders at a critical junction such as this in the nation's timeline take different postures on the same issue? However, the postures of these stakeholders are not isolated but end results of decisions and indecisions. An x-ray of decisions and indecisions of these critical stakeholders becomes inevitable. This piece seeks to scan decisions and indecisions of critical Chibok Gate stakeholders with a view to plug in missing pieces and better understand the logic behind the Chibok puzzle.
The Military
The military was the first to take painstaking decisions and step on the information landmine accompanying the Chibok abduction. A statement was issued depicting that the hijacked damsels had been rescued, the Borno state Government kicked. The Military retracted the earlier statement that the damsels had been rescued. However with a master stroke, the military wisely decided to transfer the responsibility for information management on the Chibok debacle to the Borno state Government. This was a smart and tactic step because the military after detailed analysis must have realized that hundred more information landmines exist in the pathway to resolving the Chibok imbroglio.
The Government
The Borno State Government curiously accepted to manage information on the Chibok quandary even with a state of emergency in Borno. It might be correct to hypothesize that the Borno Government was saturated and willing to go any length to ensure this issue was resolved. In addition, the Federal Government maintained a dignified silence for a while after the unfortunate incident. Recent events point that the Federal Government may have been buying time and wore the veil of susceptibility to bring in western nations and their capabilities to crush the menace. However the dearth of synergy between the Borno and Federal Government's was laid bare with the Borno First Lady's decision not to attend Mama Peace's hearing.
Protesters, Non Protesters and the Media
Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili was first to organize a protest on the Chibok impasse and sure she stepped out with good intent. The protests have since taken a national and international dimension with local and international media taking the lead. Non protesters are not left out; social media has been agog with varying theories and views on the Chibok jam. This has introduced political and religious sentiments into the Chibok fix thus increasing its complexity. In addition, three schools of thought have been birthed. The first proposes that the whole matter is a hoax; the second postulates that damsels were abducted but fewer than reported and the last believes that 187 damsels are still missing. On which school of thought will you pitch your tent?
Conclusion
This piece has x-rayed decisions and indecisions of critical stakeholders in the Chibok problem. The stakeholders were selected on the basis of their statutory obligations and interest shown towards the Chibok mess. Findings from this piece show that tactic and impulsive decisions have been taken in the course of the Chibok voyage. Further results show that the Borno state Government took a decision to stop the Governors wife from attending Mama Peace's hearing and the Federal Government took a decision to accept support from the West. This piece recommends that the Federal Government closes ranks with the Borno Government to reduce the dust raised by the Chibok mystery and exploits the moment to do what is needful because indecision always cost much more.
Dr Ena E. Orugbo is a Forensic Decision Analyst/Public Infrastructure Expert