Nigeria, the world’s largest black nation, on Christmas day grabbed world headlines for the wrong reasons again as a coordinated series of bomb detonations targeted at Christian worshipers went off in multiple locations in
the Northern part of the country, leaving scores dead in its wake.
From the New York Times which rarely features news events from the oil-rich nation on its competitive pages, to Reuters, the leading agency news outlet, and many other online news outlets, news of the attacks dominated the newswire on Sunday, Christmas day.
The coordinated bombing of churches in Mandalla, Niger State, out of the federal capital city of Abuja, and Yobe and Plateau States, left fears of reprisal attacks, even as the elected leadership of the county faces strong criticism for caring more about meeting international human rights standards than tackling security challenges that the government faces especially from the radical Islamic sect popularly known as Boko Haram – the same group suspected of masterminding the latest murderous attacks.
Several intelligence sources told sharpedgenews.com in Nigeria that the military and the police would have resorted to using brute force to put down the “wanna be” insurgents in the Islamic north, but for some elements in the administration who want the Jonathan government to be seen as protecting human rights in Nigeria, so that the country would gain international respect and attract direct foreign investments. But it is apparent that the country remains with a scary profile which continues to undermine foreign investment as a result of the free reign of terror.
At least a hundred and twenty people are feared dead in Sunday’s deadly attacks. Nobody is yet to accept responsibility for the bombings. However the faceless attackers appear to be succeeding at defining the Jonathan Administration as clueless and ineffective. It was a strong fear that dogged the campaigns as the team begged for votes up till last April. Analysts of events in Nigeria now blame the northern political elite and sour losers in the last presidential poll for orchestrating President Jonathan’s waning authority. “The North has exposed itself as having no God but power. Power is the only God that matters now, and they would do anything to have it back,” volunteered an opinion leader in Nigeria.
For a president whose ratings have badly eroded in recent months, a personal public appearance would not spoil any pretence to some renewing influence. But Jonathan choice was different this Sunday as he relishes his expensive Christmas meals and issued a statement through his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati.
Abati said that the president condemned the blast at the St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, in Niger State and the ones in Jos and Damaturu, in Plateau and Yobe States respectively, saying that they were dastardly acts that must be condemned by all Nigerians.
There is no rallying cry from the commander-in-chief telling the attackers that they would hear from him. Analysts believe that if he should sound a resolute, vengeful tone, the Nigerian people would stand with him. But the president simply said through the latest of his now ubiquitous statements that “these acts of violence against innocent citizens are an unwarranted affront on our collective safety and freedom,” asking “God, in His infinite mercies, to grant these innocent souls eternal rest, and give their families the fortitude to bear this painful loss.”
The president nevertheless reassured Nigerians, for the umpteenth time that “government will not relent in its determination to bring to justice all the perpetrators of today’s acts of violence and all others before now.” Nigerians no doubt are waiting to see his words put into actions.