Who is Nyako Speaking For?

I am one person that believe that we can overcome the menace of extremism and violence only by uniting. Hence, I have been excited by the enormous show of solidarity among Nigerians following the Nyanya bomb blast and the Chibok abduction. Although some people, especially politicians, are still intent on placing their personal goals over and above national interest in these critical times, it remains a source of encouragement to hear a lot of voices of reason.

It is in the light of the above that I want to publish this article by Segun Adeniyi on the recent letter by Governor Nyako to his Northern colleagues. I found it worthy of reading. Enjoy!

"I have learnt enough over the years that when Nigerian politicians play the politics of either religion or ethnicity in defence of “their people”, it’s either they want to cut some personal deal or they seek to secure some political advantage. Many of us were witnesses to that during the aborted Third Republic in the early nineties when some prominent Yoruba politicians would “stand on June 12” by the day and yet be doing business with the military by night. Unfortunately, because they understand the gullibility of the Nigerian people, our politicians play this old trick all the time and they almost always get away with it.

It is therefore within that context that I am not surprised that the Governor of Adamawa State, Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd.) has suddenly become rather popular among some Northern politicians. It is not that he has been able to solve the myriad of problems afflicting his state or that he has become a better manager of their resources. All he did to earn his current “fame” is to have released to the public a badly written “memo” on behalf of his “Northern people” that is as dangerous to the health of our society as it is unbecoming of a man of his status. Yet, whatever may be our personal misgivings about President Goodluck Jonathan’s leadership, the most important issue at this point should be how to secure our country. What Nyako’s memo has done is to make that task much more difficult than it already is while laying bare our delicate fault-lines as a nation. Continue reading..."