Comparing the tragedies of Paris and that of Yola

Before we start blaming others, let's compare the Paris shooting and tyesterday's bomb explosion in Yola. 

(1) The press is allowed full access to the sites of the the tragedy in Paris but in Yola, we are yet to see actual pictures in the Nigerian media. Of course, the army would have cordoned off the entire area.

(2) Within 24 hours, the Chief Prosecutor has addressed the world to give a timeline of the Paris shooting in a press statement. In 9ja, enh? Did you say Chief what? Did you say press statement?

(3) Under 24 hours, suspects names started emerging in the Paris shooting. Here, respect yourself if you want to blame a specific religion or tribe. In fact, yesterday, I saw a "John" in the names of BH kingpins. We are watching to see where that will lead.

(4) President Hollande canceled his G20 trip, addressed the nation and within 48 hours addressed a joint session of their legislature. As if these weren't enough, they picked up an EU charter that has never been used in order rally all Europe to support them in fighting ISIS. Here, GEJ would have gone ahead to Turkey for the G20 Summit even if he is just observing. Don't ask me what the incumbent will do. I don't know. But it is saddening that a press statement condemning the Paris killings came faster than government's response to the latest Nyanya bombing.

The list is endless! Nigerians, irrespective of our tribe, religion, beliefs and whatnot, let's make our leaders do right by us by holding them account. There is enough time to sing their praises till eternity when they have done well. For now, GEJ is gone. PDP too is gone. It is time for Baba to make history himself. if not, there is fire on the mountain and by 2019, it will be too late to change anything. 6 months gone already and the promise on fuel is rocketing out of the Aso villa window. 

Did I hear one of my brothers from another mother shouting that Nigerians should stop complaining about fuel and walk or cycle in order to lose weight? He claims he cycles and walks too. Well, I think he was talking tongue-in-cheek because if I had the kind of public transportation system he enjoys in the UK where he lives, I would t even bother owning a car. Perhaps, the fuel palaver would t be a big palaver after all. But now that the "square peg" Fashola is in the "square hole" of Transportation Ministry, we do sincerely hope that with more money at his disposal than his Lagos days, we will get something better than making the roads narrower and putting BRT buses on them.

To Yola, and the rest of the north east, I weep sincerely. And I do hope that by the December deadline issued by the president, that our collective tears will be wiped out completely and we can all be part of the train to move Nigeria forward.

I plead with the governors of the states in that region to be more proactive. The president cannot do everything from Abuja. Or do you want Aso Villa moved to Maiduguri also? What are you people doing sef? My take, any state which encounters severe bombing should have its governor penalized one way or the other. Look at Borno, what moral justification does that governor have to still be sitting on that seat. In his domain, right under his nose, the bombs aren't falling in Biu township? Why? What is it that the people and leadership of Biu are doing that the whole state can borrow in order to secure the lives of the people of Maiduguri and environs? Why hasn't what is working in Biu been adopted in other Born townships? Furthermore, the PDP, neighboring Gombe State used to have bombs going off in that city. What is it that the government and people of that state did that halted the bombs?

One major way to halt the advance of BH is to allow full transparency in operations against them. It starts by allowing the press full access. It is better than cheap propaganda!

#weprayforYola