Ibadan explosion: Matters arising
THE case: Ibadan, South Western Nigeria, the ancient, picturesque, unique, landscape of outstanding natural beauty heralds very many firsts and fascinating antecedents.
The first capital of the Western Region of Nigeria ( comprising present- day, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Lagos, Edo, Delta States), 1952- 1966; Western Nigeria Television/ Western Nigerian Broadcasting Service ( WNTV/ WNBS), ‘ first in Africa’, established in 1959; the pioneering University of Ibadan, founded in 1948; the pioneering teaching hospital, by its very definition, University College Hospital, Ibadan, founded in 1952.
Plus, the first ultra- modern Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, established in 1960. This coincided with the Nigeria’s 1960 independence. Liberty Stadium hosted the pioneering African- staged world boxing middle- weight championship fight, between the immortal Nigerian southpaw Richard Ihetu, a. k. a. ‘ Dick Tiger’ ( 1929- 1971); and the great American boxer, Gene Fullmer ( 19312015), on August 10, 1963. Dick Tiger defeated Fullmer to reverberating pan- Africanist acclaim in the nascency of post- colonial African independence struggles.
Within the educational sphere, Ibadan hosts some of the oldest and best secondary schools in Africa. St. Anne’s School, established in 1869; Ibadan Grammar School, established in 1913; Government College Ibadan, founded in 1929; St. Teresa’s College, founded, in 1933; Queen’s School Ibadan, founded in 1952; Loyola College, Ibadan, founded in 1954 etc.
Together, Ibadan has been home to, nurtured, and produced some of the world’s most renowned geniuses across the legal, liberal arts, medicine, natural sciences, public administration and social sciences. Exemplifying that heroic claim is Africa’s first Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, an alumnus of Government College, Ibadan. Figuratively, Ibadan, is a land of a thousand hills ‘ Oke’ including, but by no means limited to, Oke- Ado, Oke- Are, Oke- Aremo, OkeBola, Oke- Foko, Oke- Mapo, Oke- Mokola, OkePadre, Oke- Sapaati, and Oluyoro Oke- Offa. Its natural landscape evokes serenity and tranquility, absorbing the cascading greenery of ApataGanga, Idi Ayunre, Idi Ishin, Idi Ose, Jericho, Moor Plantation et al.
The counter- case: Ibadan is not perfect and there is no pretensions about that. Historically, the ancient city was referred to as the “Wild West” given the political crisis which engulfed the old Western Region in the first Republic ( 1959- 1966) and the pivotal former allies: Chief Obafemi Awolowo ( first premier of the Western Region) and Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola ( first deputy Premier, later, Premier of the Western Region). The latter prompted the emergency rule under the interim administration of Dr Moses Majekodunmi: 1962 to 1963. Ibadan was also caught up in the political upheavals of the mid1960s following the January 15, 1966 military coup, and the July 29, 1966 counter- coup, which claimed the lives of Chief S. L. Akintola, General Aguiyi Ironsi ( Nigeria’s first miliary leader); Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi ( first military Governor of the Western Region) amongst other key dramatis personae.
In 2001, the pioneering civilian Governor of Oyo State, ( carved out of the Western Region), through October 1, 1979 and December 31, 1983; and serving Attorney- General of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, Chief Bola Ige ( 1930- 2001) was brutally murdered at his Bodija home, in Ibadan! That murder remains unresolved till this day!!
On January 16, 2024, an explosion rocked the city, ironically within the same Bodija precinct where the latter was fatally injured; barely three miles from Nigeria’s premier tertiary institution: University of Ibadan. In its aftermath, the explosion left three dead, 77 injured, several homes destroyed, and displaced hundreds of persons. How on earth could this happen, worst of all, in a populated residential area? Pray, how will a vulnerable octogenarian pensioner whose home has been blown to smithereens restart life? Whose primary responsibility was it, and is it, in fact, ( not just on paper!!) to ensure the oversight of security in the state? Assuming, without conceding, that the explosive devices were lawfully held, upon what legitimacy were they held in a residential building?
What is the official policy on the ownership, storage and logistics of explosives in the state? Presuming, yet again not conceding, that the explosives were illegitimately held, the materially significant intelligence failure is only too obvious; the question is why the failure given the multiplicity of security agencies in the state and the country? If the government cannot consistently safeguard life and property, are people to resort to self- help and armed vigilantes upon the foundation of the doctrine of necessity and the first law of nature: self- preservation?
Although the aforementioned posers desperately demand clear, and urgent answers, some of the latter are deeply mired in a constitutional quagmire on three seminal foundations. First, section 5( 1) ( a) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution ( the “Constitution”), ( as amended), establishes that: “the executive powers of the Federation shall be vested in the President…”.
Second, section 14 ( 2) b of the Constitution enunciates that: “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”. Third, section 218 ( 1) of the same Constitution establishes that “the powers of the President as the Commander- in- Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation shall include power to determine the operational use of the armed forces of the Federation.”
Reading all three constitutional provisions holistically, invokes the assertion that real power, at law, and in fact, over the security arrangements in the country, rests with the President and the Commander in- Chief, and the incumbent’s delegated proxies. It does not rest with any state governor notwithstanding the provisions of section 5 ( 2) ( a) of the Constitution which establishes, inter alia, that the executive powers of a State “shall be vested in the Governor of that State…”.
Because, there is no equivalent power as contained in section 218 ( 1) supra, appertaining to the President and the Commander- in- Chief, which appertains to any State governor. Indeed, questions as to effectiveness or the lack thereof, of materially significant intelligence pertaining to the said Ibadan explosion rests squarely with the federal government. This constitutional lacuna can be cured by the National Assembly if they objectively exercise the political will.
Nevertheless, those dynamics must be framed within the proper context of the legitimate fears of ordinary Nigerians; against the virulent backdrop of ethno- religious terrorism ensnarling the country. According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, terrorism means the use of violent action to accomplish political aims. The year 2024 is exactly 31 days old today. Yet, terrorist incidents have again been recorded in the country. Within the last 48 hours, terrorists ambushed and killed Oba Ogunsakin and Oba Olatunji, in Ikole precinct, Ekiti State; and killed seven farmers in the Gwoza, Borno State.
In the end, the people need reassurance. Beyond that however, they desperately require practical financial, medical and psychological support to rebuild their lives. It will not be easy, but effectively coordinated and well- publicised action by the authorities, corporate organisations, not for profit organisations and wellmeaning individuals cannot come too quickly.
The Plateau State governor imposed a curfew on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, following a terrorist incident in which approximately 30 persons were killed in the Kwahaslalek precinct.
The Financial Times of London also reports that at least 160 people were killed in Christmas Eve 2023, attacks by terrorists across 20 communities in the Bokko and Barkin Ladi areas of Plateau State in Central Nigeria.
According to Associated Press, no group took responsibility for the heinous attacks, though “blame fell on herders from the Fulani tribe, who have been accused of carrying out such mass killings across the north west and central regions where the decades long conflict over access to land and water, has further worsened the sectarian division between Christians and Muslims in Africa’s most populous nation.” These attacks prompted the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, to call for the Nigerian authorities to “conduct, prompt, thorough and independent investigations into the attacks…”
In two separate Boko Haram terrorist attacks in October 2023, within the Gurokeyaya precinct, of Yobe State, 37 people were killed and a further 7 persons were injured. In August 2023, no less than 36 personnel of the Nigerian armed forces were killed by terrorists within the ZungeruTegina and Shiroro axis of Niger State, central Nigeria.
Amnesty International further confirms that between June 9 and June 11, 2023, 59 persons were killed in the Katarko, Kusherki regions of North Central Nigeria, in terrorist attacks.
Throughout May 2023, at least 100 people were killed in various communities of Benue State. Between May 15- 17,2023, more than 100 people were killed in the Mangu region of Plateau State. And in Southern Kaduna, over 100 people were killed by gunmen between December 2022 and April 2023.
Back on Pentecost Sunday, June 5, 2022, one of Christianity’s holiest days, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria, was attacked by terrorists. The heinous assault resulted in the deaths and injury of more than 50 persons, including young children.
Accordingly, if ordinary citizens suspect that the Ibadan explosion was terrorism- related; or, the failure to exercise effective control of those in possession of lethal explosives; or a supine regulatory enforcement framework, no one can blame them, given the spate of terrorist incidents nationwide. Afterall, “perception is reality” according to President Ronald Reagan’s political strategist, Lee Atwater.
In the end, the people need reassurance. Beyond that however, they desperately require practical financial, medical and psychological support to rebuild their lives.
It will not be easy, but effectively coordinated and well- publicised action by the authorities, corporate organisations, not for profit organisations and well- meaning individuals cannot come too quickly.
May the souls of all the deceased rest in perfect peace, Amen.