Nigeria has refused to evolve from where it is, to where it ought to be. We have tried the military and democratic forms of government –  The result is nothing to write home about and, the gap between the leaders and the led has widened.

An evidence of this wide gap was displayed on Sunday, September 24, 2017, in Maiduguri Borno. Some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Dalori camp numbering over 3,000 took to the streets to demand improved conditions in their IDP camp. In addition to improved conditions, they also called for permission to return to their homes in Bama.

In the course of the protest, twelve of them were arrested by the police. They were charged to court, on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and disturbance of peace on Tuesday, September 26, 2017, and were later remanded in prison.

Bama, a large fishing community in Maiduguri was captured by the Boko-Haram sect in the year 2014 and liberated in the year 2015 after an intense battle with insurgents. However, according to the state government, the residents who are now IDPs in Maiduguri can’t return to the town as reconstruction is still ongoing.

The explanation by the government as sensible as it may sound did not address the poor living conditions of these IDP’S in their various camps across the state. The state government at different occasions have brandished several figures as the amount spent on IDP’s in various camps which doesn’t reflect the situation.

The poor situation of our IDP camps have been re-echoed by civil society organisations and international development partners including the United Nations but we believe they are all anti-government comments which should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Some months ago, the staff of medical aid corps were beaten and their cars destroyed by IDPs protesting the small ration of food supply to them after several weeks of abandonment. The Borno State government only condemned their actions with no word from the federal government.

We all moved on, but the problem we left unsolved stared us in the face once again on Sunday as the IDPs had to protest for poor living conditions. So where are the billions going to?

This is coming at a time some IDPs in Makurdi, Benue on September 12, 2017, protested against alleged diversion of relief materials meant for them. When we link everything together, it points to one thing. We have refused to grow as a Nation.

pidgin-speaking Nigerians will say, shame no dey catch us?

Editor