by Kingsley Ahanonu

As I write this, I do so with a concern over the implicit challenge to the security of my person. But nevertheless, I’ll not fret for this concern; I’ll not be perturbed in writing and writing absolutely the thoughts conjectured on the premise of the reality on ground, which though is been denied its evocation.

Without seeking importance, it is of immense value, not to my person in writing my perception but to the teeming unsuspecting Nigerians, who may have all along lain vulnerable to the treading weight of falsehood propagated by usurpers, who have drained practically their strength and using same to force the lies down their throats, to preserve ego.

Having said that, I move. Security is one of the primary responsibilities of governance. It is a rudimentary element that defines the success and otherwise of any institutionalized government.

However, even as the bulk of this provisions revolves around the coffers of the institution upon which the people are governed, it more than less remains the responsibility of all.

The citizenry are partners with the leadership in the holistic provision of a secure society. This in no small way puts the people in an active collaboration for security. Hence, the people must be carried along in plans and developments hovering around the effort to ensure this necessity.

The prevailing circumstance in which the Nigerian state is drawn in, makes this collaborative necessity profoundly demanding. The fight against the obdurate insurgence in the north even as it requires military exertion cannot be fully won without the involvement and support of the ordinary but insightful people.

This more than explains why the military must be seen to carrying the people along: in safe-guarding possible narks, in seeking for workable inputs and in rolling out their efforts towards containing the monstrosity, factual and comprehensive.

This unfortunately is where the Nigerian Army has grossly failed to impress the citizens, mainly the civilian hordes of which the president stands out prominently as one. The offensive against the Boko Haram has remained mainly of a defensive approach because the army headquarters has refused to tell the masses as the war is. Though this stands as merely a factor amongst the many drawbacks, it fights for significance.

Finally, even as it is the hope of all to trump this challenge, it is fact no cloud of deceit can cover that the Nigeria Army is woefully, though unfortunate, losing the war against the BoKo Haram insurgents. The boys at the front know this facts which their ogas-at-the-top would not acquiesce to.

Like some of the Ebola contacts, who refused to show up for quarantine and subsequent care but preferred to conceal the condition until it finds them out, the NA has time without number continued to play economical with the truth.

They play with our intelligence and sadly with the lives of the gallant soldiers whose continuous deaths in the face-off are shrouded in undignified secrecy. The deaths of some of these men are denied publicity and consequently emotive eulogies chiefly to preserve their pride.

Situations abound where out of a dozen Nigerian patriots mowed down by the terrorists, only a half gets to public knowledge. We hear of the casualties suffered by the insurgents while on the side of the Nigerian Army is muted for unfounded justifications. The case of falsifying the rescue of some of the Chibok girls, when actually it was a foul cry stands out.

The insincerity has let to distrust in shallow claims by the military. The recent case where the army fed us with yet unreliable assertion emits  this established untrustworthiness. Gwoza has fallen, and now Bama seemed to have followed but the army to save face keeps saying different. But we know that verbal denial does not invalidate the facts on ground.

Of a truth the containment of the monster by the Nigerian Army is for our good but they must come off the lies and carry us along. Feeding the people with lies in order to hide the existing incompetences is to delude them while the heat burns; it gives the masses the false impression that the Nigerian Army is winning. This highest deception will unfortunately withhold innovations and inputs that may lead to a possible overhaul and infusion for better results.

The call is for the Nigerian Army to come out clean and tell Nigerians where their constraints are. The people would do well to effect a reinforcement. They should carry us along for rapt collaboration.

The Nigerian Army can do well when the necessary changes are infused. But this remains impossible with the imposing disillusionment that has continued to frustrate such necessities.

Let’s tell ourselves this truth first. Then we could go back to the drawing board and know where the loopholes deeming for closures are, instead of denying it. It is only a war committed on truth that can defeat this soaring evil; and that is if Nigeria is keen at winning the war.

Finally, even as it is the hope of all to trump this challenge, it is fact no cloud of deceit can cover that the Nigeria Army is woefully, though unfortunate, losing the war against the BoKo Haram insurgents. The boys at the front know this facts which their ogas-at-the-top would not acquiesce to.

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Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.