Bishop (Dr.) Ransom Bello, founder and General Overseer of the Calvary Life Assembly International is one man of God that has passion for Nigeria. The former chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kano state chapter has continued to express dismay over the continued attacks on lives and property of Nigerians by bandits and terrorists. To him, the Federal Government needs to do more to tackle insecurity in the country. Though he believes government has the wherewhittal to bring a permanent solution to the problem of banditry and terrorism which has gulped trillions of Naira over the years, the former Deputy National President (North-West) of the Penticostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has advised the Federal Government to use Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s pattern of fighting insecurity to summount the menace of terrorism and banditry in the country. He spoke in an interview recorded by Maduabuchi Nmeribeh.
What do you think the clergy can do and what advise can they give the government that could be a solution to the rising insecurity in Nigeria?
I don’t need to begin to describe the disturbing security challenges in the country. Because you can spend a whole day talking about that. We are all very worried and troubled about the state of insecurity in this country. And in all my life, I had never believed Nigeria could go downward in terms of insecurity. And again, it is not something hidden, because everybody knows about it as it happens to everybody on daily basis. So, no need spending time to analyse the insecurity situation. Now, what can we do, talking as a cleric. For Christian clergies, for in stance, first and foremost, it is for us to pray. Our duty as clergies and religious leaders is to pray. It is an injunction in the Bible that we should pray for the country and those who rule over us (leaders). That is our basic function. So, there are some people to pray and there is God to answer. Number two is to also ensure we preach peace to our congregations. Because, insecurity will explode and continue when we make hate speeches on the pulpit and mobilise our congregations on the path of violence. All these have multiplayer effects, so we should not radicalise our members through preaching and make it look as if we are urging them to go and fight the government. So, we preach peace and tolerance in our churches. Number three, the clergy should speak the truth to power. We have the responsibility to speak the truth to authorities or those in power. When they are doing well, of course, we have to say it. And when they are not doing well, we also have to speak the truth. And for this government, they are not doing well, and that is the truth. And we must keep speaking, because there are sycophants around the presidency who want him (Buhari) to believe he is doing well -that one of the cardinal promises he made which is security, is being fulfilled. But we all know that this is a lie. So, part of my responsibility as a clergyman is to speak and tell the truth that you are not doing well; you are failing as a government and you must do something more than you have been doing before, to be sure that your citizens are safe, which is your primary assignment as a government. So, we speak truth to power. And now, apart from the insecurity from Fulani herdsmen, armed robbers, kidnappers and bandits, we have a new form of insecurity in the country: if you speak the truth, they are after you, That is not how it should be. Any government that wants to do the right thing should listen to the people and listen to truth. Why should I become insecure when I speak the truth to government and they know that what I say is the correct thing? Why should my life be in danger for prompting government to do what they are supposed to do? So, the government should look into that area and listen to the truth and yearnings and complaints of the people. It is not well that the government is always coming up with the usual slogan of being ‘on top of the situation,’ where as they are not on top of anything. I think these are the functions clergies should performan to help in the insecurity situation of the country.
What do you think went wrong that led to worsening security situation?
Well, there are many things one can think about. At the background of everything is poverty, which we all know. Poverty is an activator of anger, violence and general insecurity. Inequality in the society is also among other fundamental reasons. If young men and women are employed and they have a lot of things to do, a lot may be avoided. But again, our situation in the country has gone beyond that -it is not just about poverty and unemployment. To me, it is about a plan, design or agenda, the way I look at it. Because, if you want your nation secured, why must you employ only your kinsmen to occupy the security architecture of the country, if you don’t have anything in mind. I think there should be Federal Character as much as possible in such sensitive blocks to give every group a sense of belonging. When there is nepotism at its highest level, expect resistance, violence and insecurity. Nobody should be made to feel like a second class citizen in this country. I always say this, if any tribe in this country thinks they will put other tribes as second class they must be joking; it will not work. No tribe should be elevated above any other tribe(s), because it will engender violence, insecurity and communal violence. Now, I see an attempt to kind of elevate a tribe above the others. I have been hearing so much about Fulani killer herdsmen who carry AK47 (not all Fulanis). I have heard of attacks in the north, south, west and east, but I have not heard much about arrest. How many people, up to date, have been arrested and persecuted? This is the crime in this country. I think the Nigerian government is too intelligent not to know what to do. You asked me what the government should do. Of course, they know what to do.
Do you share the belief that the killer herdsmen are foreigners?
Yes. I share the same belief and it is true, because those who say so know what they are talking about. From the different discoveries of people who have been kidnapped, the victims tell us stories of the kind of language they hear their abductors speak. But I also believe the insurgents cannot succeed without internal collaborators. There is no way they can come from somewhere, invade Nigeria, conquer territories, maim and kill people without local support. So, I believe the herders who want pasture for their cattle and are being resisted could be part of the culprits who employ these people that unleash terror. So, I believe there is internal collaboration so we cannot excuse the local people, whether the herders or actual people carrying AK47 or those who own them. But these are two different things. There are those who are in the field doing the job. But the real culprits are those who arm these terrorists to do what they are doing.
You said when we pray, God listens. Can we say God is no longer listening to the prayers of the clergy that is why insecurity is on the increase in the country despite prayers?
That is a very important question. We have been praying and yes the killings have continued. But could you imagine what could have happened without the prayers. That is the best way to look at it. I believe God is answering our prayers. Anytime you see a positive step being taken, either through restructuring of the security architecture or other means, it is part of the answers to prayers. Whether people are coming out with various measures to make the federal government become more reasonable is part of the answers to prayers. Now, our calls for restructuring are becoming louder and clearer and is still part of the answers to prayers. So, I think God is a systematic God and He knows what He is doing and He is actually answering our prayers. But there is always a timing to everything. God made all things beautiful in their times.
Do you think we have sinned too much in this country?
In fact, we have sinned more than too much. Since I was born, I never witnessed such a level of insecurity in my life. Well, not just personally, God has been protecting me. But what I have heard, read and seen or witnessed happening in every part of the country is precedented. Nobody ever thought this country would be this unsecured under a former military General, which is more disappointing. I think we have seen the worst. That is why the federal government should do what they know how to do -what they know is right. Like I have said, this country is too intelligent not to know what to do and how to do it. But I think because of what I believe is an agendum, because of lack of political will and defense of ethnicity, I think that is what is happening in this country. And we must tell the government the truth.
Kano appears to be different when compared with other states like Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina and Niger, etc, in terms of security. What are the measures being taken to secure Kano?
Kano has been peaceful for some years. What are we doing?
We have a governor with a nationalistic view; a governor who is accommodating. I know he is a very strong and strict Muslim, but he is someone who has opened his arms to receive other faiths and ensure things go well. So, I think it has to do with the leadership of the state. Let me quickly thank God for Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the security commanders of the Army, Air Force and the Commissioner of Police in Kano. Above all, I thank God for the Kano indigenes who have deliberately refused to allow Boko Haram to stay in Kano. Now, the collective will of the people is what you see working in Kano state. Kano people don’t want their state to be reduced to rubble. Kano is the economic strength and commercial centre of the entire north. I am happy for the Kano people who refused to allow insurgents have a root in Kano and I am happy for the governor who is a peaceful man. For example, all of us can refer to the stand he (Ganduje) took concerning these herders movement from the north to south. He took a step that has surprised almost everybody. If all northern governors are like Ganduje, we wouldn’t be having problems in this country. Ganduje said the governors should stop the herders from moving from the north to the south to graze their cattle. That is a man who has the peace of this country at heart. In Kano, securities have been working and the indigenes have said no to violence.
