Monday <strong>07</strong> <strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2019</strong> 12 BUSINESS DAY C002D5556 Editorial Publisher/CEO Frank Aigbogun editor Patrick Atuanya DEPUTY EDITORS John Osadolor, Abuja Bill Okonedo EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Fabian Akagha EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DIGITAL SERVICES Oghenevwoke Ighure GENERAL MANAGER, ADVERT Adeola Ajewole ADVERT MANAGER Ijeoma Ude FINANCE MANAGER Emeka Ifeanyi MANAGER, CONFERENCES & EVENTS Obiora Onyeaso SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Patrick Ijegbai CIRCULATION MANAGER John Okpaire DIGITAL SALES MANAGER Linda Ochugbua GM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (North) Bashir Ibrahim Hassan GM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (South) Ignatius Chukwu HEAD, HUMAN RESOURCES Adeola Obisesan The illogic and irrationality of Operation Python Dance 3 Against the backdrop of reported setbacks in its war with terrorists of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa, the Nigerian Army on <strong>Jan</strong>uary 1 commenced a nationwide troop deployment ostensibly to tackle “observed upsurge” in security challenges ahead of the February <strong>2019</strong> elections. Exercise Egwu Eke 111, the codename for the operation python dance, will supposedly enable the Army to identify and stop any attempts by groups and individuals to cause problems through stockpiling of arms and similar infractions. On the contrary, it is needless, illogical and lacks rationality. Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Burutai, said Egwu Eke 111 would run from <strong>Jan</strong>uary 1 to February 28. It seeks to stop threats such as the formation of ethnic militia and violence induced by political activities. The Army now claims there is a proliferation of such activities and groups that its deployment would stop. It sent out troops to the five states of the South East in 2016 and 2017, claiming a multiplicity of threats in the area during the Yuletide. OhanezeNdigbo and other groups in the region dismiss claims of any unrest or threats requiring military intervention. There is only an increase in population in the Yuletide as indigenes return home from all over the world to celebrate with their kin. Instead, the military invasion served as an excuse to brutalise the populace. The Nigerian Army now claims the threats are nationwide. “These challenges coupled with other security threats across the country such as terrorism, militancy, kidnapping and banditry portend that dissident group and criminal elements could cash in on the situation to perpetrate largescale violence before, during and after the <strong>2019</strong> general elections,” the Army Chief stated through a spokesman. He added, “Even in the desert of Borno, don’t forget, the Lake Chad basin is there, python can also dance within the desert.We have desert python. So, python will dance all over the country this time around.’’ What is the situation across the country? Boko Haram and other insurgencies have grown in intensity, making Nigerialose men and equipment on a weekly basis. Men are refusing mobilisation, claiming that the enemy has better ammo and therefore too dangerous to tackle. Expectedly, both the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police deny this. Despite the denial, the Nigerian Police sacked more than 100 of its men for refusing mobilisation to the warfront. Furthermore, the governors of Borno, Katsinaand Zamfara have cried out about insecurity in their domains. Gov Aminu Masari of Katsina State lamented: “Our state is currently under serious siege by armed robbers, kidnappers and armed bandits who arrest rural people at the grassroots at will and demand ransom which, if not paid, they kill their victims. Zamfara has been in a state of siege for longer.” Nationwide deployment of soldiers such as Operation Python Dance usually happens in a state of emergency. The Governor of Zamfara State has called for a state of emergency in his state given the terror of banditry and low-intensity war by cattle rustlers. Danger walks on both legs in that part of the country. Operation Python Dance 3 is troubling on many grounds. It sends the wrong signals to citizens. It was a colossal failure in the South East, compelling the Nigerian Army to effect social responsibility actions that were also misunderstood. Now it is going nationwide. First, the rationale for this action defies logic and rationality. Internal security is the primary responsibility of the Nigerian Police, not of the Army. Banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling are within the province of police duties. Only a busybody armed forces would reduce itself to undertaking tasks reserved for the Police and other paramilitary forces. While Section 217 c of the Constitution empowers the President to involve the Nigerian Army in “suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President”, we are not aware of the conditions “prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly” as the law also requires. Nationwide deployment of soldiers sends the signal of a state of emergency or even a declaration of war. The measure comes at a time when the armed forces face increasing questions about the efficacy of their operations with the many strikes of the allegedly technically defeated Boko Haram. Is it realistic to open many war fronts simultaneously? More importantly, Operation Python Dance 3 continues the militarization of civilian space in a democracy. It is extremely disturbing to have soldiers line the streets and highways of Nigeria, starting from the South East when the country is not at war. The background of a coming election makes it even more curious and incongruous. Nigeria does not need military supervision of the elections. That era ended as long ago as 1998. There are enough structures, from the Independent National Electoral Commission through the Nigerian Police and paramilitary organs such as Civil Defence, to handle elections. The insertion of the military into a strictly civilian matter such as elections is neither logical nor warranted. We will not join the conspiracy theorists on the real intendment of military deployment and the expected beneficiaries. We call on the Nigerian Army and the Government to end Operation Python Dance 3 immediately and send the soldiers to where the nation needs them. They have no role to play in the forthcoming elections. 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Monday <strong>07</strong> <strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2019</strong> C002D5556 BUSINESS DAY 13