When Python dances naked, that is the height of ignominy. It tells you that the Python has nothing else to hide
Between November 27 to December 26, 2017 , the people of South eastern states, especially Abians, woke up to their chagrin to find a large Python in Nigerian Army uniform snaked into the major highway of Umuahia, the state capital, doing something never seen, nor experienced before in the history of the state.
It was the appearance of the big Python or rather the Army Python, dancing menacingly on the highway. Some over vibrant youths of lgboland who claimed to be the Indigenous People of Biafra (lPOB) members exuberantly confronted the big Python that was only displaying its many dancing skills. Unfortunately, the move by the youths provoked the big Python and many were alleged to have been swallowed.
The commentaries that followed lasted for months and in other to placate the people, a soothing medical exercise was carried out. Again, early this year, the Python was redressed to come out from the forest of 82 Division of the Army to openly dance before the people who exhibited palpable apprehension, yet those in authority claimed it was to forestall the activities of the alleged rough boys known as the Indigenous People of Biafra (lPOB).
As Nigerians are preparing for the next general election, and parents are preparing for their children’s return to school after a long holiday, suddenly the new General Officer Commanding, (GOC) 82 Division of Nigeria Army, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Boman Kabuk, who was formerly in charge of Army Logistics in Abuja, announced that the 302 Artillery Regiment (General Support) Onitsha, Anambra State, would soon emerge as a big Python and embark on a public dance in the South East.
General Kubuk gave the hint while on a familiarization visit of formations under his Division. According to records, the General had just been transferred to his new post on August 6, 2018.
The areas he wants to effectively tackle are the local training of his men, tackling criminal activities like armed robbery and kidnapping.
Yes, to the average Nigerian on the streets, the Python should be stopped by all means from dancing ignominiously naked on the streets in the South eastern states. Yes, the intimidating size and fearful activities of the Python should not be condoned, yet deep down the script could be for the good of the people who know nothing about how to engineer or instigate insecurity.
The days are evil. Guns in large numbers have illegally found their ways into wrong hands of very agile and smart youths, who unfortunately have no job that could keep them away from evil acts. They activate insecurity via criminality that could easily envelop and consume the ordinary members of the public. Could this new narrative be the reason why the military wants to dance the Python dance again?
Recently, a police officer and a military man were assaulted by hoodlums in the East. So why would the Python not come out to menacingly dance again? I was in the office of the Abia State Commissioner, Mr. Tony Ogbizi when report reached him that lPOB boys were regrouping for a meeting, his instant move saved the day. Only last week, over one hundred and four lPOB members were arrested in Imo State, and someone will tell me the Python should not dance naked again. When Python dances naked, that is the height of ignominy. It tells you that the Python has nothing else to hide. It means that it is ready to deploy all within its power or in the case of the military to use all within its arsenal, no wonder the GOC warned criminals that operate within their area to stop their nefarious activities.
Many would ask, why is the military interloping in internal security issues when it is the constitutional preserve of the police? Truly, the internal security is the preserve of the police, but hard nuts require hard knocks. If either the police or the army are able to root out these hard criminals who make life unbearable for us, should we not be appreciative and pour encomiums on them? For full security to be attained, there is the need for collaboration, that is why the Directorate of Security Service (DSS) accesses information from patriotic Nigerians and this is shared as intelligence to other security agencies and they will not rest until justice is done to the shared intelligence. It is by this means that Nigeria is protected.
The GOC knows that the Ember months are around the corner, as the bigger masquerade in the security community in the South east, for him to dress up the Python ready to dance naked means the DSS eagle eyes have noticed something that would soon engage all the security agencies in that area.
This is why there is the need for the people to be better educated so that the usual panic that the Python attracts each time it comes out is doused.
The political atmosphere alone is enough to attract the Python to come out and dance so that criminals who escaped its last venom will keep off their trait. How is one sure that it is not these same criminals that are fanning the embers of hatred against the third appearance of the Python? How is one sure that evil-inclined politicians whose children are kept in safe haven abroad but recruit the youths as political thugs, are not those spreading news that the Python should not dance again? Why would the Python not come out to dance again?
I was on FM Radio station in Owerri, and I argued that since the Python is still preparing to come out and dance naked, if the leaders are apprehensive, they should meet the head of the military and table why they think the Python should not come out to dance naked again. After the radio programme, I asked myself, should Igbo leaders subscribe to my suggestion, what reasons would they table before the Army? I foresee them praising the Army to high heavens since none of the youths are at ear shot. I foresee them only complaining about the alleged death of some innocent people. I don’t see them being voiceforous.
I foresee them leaving the venue like dogs with their tails in between their legs. Yes, the aura of the Python in the office is more intimidating than that of the Python the Igbo leaders see on the streets. Truly, Nigerians should allow the Python to dance naked, even if the Python wants to dance acrobatically in the air thereby winning an Olympic award, the people should allow the Python to exhibit its skills since it is to sweep criminals off our streets.
For me, let the Python dance!