Selective Outrage? Timaya’s Tweet Sparks Debate On Insecurity And Government Double Standards

Nigerian singer Timaya has found himself at the centre of a heated debate after tweeting about the insecurity in his home state, Bayelsa. His post, which lamented the destruction of farms in Bayelsa by herdsmen, came after years of silence despite being a vocal supporter of the current administration during the elections.

His sudden concern has not gone unnoticed, with many Nigerians pointing out that his outrage only surfaced when the crisis hit close to home. This pattern, they argue, mirrors the government’s selective response to insecurity nationwide.

The debate was reignited following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a six-month emergency in Rivers State. The decision, announced in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, led to the immediate suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and the entire Rivers State House of Assembly. The move was supposedly a response to escalating political tensions and a recent pipeline explosion in Gokana Local Government Area.

However, critics have highlighted the glaring inconsistency – why declare a state of emergency in Rivers, a state known mainly for its political disputes and economic vibrancy? In contrast, states like Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Plateau, Benue, and Borno, where armed groups regularly massacre civilians, continue to operate without such drastic intervention.

Timaya’s tweet, though focused on Bayelsa, struck a chord because it exposed a broader hypocrisy – public figures often remain silent when others suffer, only to cry out when their communities become targets. Similarly, the government’s inconsistent handling of security crises raises questions about whether decisions are truly made in the interest of national stability or as strategic political manoeuvres.

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Chinalurumogu Eze

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