Public commentator Abba Ali Yarima Mustapha has argued that repeated calls for citizens to remain “resilient” in the face of terrorism and insecurity are no longer enough, saying many Nigerians have been left to endure losses and fear that should never become normal.
In a widely shared statement, Mustapha reflected on the years since the Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009 and said official assurances about progress and stability have been repeated for more than a decade while many communities continue to experience violence, displacement, and uncertainty.
“Resilience has been stretched beyond recognition.” – Abba Ali Yarima Mustapha
He said the pain caused by insecurity has become deeply personal for many citizens and warned against normalizing fear, abductions, and killings as part of everyday life.
Mustapha also praised soldiers serving on the frontlines, saying many have made extraordinary sacrifices in the defense of the country. However, he argued that security personnel and citizens alike deserve stronger accountability from those in positions of authority.
In the commentary, he questioned the contrast between heavily protected political convoys and the insecurity faced by ordinary residents, and he criticized the gap between public hardship and reports of corruption and misuse of public resources.
“This is not merely a failure of governance. It is a betrayal of the social contract.”
— Abba Ali Yarima Mustapha
Mustapha called for civic engagement, organization, and peaceful collective action, stressing that change should come through accountability, public participation, and sustained pressure on institutions rather than violence or hatred.
He concluded by urging citizens not to accept insecurity and poor governance as inevitable, arguing that history changes when ordinary people decide to act together and demand better from those who lead them.
