Mr. President fired his Defense Minister and his National Security Adviser. He has done what many people had expected him to do a long ago. The Defense Minister Mr. Mohammed and National Security Adviser Mr. Azazi had it coming a very long time ago and should have know and been prepared. Once more Mr. Jonathan has waited out those who would undermine his government to make fatal mistakes. His uncanny ability to time the exit of his non performing officers is, as usual, beyond questioning.

There were people who had called for the head of Azazi when he had his outburst at the SS summit. Mr. Jonathan did not act then as he would be sacking his NSA because he spoke his mind. This does not happen in a democracy. He could have sacked the Defense Minister for much incompetence but he waited until they made the same mistakes twice.

The former Boko Haram Leader, Mr. Yusuf, died after he was captured and placed in police custody. Many of us saw it as ex judicial execution and protested vehemently. We demanded the heads of security leaders but did not get them.

It can be said that, that ex judicial killing gave some excuse for the continuing BH carnage.

Two days ago it happened again. A much wanted BH leader was captured and in two days he is dead and without trial and conviction. That was one death too many. It is possible that the man died of wounds sustained during his arrest but in the books of many people that was ex judicial killing again and in allowing this to happen, Mr. Azazi and Mohammed handed their heads to Mr. Jonathan on a silver platter.

There is an Igbo saying: anaghi eti nwata ihe ubochi o kwafuru nmanu; obu ubochi o kwafuru ogiri nmanu. Translation: a child may not be punished for spilling first grade palm oil but for spilling palm oil by product.

It is time for Mr. Mohammed and Mr. Azazi to watch from the side lines.

Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba

Boston, Massachusetts

June 22, 2012