NIGERIA at 54 as a nation, has survived many challenges, including
religious ,and ethnic violence that led to three years civil war, from
1966 to 1970.Nigeria has fared reasonably well, some will say; after
all, today, we have mobile phones with communications technology growing
and spreading very fast; we have more roads, many villages have become
state capitals with dual carriage ways, more exotic cars on our roads,
many private jet owners.
We have more airports; we have more institutions of higher learning churning out educated folks by the year; we can draw money and do some transactions using ATMs.We have run the presidential system of governance for 15 years , and adding all together, we have done well. Never mind the power failures, bad roads, ever rising unemployment and crime rates, etc; they all make up growth challenges.
Nigeria has, so far, survived religious and ethnic cleansing in the North, Niger Delta creek militancy, political violence in the South West, Kidnapping in the South East and terrorist insurgency in the North East. We have continued to exist as one nation in spite of all the challenges.
This may account for the confidence expressed by our political leaders across the divide of the ruling PDP and opposition APC, that at 54,our nation will not crumble due to insurgency.
However, this phenomenon we call insurgency today started as religious violence as far back as 1980 with the Maitatsine group in Kano State. It reformed, multiplied and grew into religious killings in Kaduna, Bauchi and Plateau states. We kept prevaricating over it, till it turned into terrorism in 2009, in the name of Boko Haram.
Nigeria even protested openly when the USA listed Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation; that was until the sect bombed the UN building, the Police Headquarters, media houses, all in Abuja.
Boko Haram infiltrated the Fulani herds men who have since been causing havoc within the village communities across the North. It was when they raised their flag for the first time in Borno State last year, that our leaders quickly found the word insurgency. Boko Haram wants a nation of their own, they want to create a caliphate comprising territories from this country, Niger Republic and the Republic of Cameroon, just like the terrorist ISIS wants to run their caliphate between Iraq and Syria.
Nigeria as a nation has allowed what started as religious violence 34 years ago to become Boko Haram now demanding for a full caliphate within Nigeria.
Nigeria is a nation in a full blown war.Our soldiers seem to have psychological challenges fighting this war with all the commitment that it deserves, and our political leaders are not helping them by coming together to fight the new caliphate of Boko Haram.
The religious undertone of this war makes it very complicated for our Commander- in- Chief, President Jonathan. This war may have caused more casualties on the Nigerian army and civilians than the 1966 civil war, yet our leaders, including those from the affected areas don’t seem to appreciate the enormity of it.
For example,on the same day, 96 army personnel, including four Lt Cols and a Major, are facing court martial for various offences in this war. A new video has been released claiming that Shekau, the “dead” Boko Haram leader, is alive, thus creating more confusion in the minds and psyche of our army and civilian populace. If convicted, these men will be killed, as that is the military law.
A Brigadier-General has just been arrested for running into the bush in fear, and making way for the enemy to access heavy Nigerian war weaponry, including armoured vehicles. Boko Haram today is well equipped, have their flag flying in some Borno and Adamawa villages, and who knows where next. Can Nigeria continue as if nothing is wrong in the face of all these ?
An Igbo proverb says that when the coffin of a stranger is being carried, it appears like a log of wood to another person.The refugee problems, the sufferings of the people, their disenfranchisement as a result of this war, make it imperative that we should reconsider and win this war before conducting an election that will involve all Nigerians from Gwoza in Borno, to Uturu in Abia State, and from Bonny in Rivers to Talata Mafara in Sokoto State.
Certain Northern elements who claim to be speaking for the Hausa Fulanis, such as Aliyu Gwarzo, should be watched.His article published on the Blanknews .com website, contains unprintable things like: “We also captured Ilorin, killed their local king and installed our Fulani emir. We took that ancient town away from the barbarian Yoruba and their filthy pagan gods. We liberated all these places and all these people by imposing Islam on them by force.
“It was either the Koran or the sword and most of them chose the Koran. In return for the good works of our forefathers Allah, through the British, gave us Nigeria to rule and to do with as we please. Since 1960 we have been doing that and we intend to continue.
“No Goodluck or anyone else will stop us from taking back our power next year. We will kill, maim, destroy and turn this country into Africa’s biggest war zone and refugee camp if they try it.”
Gwarzo may well be speaking the mind of millions of Hausa Fulanis, making it necessary for all contenders for Aso Rock to be given a level playing ground, which can only come if we reassess, refocus and stamp out Boko Haram.
Let politicians of the ruling PDP, the opposition APC and the National Assembly agree in best interest of Nigeria to consider and review the Election Time Table by INEC, make necessary amendments to enable Nigeria to find time, focus on the war, stamp out Boko Haram, to pave way for elections that will involve and re-integrate the whole of Nigeria as one nation.Now is the time to stop Boko Haram before it stops us as one nation.
Clement Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.
We have more airports; we have more institutions of higher learning churning out educated folks by the year; we can draw money and do some transactions using ATMs.We have run the presidential system of governance for 15 years , and adding all together, we have done well. Never mind the power failures, bad roads, ever rising unemployment and crime rates, etc; they all make up growth challenges.
Nigeria has, so far, survived religious and ethnic cleansing in the North, Niger Delta creek militancy, political violence in the South West, Kidnapping in the South East and terrorist insurgency in the North East. We have continued to exist as one nation in spite of all the challenges.
This may account for the confidence expressed by our political leaders across the divide of the ruling PDP and opposition APC, that at 54,our nation will not crumble due to insurgency.
However, this phenomenon we call insurgency today started as religious violence as far back as 1980 with the Maitatsine group in Kano State. It reformed, multiplied and grew into religious killings in Kaduna, Bauchi and Plateau states. We kept prevaricating over it, till it turned into terrorism in 2009, in the name of Boko Haram.
Nigeria even protested openly when the USA listed Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation; that was until the sect bombed the UN building, the Police Headquarters, media houses, all in Abuja.
Boko Haram infiltrated the Fulani herds men who have since been causing havoc within the village communities across the North. It was when they raised their flag for the first time in Borno State last year, that our leaders quickly found the word insurgency. Boko Haram wants a nation of their own, they want to create a caliphate comprising territories from this country, Niger Republic and the Republic of Cameroon, just like the terrorist ISIS wants to run their caliphate between Iraq and Syria.
Nigeria as a nation has allowed what started as religious violence 34 years ago to become Boko Haram now demanding for a full caliphate within Nigeria.
Nigeria is a nation in a full blown war.Our soldiers seem to have psychological challenges fighting this war with all the commitment that it deserves, and our political leaders are not helping them by coming together to fight the new caliphate of Boko Haram.
The religious undertone of this war makes it very complicated for our Commander- in- Chief, President Jonathan. This war may have caused more casualties on the Nigerian army and civilians than the 1966 civil war, yet our leaders, including those from the affected areas don’t seem to appreciate the enormity of it.
For example,on the same day, 96 army personnel, including four Lt Cols and a Major, are facing court martial for various offences in this war. A new video has been released claiming that Shekau, the “dead” Boko Haram leader, is alive, thus creating more confusion in the minds and psyche of our army and civilian populace. If convicted, these men will be killed, as that is the military law.
A Brigadier-General has just been arrested for running into the bush in fear, and making way for the enemy to access heavy Nigerian war weaponry, including armoured vehicles. Boko Haram today is well equipped, have their flag flying in some Borno and Adamawa villages, and who knows where next. Can Nigeria continue as if nothing is wrong in the face of all these ?
An Igbo proverb says that when the coffin of a stranger is being carried, it appears like a log of wood to another person.The refugee problems, the sufferings of the people, their disenfranchisement as a result of this war, make it imperative that we should reconsider and win this war before conducting an election that will involve all Nigerians from Gwoza in Borno, to Uturu in Abia State, and from Bonny in Rivers to Talata Mafara in Sokoto State.
Certain Northern elements who claim to be speaking for the Hausa Fulanis, such as Aliyu Gwarzo, should be watched.His article published on the Blanknews .com website, contains unprintable things like: “We also captured Ilorin, killed their local king and installed our Fulani emir. We took that ancient town away from the barbarian Yoruba and their filthy pagan gods. We liberated all these places and all these people by imposing Islam on them by force.
“It was either the Koran or the sword and most of them chose the Koran. In return for the good works of our forefathers Allah, through the British, gave us Nigeria to rule and to do with as we please. Since 1960 we have been doing that and we intend to continue.
“No Goodluck or anyone else will stop us from taking back our power next year. We will kill, maim, destroy and turn this country into Africa’s biggest war zone and refugee camp if they try it.”
Gwarzo may well be speaking the mind of millions of Hausa Fulanis, making it necessary for all contenders for Aso Rock to be given a level playing ground, which can only come if we reassess, refocus and stamp out Boko Haram.
Let politicians of the ruling PDP, the opposition APC and the National Assembly agree in best interest of Nigeria to consider and review the Election Time Table by INEC, make necessary amendments to enable Nigeria to find time, focus on the war, stamp out Boko Haram, to pave way for elections that will involve and re-integrate the whole of Nigeria as one nation.Now is the time to stop Boko Haram before it stops us as one nation.
Clement Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.
Recommend us on Google!
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment