We Need Inter-Faith And Bi-Partisan Support To Stop Boko Haram

The disputed famous quote sometime attributed to Irish philosopher Edmund Burke (1729-1797) states that 'All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.'

This past week witnessed more wanton killings by terrorists. There were more bombings in the three northern states of Kano, Borno and Kaduna. While I was practising law in America, I represented many Muslims. In fact, some of my major cases involved non-Christians. I found that my Muslim clients were not concerned with my religious predilections. The only time I believe I may have lost a client was when the son of a former African Head of State was on trial for murder/genocide and the Islamic group that was going to pay the bill, felt 'more comfortable' with another lawyer. I thought my Trinidad connection could have got me the case, since the defendant's mother was Trinidadian like the mother of three of my three sons.

During one particular case that involved Algerians and Moroccans, I was hosted royally in Casablanca and Dubai by my Muslim clients. They were very accepting and were not perturbed in any way that I was a lawyer and Pastor. Several friends of mine are Muslims and it has never been a problem between us because I understood them just like they knew who I really was. Of course, I have heard the argument by Christians that 'you should not be unequally yoked' with unbelievers, based on Paul's command to the church in Corinth (2 Cor. 6:14). The hermeneutics of that passage is the subject of another day.

Nonetheless, when I received an invitation last month to visit Kaduna to check out an NGO/Community Center, I did not hesitate. A mutual Muslim Professor Colleague and friend made the connection. Interestingly, the friend that made the connection was also a client once upon a time and a family friend for over two decades.

There were people from the south that had concerns about my visiting 'the turbulent north.' Interestingly, when I arrived, I asked my taxi driver about the recent violence in Kaduna and he dismissed my concerns by saying that it is only in far-away villages.

The next day started uneventful. I lectured in the first and second class with mostly Muslim students, including women in hijab. It was only about the time of the fourth class that the explosions that killed several people happened. The Center I was visiting was in-between the two bomb blasts. After I was driven back to my room and during the ensuing 24-hour curfew, I had some pensive moments.

My host, Hon. Muhammad Ali, whose constituency was damaged by the second bomb blast that targeted the former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), had engaged me in a conversation about people learning about one another's culture/religion as a panacea to stereotypes and hate crimes.

I told him that is one of the intended benefits of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC). He lamented that it was no longer the case as many people now 'lobby' to be posted or re-posted to locations of their choice. I recall with fond memory my own belated youth service, which was as a mature adult after my sojourn in America.

Before my flight back to Delta, I decided it was a good idea to pay a condolence visit to Gen. Buhari. I was taken aback by the man's humility. The statuesque figure I saw in the only simple living room in the house, was impressive even in his simplicity. I was also surprised that there was no ostentatious display of opulence or luxury cars. He later entered a simple old Red Range Rover and was followed by one of my favorite cars - an old Peugeot 504. My brief interaction with Gen. Buhari left me with the impression that the man is very misunderstood, partly because he is media shy and does not know the effect of the fourth tier of the realm.

When Hon. Muhammad Ali and I were talking, I realised that to really solve this insurgency problems, we need inter-faith initiatives. Christians and Muslims are being killed on a weekly basis. A pastor friend of mine, who pastors a church in Kaduna, also escaped being killed that same day. We sometimes need to be reminded that death is no respecter of religion or party alliance. That is why I was happy that the PDP leadership, including President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, condemned the attempted assassination of the Gen. Buhari, an APC stalwart.

On a flight back from Abuja to Warri, I was privileged to be on the plane with the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. When we disembarked and finished discussing the importance of Christians being involved in politics, I commended him for his statement that was published in Vanguard newspaper that very day. The great Man of God had said, 'The attack, coming almost at the climax of the holy month of Ramadan is a clear indication of the perpetrators' inclination to evil and disregard for the true God and all that are linked to him.' The fact that not only Gen. Buhari, but also an Islamic cleric Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi buttresses the point of Papa Ayo. Another sobering quote by Burke's in his 1770 publication, Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents, is appropriate here. "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle."

If we take a cue from other climes, we will understand that security is everyone's business, no matter the party or religious affiliation. Probably at the beginning, some may have naively thought they were immune or that the hideous monster could be tamed politically. We are wiser now and know that these terrorists have some sophisticated weaponry, coupled with international support. So any true Nigerian will rise up so that we can collectively kill Boko Haram before they kill us ll.

I will close with another variant of Burke's quote. It is the 1867 address at the University of St. Andrew by John Stuart Mill that aptly cautions us that 'Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.' Let both Christians and Muslims act together, instead of folding our hands and blaming one another.

Think about it.

*Rev. Akpodiete, A Public Affairs Analyst Writes From Asaba. He Is Also An Aspirant For Udu/Ughelli Federal Constituency In Delta State. Contact Him On 08138391661 Or [email protected]