OBJ, IBB INITIATIVE ON INSECURITY!
There were media reports last weekend of two former leaders and retired army generals, Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, who met and deliberated on finding lasting solution to the threat of unity and peaceful co-existence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the activities of the Boko Haram sect. For years now, the Boko Haram sect has unleashed terror and mayhem resulting to hundreds of deaths of innocent Nigerians and destroyed property worth millions of naira in the northern part of Nigeria.
The move by these two leaders is commendable and must be taken seriously by all, mainly the Federal Government and all its security apparatus. The road to achieving peace is usually, especially in our clime led by the elderly and retired leaders with vast experience, influence and knowledge on issues. The Americans have predicted that if Nigeria is not careful by 2015, there may not be a country called Nigeria anymore, as students of political history, we may not need their prediction as the signs are there staring us in the face but, we can prove them wrong. Daily, these militants are getting sophisticated, recruiting more men, acquiring more deadly weapons, attacking homes and institutions including the rich and highly placed in the society. Right now, as it is, no man or institution is safe in Nigeria as long as we do nothing to put a stop to their attacks. Few days ago, the country home of the Vice-President Namadi Mohammed Sambo, was attacked with casualties, Police Stations sacked and destroyed. This certainly calls for more worry.
It is then a wake-up call by Nigeria’s ex and present leaders to come together, irrespective of political or ethnic differences to find a way out of this security challenge. Leaders everywhere in the world, need the people and country to govern, without the people and place, there can be no leaders. So, our present and former leaders, Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Governors, Senate Presidents, Speakers, Party, Religious, Ethnic and Opinion leaders, must first come together, unite amongst themselves to tackle this evil and not just condemn or issue press statements. Perhaps, this was what attracted the condemnations of the Senate President, David Mark, when he blamed northern leaders, including himself, on the state of insecurity in that part of the country. Till today, no initiative of any kind in resolving this problem from our elders and leaders, they can do more than just consoling with the victim’s family members. We require more proactive measures from them in tackling this menace.
This Boko Haram insurgent is an evil that will ultimately consume us if left unattended to, it is daily growing and becoming more daring. At a point, it was only the police that was attacked because according to them, the police killed their leader but now, they attack every perceived enemy including other religious groups, government buildings, communities and homes, relaxation spots, just anybody or group that catches their evil eye. If we fail to move and stop these boys now, we may then be ready to allow our house burn with no fire fighter anywhere to quench it. This is the time every patriotic man or woman, irrespective of religion, ethnic or political leaning should do something reasonable to stop the killings by the Boko Haram group, before we join Rwanda, Sudan to share history and experiences.
The political debate many are beginning to knit together around the alarm raised by these two former Presidents is uncalled for, despite the reservations we may have against these two men, they are still Nigerians and our past leaders. We must look for the solution to this problem and, if the two men will render their services at resolving this problem, so be it. Since this crisis escalated to this level, hundreds of men, women and children have gone to their early graves. Nigeria has indeed lost tremendously in attracting foreign investors and moving towards development. No genuine, right thinking investor or developer after a careful observation of happenings here will invest his/her money in a nation with its structures well rooted in bloodshed.
We should encourage all those who can help us in attaining peace, if our elites unfold their hands and work tenaciously, sincerely, I have no doubt that these militants will sheath their swords. Several Nigerians have canvassed support for dialogue, peaceful resolution of the crisis, which the President appears interested in. It is crystal clear that President Jonathan cannot do the battle alone, he needs the help of these past leaders with great experience in national security matters, and, indeed all and sundry to succeed in this battle. The politicians are already making some preparations for 2015 elections and beyond but, they need be reminded that they can only aspire to any political office of their choice, if there is Nigeria still standing by 2015 hence, the need for them to also invest in stopping this cankerworm.
Personally, I am not too comfortable with Mr. President’s soft approach in dealing with these dissidents, maybe he should borrow the tough approach of the men like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and late Gen. Tunde Idiagbon, these boys would not have dared it, if any of these men were in power and, if they do, they would have been taught a bitter lesson of their live. I support full military operations against the militants. They are not labour or right activists who carry placards in their protest marches, strikes; these are men who have ultimately declared war with the state, using all available weapons against the Nigerian people. The commander in chief must give marching orders to his military to deal decisively with this group to save Nigeria from anarchy and doom.
When a group continuously bomb, kill, paralyze business and destabilize homes. Threatening that they would not stop until their mission to Islamize the Nigerian State is achieved, that every Security man, Christian and Islamic pretender is a target. And, truly they are doing that, then, I have just one advice for Mr. President; to see this as internal invasion of our territory by external enemies and, immediately and quickly move against the attackers militarily, it is purely the right thing to do in my own perspective.
Written By Uzodinma Nwaogbe