Countless pieces of advice and strategies have been offered by people
from all walks of life to solving the Boko Haram menace. However, none
seems to have worked because they have either been rejected outright or
their efficacy to achieving the desired results played down by the
people in position of authority. However, the activities of members of
the sect have continued to increase by every passing day and things are
gradually getting out of hands.
In situation like this, which borders on security of the lives and
property of its citizens, no responsible government would ignore
suggestions and recommendations even if they are coming from perceived
enemy camps. Blame trading is now the order of the day and mutual
suspicions have set in because the issue has been hugely politicised by
all and sundry. In whichever ways we look at it, the government alone
should not be held responsible for the impasse because we all have our
share in the blame. Rather than joining hands with the people in
government to face the issues squarely, our leaders and politicians are
doing everything possible to gain selfish political points and relevance
at the expense of the life and property of innocent citizens.
This thing started like a joke and instead of appraising its root and
nipping it in the bud, we handled it with levity and allowed it to
snowball into the present huge and catastrophic magnitude. It took us
more than necessary time to agree that the issue was not an ethnic or
religious war targeted at a particular set of people, but a war against
the nation. Military wherewithal has been deployed but because this is
not a conventional war, the menace still persists. Some of us have
called for dialogue and negotiations but a lot of people condemned the
strategy. By now, one would have expected those who rejected dialogue to
have proffered workable and lasting solutions to the problem but, alas,
they are in the comfort of their homes and offices, telling the
government there is no cause for alarm when actually, the roof is on
fire.
I want to use this medium to advise all well-meaning Nigerians and true
friends of the country that no matter how enemies in disguise and
sycophants of our leaders try to shut us up, we should not be
discouraged in our quest to contribute our quota towards ensuring
lasting peace in our nation. In the recent past, the government posited
that it was not possible to dialogue and negotiate with faceless people
(the sect members) but, this position was punctured by a former
president, who confirmed that he had met, in the past, with people who
have link with leadership of the sect and he even volunteered to resume
talks with them if the government gives the go ahead. Surprisingly, the
elder statesman was called names by aides and friends of the government.
They said he did not need the president’s permission to go ahead with
such a venture. Where then is the place of PROTOCOL in governance for
crying out loud? Is it possible to dialogue and negotiate with members
of the sect on behalf of the government without the consent and approval
of the Head of Government? If your answer is in the affirmative, then,
who is going to sanction and or approve the resolutions thereupon? If we
conclude that the former president should also be blamed because the
sect sprang up under his administration, can two wrongs ever make a
right? If truly he had his shortcomings in the past because he is also
human, does that foreclose his proffering solutions and even partaking
in the resolution of the crisis in this present circumstance?
It is high time we started thinking positively on how best to save our
nation from this state of insecurity by joining hands together to find
lasting solutions to the imbroglio. We should try as much as possible to
shy away from things that are immaterial and cannot solve the problems
on ground.
The Chibok schoolgirls are still missing. In the quest for solution,
First Lady Patience Jonathan convened a meeting. Some people said she
was playing to the gallery. When the United States and other Western
powers sent their personnel and jets to support the fight against the
insurgents, a lot of people believed that the crisis would be over in a
matter of days but it is over a month and nothing has happened. The
girls are still missing. This is not to say their support should not be
commended but the fact remains that this fight is not a conventional
war. It’s a guerilla warfare.
Inasmuch as we appreciate the support of the international community,
the fact remains that the solution to our problems is in our hands. As
the popular Yoruba saying goes, “what you are looking for in Sokoto
(state) is in your Shokoto (trousers).” We are the ones to win the
terror war. Time to act is now.
Just recently, the convoy of a former Head of State, Mohammadu Buhari,
was hit by the insurgents. If this could happen to him, with all his
security aides, then you will agree with me that there is no hiding
place for the ordinary man on the streets. I thank God that they did not
kill Buhari. If this had happened, it would have been difficult to
convince some people that it was the work of insurgents.
Let all hands be on deck in the fight against terror, irrespective of
political, religious and ethnic affiliation. There is nothing stopping
the Presidency from also reaching out to the people, who could be of
help. And there’s nothing wrong with those who could help offering
assistance. Let us not play politics with the lives of innocent and
helpless people. We all must be involved in the quest for solution.
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