Nigeria has always had its share of sectarian violence. Pockets of religious disputes and communal clashes have often sprung up in different parts of the country. However, security forces have always been able to intervene and restore order to troubled spots. Unfortunately, it is no longer so. The country is now aflutter and atwitter with a new type of violence.
The Boko Haram insurgency, previously derided as a minor infraction, has now assumed gargantuan proportions. Their vile and murderous campaign has left the North East desolate and morbid. The frequent and impudent bloodletting has left thousands dead and many more displaced. Police installations have become soft targets as the insurgents sacked police posts across the region with consummate ease.
The intervention of the military has not produced the desired results. Students are still been kidnapped, raped and killed. Bombs have continued to go off in different parts of the country. It’s no longer a case of “if” but rather “when” the next blast will occur. A profound sense of hopelessness pervades the whole country.
Despite the gloomy nature and complexity of the problems facing the country, I am still optimistic than we can overcome these challenges and claim a brighter future. The President’s primary duty remains the protection of lives and property. He can not shirk that solemn obligation. He is accountable to the Nigerian people and culpable for all shortcomings.
The President must begin to think outside the box on how to solve this crisis before it snowballs into a larger conflict. The current efforts are clearly not working and he must seek new solutions. Boko Haram can not be wished away. They have shown through their actions, that they are willing to lay down their lives to unsettle the state. They mean business but we must show them that we are capable as a nation to overcome whatever is thrown at us.
Perhaps the time has come for the government to look out for the sponsors and financiers who are afraid to die. Recent history has shown that killing the foot soldiers doesn’t stop terror. All efforts must be put in place to identify those behind the scenes and take them out. The scourge of indiscriminate killings and abductions must be tackled with intelligence and a sense of purpose.
As innocent Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of terror across the land, many politicians, especially those in opposition, have seized the opportunity to criticize the President and his ruling party. As the nation’s number one public servant, the President’s actions or inactions are scrutinized more than normal. There is nothing wrong with that and it’s highly recommended. Beyond holding him accountable, it serves to assess the level of tolerance, vibrancy and maturity of our democracy.
However, I think the issue at hand transcends petty politics. The soul of Nigeria is at stake. So far, the crisis has been confined to a few states but what if it spreads to other states? It is difficult to ascertain why the dissidence has been confined to a few states. Maybe the insurgents have been unwilling to move southwards or perhaps they have been stifled by the security agencies. Nevertheless, Nigerians must come together to fight this battle together. It’s not a PDP or APC problem…. it is a Nigerian problem. We must resist all attempts to play politics with the problem or disassociate ourselves from the solution.
The consequences of allowing this crisis to degenerate are better imagined than experienced. Despite our fundamental differences, what unites us is far stronger and more meaningful than what differentiates and separates us.
Everybody has a role to play. As the government continues to strive for solutions, the opposition owes it to Nigeria to proffer objective solutions rather than subjective opinions. More importantly, we as citizens must continue to hold our politicians accountable through unending scrutiny, protests and advocacy.
As Nigeria prepares to host the World Economic Forum (Africa) this week in Abuja, the government has directed schools and businesses to close for the duration of the programme. Thousands of security men have been deployed to ensure a hitch free hosting.
Despite the hypocrisy and cosmetic approach, we still have a duty to protect our guests. Unfortunately, this event will not solve our problems and we should be back to status quo, once the visitors depart. It is also a stark reminder that only Nigerians can solve Nigeria’s problems.
Tony Eboh
@AfricanMatter
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