Reminiscing the period our Nigeria – which has become a rot to the international community and an unsafe haven for its citizens as a result of the Boko Haram activities, was the envy of other nations.
Before the insurgency, Nigeria was regarded one of the happy and peace loving nations, despite the hardship the government put the people through with its bad system of
leadership.
As at this period, the clamor of Nigerians; from the east, west, north and south was for good governance. Although each ethnic groups had their individual differences, there was still that love and oneness binding us as a people. We were known for having laughter on our faces amidst the poor
economy, lack of basic infrastructures and every societal decadence we suffered.
We were regarded a joyous nation because, in spite of our challenges, we still found time
to party and celebrate one event or the other like we always did. Today, all that seem
to have become history as Nigeria has now been tagged a terror nation by the international community for the incessant terror attack by the Boko Haram sect on its citizens.
Before Boko Haram, the nation was faced with the terror activities of some militia groups
from the Niger Delta known as M.E.N.D (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta). M.E.N.D’s own terror activities were more of bombings of the oil rigs and kidnappings of the foreign expatriates who worked and resided in the oil rich Niger Delta region.
The reason according to the militants for carrying out violent activities like they did back then in the Niger Delta was basically because, they were the oil producing state and were neglected by the government to suffer in the creeks. Their continuous bombing of the oil rigs and kidnappings got to the immediate past government that they called for negotiations with the militants and granted them amnesty.
The heads of the militia groups were appointed to secure the same oil rigs they once vandalized with a great financial benefit which amounts to billions annually, a programme the new administration seem to have aborted. Many others granted amnesty by the government at that time, were sponsored abroad
to acquire basic skills in other to better their lives.
The government’s response to the needs of the people in the region brought every form of restiveness to a bearest minimum. The big question is, like the Niger Delta militants fought for a purpose, what actually is the purpose of Boko Haram for this fight? If there were to be a negotiation for their
agitation, what would it be?
What Boko Haram stands for is, No Formal Education. If there were to be a negotiation between the federal government and this dreaded sect, would it be that the government gives in to its conditions of No Formal Education and conversion of Nigeria to an islamic state? I guess I hear you say, very impossible agitation. This obviously was why the arms of amnesty stretched out to the sect by the past administration was ignored.
There’s more to the Boko Haram insurgency than meets the eyes. A school of thought believes that the sect was formed and sponsored by the leaders of some opposition parties to frustrate and make
nonsense of the past Johnathan’s administration, but with the sect’s continued activities even in this new administration that has a northerner as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there’s been a big question mark on the wrong notion to the emergence of the dreaded sect.
Another school of thought believe that the international terrorist group Al-Qaeda, and some foreign countries are behind the activities of the sect, to bring about dis-unity and affect the peace and tranquility we once enjoyed as a nation.
These conflicting beliefs, makes it difficult to pin-point the sole purpose of the sect. Some have attributed a statement made by the now President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari when he lost the Presidential election to former President Goodluck Ebele Johnathan, that he was going to make the nation ungovernable for the past administration, as a convincing fact that he’s solely behind the emergence of the insurgency, but with their continued bombings, it has become so glaring that the people have all had a wrong perception about his involvement in the activities of the sect.
Some schools of thought have been pointing accusing fingers at America as being behind the sponsorship of the activities of the sect to destabilize Nigeria as a nation for the fear of seizing world power from them sooner or later, following a statement credited to the country that Nigeria will breakup come 2015, judging by the incessant terror attacks by the dreaded
sect and prediction of electoral violence which God through his divine intervention helped use Goodluck Johnathan avert by conceding defeat and vacating the office for the president elect to assume the position.
With Buhari’s emergence as president, a sigh of relief from the terror activities of the sect has been heaved by Nigerians who believe that the north’s wish to rule the country at all cost which gave rise to the insurgency that succeeded in making nonsense of the past administration has been achieved and there sure should be amnesty which will bring about seize-fire. If after succeeding to shift power to the north with the disruptions caused the past government, the insurgency continues – like it has been in this new administration, that means Nigeria is in for a kill and the sponsors of the dreaded sect will forever live to regret ever being behind activities of the sect.
The big question that needs an urgent answer now is, since the sect has signed allegiance with the international terror group ISIS, will it ever be easy for the blood thirsty sect to take heed from its sponsors to allow peace and sanctity return to the land? Only God do we look up to for peace and tranquility in our land
@writerofrepute9
