[OPINION] How Nigeria Should Relate With Boko Haram

In every age and time man has always been confronted by challenges. Sometimes it may seem insurmountable but the moment man finds a way out, he becomes ever better compared to where he was coming from.

Today Nigeria is faced with its own fair share of challenges from corruption to poverty and underdevelopment but none of these issues are more pronounced than the menace of Boko Haram which stands to threaten the basis of our collective existence as a nation except we find a creative approach out it.

How best Nigeria should relate with Boko Haram becomes a fundamental question that stares not only the political authorities in the face but every concerned citizenry.

The history of this country is replete with examples of how we have overcome challenges that seek to tear this us apart. Two typical examples of such was the civil war and how the ‘‘no victor no vanquish’’ stance of Gen. yakubu Gowon brought us out of the war, another is the recent Niger delta militancy agitations and how the then president creatively engaged the youth of that region with an amnesty initiative. Thus curbing the restiveness in the Delta.

To this end therefore, a solution is possible with Boko Haram if we look in the right direction. Obviously finding a way out of this challenge that Boko Haram pose is impossible without understanding the factors that have led this group to evolve from just individual assassinations to large scale bombing, turning many state capitals in the north to theatres of war.

These factors hold the key as to how best Nigeria can relate with Boko Haram thus finding feasible solution to the reoccurring hostilities of this group.

The most fundamental factor to the threat of Boko Haram is the political side to the entire equation. Truth be told, politics and politicians in the country today aid create this monster that threatens us all in this country. The recent call by the group that it wants Gen Buhari to lead its peace talk with the federal government is an affirmation to this position. On the other hand, the political tool seems to be one of the most feasible factors we can use to relate with them only if men of proven pedigree and character lead such an effort. Then the nation is on a path to peace.

Another factor is the economic dimension to this entire situation. A large percentage of the young men recruited to carry out these attacks are largely jobless making then vulnerable to enticement that is leading many of them to their early grave. Again we can relate with through economic empowerment.

Also, another significant factor we can use as a means to relate with Boko Haram is religion. The need to emphasis that Islam is a religion of peace and not war is of utmost significance too. In line with this view, we must let them know that this is a secular state and that everyman is free to find God the best way he deems fit. These are just some of the possible alternative open to us in relating to Boko Haram.

 

Yekeme

www.yekipedia.blogspot.com

an independent observer