The recent “carrot and stick” approach recommended by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the solution of the Boko Haram insurgency should be taken seriously by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Till date, among all our past leaders, Obasanjo has continuously shown concern, worry and proffered solution to this lingering crisis. He, human like all of us, though, has his faults which many of us have at one time or the other kicked against both while he was in or out of power. Yet, it is often said that, messages are considered while the messenger can be ignored. Obasanjo as a former president and military chief in this country has a lot to offer in terms of experience and tactics in security matters. We cannot for very obvious reasons sideline him when he speaks on similar issues just because we differ with his political moves. We should and must take him seriously because of our interest in building and achieving peace and unity in this country.
It does not fetch us any advancement to trade tackles, each time any leader bares his mind on this menace and, probably a way out of it. We can for the merit it would do us as a nation, marry the suggestions brought forth.
For years now, the Boko Haram group has shown the capacity to over-run Nigeria in a matter of time and, it is then desirable for the government of the day to look for the solution without minding where it is got. Again, the argument by the government that members of this Islamist group are faceless is far from the truth; with this argument it is simply providing for the security agencies, excuses to look the other way while, innocent Nigerians are killed daily by this group. The Boko Haram sect is an organised group of terrorists, the memebers meet, discuss, acquire weapons, in fact, no doubt, they must have sponsors. The truth remains that our security agencies are not doing enough to arrest this ugly situation, it is, in fact, worrisome that till date, this sect has not been infiltrated by our security agents while its members have infiltrated into the Police, SSS, Military and Presidency, as Jonathan himself admitted some time ago.
Our security men are not telling Mr. President the whole truth about this menace; they should buckle up, for the reason they were engaged is to fight enemies of the state. Obasanjo, according to media reports, spoke with the lawyer of this group; would a faceless group have a lawyer? Why are the security agencies not seeking out this lawyer to open dialogue with the group? Why is it difficult for the security chiefs to meet with their former ‘oga’, with the available information at his disposal? For us to solve this problem that is gradually growing to a monster status, all hands must be on deck. Whether any person likes it or not, if any madman decides to light the match in any highly inflammable environment, it is doubtful if there would be anything to salvage. Therefore, any crazy man wanting to set Nigeria ablaze now has a very affordable and willing tool to use in Boko Haram. Mr. President should meet with the former President and indeed, all other past leaders, to discuss a way out of this crisis before we are all consumed.
There is no doubt that, our past leaders, mainly the military chiefs would come in handy in dealing with this crisis. They have great wealth of experience that could be very relevant in tackling this problem. President Jonathan could rub minds with them, to tap from their experience and professionalism. It is also important for the President to rejig his security chiefs, perhaps to make them aware of their duty. All the intelligence units of the security agencies ought to, by now, be working in unison to be able to break into the camps of these unrepentant Islamic militants. Certainly, to me, that is where to start from, if they have not.
A human rights activist, Shehu Sani, once reportedly offered to link the government with a contact person who could be a veritable source of peaceful negotiation with members of this sect. This is another door for consideration in achieving peace. We would have expected the security chiefs to invite Sani for discussions as one of the options to finding a lasting solution to this evil that manifested in our country a few years back, an evil and wicked act that has taken lives of innocent Nigerians for no just cause. We have so far, according to a report last year by the Human Rights Watch, an international rights organisation, lost about 2,800 people. This number is enormous, enough for the government to feel extremely concerned and for the citizenry to lose confidence on its government. Businesses have shut down in mostly Borno, Yobe, Kano, Kaduna states; people have had to relocate to neighbouring states and Abuja which afford more serene environment, to continue their lives and businesses. Some parents too have relocated their children’s schools to other states for the safety of their lives. This evil must be tackled to allow development thrive in these places and indeed Nigeria.
This is not an issue to politicise at all, rather, it calls for our leaders to work assiduously at taming these insurgents with immediate effect. Nigeria is now regarded as a terrorist nation and included in the list of countries to be avoided by tourists and businessmen. Nigeria now witnesses poor economic growth and development as a result of this worsening security problem.
Our past leaders must invest their wealth of experience in resolving this crisis. It is not Jonathan the Boko Haram elements are fighting but, Nigeria, which may spell doom for all if left unchecked.
– Nwaogbe wrote in from Maitama, Abuja
Good idea
Nicely…I luv dis man for who he is nd what he can offer at any givn time not minding dat he has fooled Nigerians once…others (cpc,northerners,buhari nd co,etc)are beasy abusing$fighting the president instead of proffering solution 2 dis ugly trend.as if 2 say dis country is owned by the president.d question is how were ey able 2 collaborate with d president 2 fight dis crises irrespective of dia political parties knwing dat u don’t play politics with security nd pple’s lives.After suceeding in rendering northern Nigeria useless,ey re looking 4 whom 2 put d blame on.well,my take on dis is…in as much as I dnt belong 2 any political party in dis coutry,d earlier Nigerians stop blaming anybody on dia problems but rather profer solution 2 it,d better 4 all of us if not,d world will keep seeing us as corrupt pple nd dia’s naffing u can do abt it.
Obj should keep his opinions to him self. Now that he nows that the root of BH is been uncovered that he want to suggest that.
If BH has infiltated the army, who is thier sponsors? Most of the current guys in army are boys of our retired generals.
BH is being dealt with ruthlessly. No more myth about them. The current task force has enough intelligence, hence success recorded so far.
When last did we have a bomb blast? Success is being achieved, so credit must be given.
I expect that as sensitive as the issue of BH is, OBJ should have not choosen the media has the medium to give such advice.
As former head of state, he has access to the president. Why use media? To take shine or discredit?
If you ask me, the issue BH is being overflogged by the media. The problem has been solved. Certain highly placed individuals have been identified and linked. These sponsors now know that law enforcement agents have some intelligence about thier activities. Just a question of time that all these evil elements will all be phased out.
Let’s allow the authorities to continue to do their good work. They need to be commended instead of distracted.
Obasanjo’s knowledge supersede all knowledge of our past and present president, he is capable of tackling dis crisis of boko haram. More elbow sir
but OBJ statements r undeniable truth. His advice as nt jux a former President bt a military head should be adhered to coz i presume he’s more advanced & Xperienced wit regards 2 security wen compared 2 dix new generation leaders !!! I guess even d boko haram itself reserves some honour 4 him by nt yet issued a threat 2 d past autocratic leader. OBJ SHOULD BE LISTENED TO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!nw B4 itz late.
our people r killed by d sect, our people r brutalized by security in d refight against d sect, our socio-economical activities r demolished,d government is not recoganising d idea of dialoge despite d expensive n d failure of its concept, n our dear neigbours ie some cristians n southerners, level us generally as BH. So pls where do we lay our tears. thnx mr obasanjo n nwaogbe 4 d wrtup,
Jonathan should swallow any pride, and appoint Obj to deal with the issue.
We’ll be safe in no time. Jonathan has years of experience as a lecturer, Obasanjo has years of military experience quelling insurgencies, Give honour where honour is due!!
Boko Haram is obviously a political group sponsored by people with fundamentalists Islamic leanings. To the outside world tehir sponsors pretend to be neutral. Their agenda is to Islamize Nigeria, rule Nigeria and steal all the money – Pure greed!!.
The perpertuators of the acts truly do not like western education, because after killing innocent ‘christians ‘ on sunday morning they say ‘we are winning the war on christians’…Stupid !! You win a war only when the christians convert to islam …Geez!! . if the christian dies and goes to heaven he becomes are matyr for christ and sits in the heavenly places where as the killer is now a criminal. And the crime is genocide.
Genocide is “the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group. Genocide is punishable internationally. Thats why CAN should take it to the international court as genocide. Sponsors of genocide will loose everything they own if not locally certainly internationally. and they will never be able to go to any foreign country of repute.
Unfortunately, our political leaders are so fixated on eating the national cake, they have forgotten that they have been called to create bakeries. Save a few western and southern governors, they often have nothing to offer.
The Sultan of sokoto a former military leader has denounced Boko Haram recently, and complained about the inactivity of government despite reports and information on their sponsors.
It appears their sponsors are ‘untouchable’ or are ‘Jonathan sponsors’ so Jonathan is finding it hard to bring them to book because he has his eyes on a second or is it third term.