IS NIGERIA AT WAR WITH HERSELF?

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The focus of this piece is the lingering Boko Haram crisis in the Northern part of Nigeria. The crisis, which started like a child's play has consumed millions of people, both Nigerians and none Nigerians alike. . Up till now, no one can say for sure, the originator of this deadly group, which has over time, built connections across the country. Abubakar Shekau, who was touted to be the commander of the terrorist group has reportedly died and resurrected several times. The real leader of the group remains an enigma up till this day.

The Nigerian government and other African countries have spent huge resources, both human and material to fight this scourge, yet, it remains a festering wound, which keeps inflicting excruciating pain on the victim. 

The big question then is: what do these people want; what are  their grievances? How can the country assuage their yearnings and  ensure that they lay down their arms genuinely and do not  go back to their old ways?

Well, people do not take up arms without reason. When a child is crying because he or she is hungry, you do not beat the child in order to stop the child from crying. Give the child food and the child is likely to stop crying. Dialogue remains the best option to resolve conflict.

Whether in the North, East, South or West of Nigeria, wherever there is agitation by any group of persons, such group of persons should be invited for talks, open a genuine and  sincere line of communication between both parties to talk things  over.

Has this measure been applied to the Boko Haram crises in the country? Former Head of Sate, Chief Obasanjo tried it, but how effective was his effort? Undoubtedly, he did not achieve much. This brings us to the calibre of persons who should form the peace talks and serve as mediators between the agitators  and the opposing side. The agitators's representative must be chosen by the agitators themselves and the opposing side must be sincere in its dealings with them towards ensuring lasting peace. Such peace talks should be repeated if they fail to yield positive results in the first instance. 

Early in 2020, the Nigerian government welcomed some repentant members of the Boko Haram group and rehabilitated them. Some of them were sent overseas for studies, while others were trained in various technical skills. This is an encouraging development, which should be repeated over time, because once a member or two of the terrorist group is reintegrated into the society, such a member or members will spread the gospel of peace to the recalcitrant ones, who will eventually realise that terrorism is not an enduring occupation. 

Nigeria will seem to be at war.wth herself if she continues to throw away the option of repeated dialogue with her perceived enemies in the settlement of internal conflict as we have in the Boko Haram smackdown.




Comments

  1. Ewere21 September 2020 at 14:07

    Nice article, it really shows the current state of things.

    ReplyDelete

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