Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Sunday, 29 January 2012
BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY: THE ACTORS AND THE ACTIONS
Introduction
The wind of this socio-political instability is equally blowing in the Gulf area and the Arabian Peninsula seeing countries like Bahrain, Syria, Yemen boiling vehemently, albeit due to diverse reasons that have been seen as preference to National security and peaceful coexistence; these are regions where death toll have become untraceable, hence un-recordable (UN Report of 27/01/2012 on Syria Uprising). Then, the assertion that the only impossibility is World Peace may be realistic. Nigeria; the country blessed with human capital and natural resources, the most populous in Africa, and second largest in Africa is not spared of this re-occurring, contagious and devastating situation where bomb blasts, maiming, gruesome killing have been induced to the nation’s polity; a scenario that was developed by a cumulative effect of many actions from many actors; each playing their dependent / independent role, but however complementary.
Immediately after September 11, 2001 attack on World trade centre and Pentagon, alleged to be orchestrated by Bin Laden with the mercenary of Al-Qaeda (the writer holds contrary opinion to this), there came sympathetic feelings with an unflinching solidarity support from the Muslims world with the impression and belief that
the fight against the hegemony of the United States is justifiable ranging from her moral support to Israel against Palestinians, the killing in Pakistan, Bosnia, Kashmir and Chechnya; countries whose peace are murdered for reasons best known to the International community led by the United Nation Security Council. Nigeria was not left out in the midst of these solidarity protests by Muslims organisations; coincidentally resulted in new phase in the ideological and operational development of some of the existing organisations and even catalyzed the emergence of some others. Boko Haram might have fallen in any of these categories; nevertheless, the historical record revealed that their dread actions became noticeable in 2002, then during Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime. The group was the original name of Jama’at Ahlus-Sunaah li’l Dawa’t wal Jihad; unleashing terror in states like Yobe and Borno by burning Police Stations, public and private properties, killing security personnel; an uproar that was swiftly and proactively attended to by the then administration, and succeeded in temporarily keeping the organisation mute. But the ideological nature whether genuinely pursued or otherwise allows the re-building of the movement which came back on board during the late Yaradu’s regime, more fierce and deadly. The metamorphosis has now enrolled Jama’at Ahlus-Sunaah li’l Dawa’t wal Jihad in the world’s record of terrorist organisations following the suite of her aliens like Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and as-Shabab.
The name ‘Boko Haram’ was not original with the group but mainly linked to the ideology of late Mallam Yussuf. This was evident in the series of interviews granted to North-based Islamic scholars who categorically said that they engaged late Yussuf in series of debate to fault his heretical belief that the so-called Western education is forbidden. Most pathetically, this group has murdered our national peace has a nation, threatened our co-existence as an
inseparable geographical entity, and poses future danger to the possibility of civil war in Nigeria especially with the ethnic and religious coloration purportedly made by the dread sect and further fuelled by our bias press outfits. The UN office bombing, Police head quarter bombing, Madalla bombing of the last xmas eve was still refresh in the nations’ mind, before the deadliest attack was launched in the city of Kano leaving scores dead, thus opening more eyes to the callousness, dreadfulness and ungodliness of this group popularly called Boko Haram.
inseparable geographical entity, and poses future danger to the possibility of civil war in Nigeria especially with the ethnic and religious coloration purportedly made by the dread sect and further fuelled by our bias press outfits. The UN office bombing, Police head quarter bombing, Madalla bombing of the last xmas eve was still refresh in the nations’ mind, before the deadliest attack was launched in the city of Kano leaving scores dead, thus opening more eyes to the callousness, dreadfulness and ungodliness of this group popularly called Boko Haram.
).
The Actors and the Actions
International Communities: Without missing words, double standard approach exemplified by the International communities when attending to bi-lateral and international crisis do leave much to be desired. This unjust and unwarranted situation as experienced in the treatment of the Palestinian sovereignty and most painfully was the moral and financial support given in the killing of Muslims in Bosnia, Chechnya and Kashmir. This is evident in the non-enforcement of the 1948 Declaration of Human Rights and other international pronounced laws for the assurance of the world peace. Some analysts had inferred that the world is in the control of the Jews; and this is why international laws have become quasi-materials especially when the interest of the race is not supported (Further reading: Protocols of elders of Zion). Also is the cold war between the West and East blocs which led to the creation of Taliban that was supported and funded by CIA to fight for the fall of the Soviet Union. The aftermath which led to hijack of the Afghanistan leadership by the Taliban; a force which has now become threat to the interest of its architect; US (Further reading: CIA worked with Pakistan to create Taliban; one of the posts on my blog site). Coincidentally or incidentally, the 09/11 attack whether genuine or stage-managed was channelled to achieve the declaration of war against Iraq and Afghanistan whose solidarity evolved many of these today-called terrorist organisations as experienced in the North Africa and the present situation of Nigeria. The US in the pursuit of maintaining her super-power is doing all the affordable to crush any resisting nation; a situation seen as an anti-Islamic action by Muslims, and consequently raises the sympathy, and the anger. The emergence of Boko Haram is undoubtedly one of the catalytic effects of this World injustice, and even their sponsorship directly or indirectly may be linked to the Western world. This could be so due to historical findings of infiltrators sent to malign the image of the Muslims worlds and consequently tarnish the image of Islam ( For further readings: The Confessions of British Spy and British Enmity against Islam, CIA and the Third World by Satish Kumar & The Third world calamity by May Brian).
Nigeria Political Class: This insincerity and mischief that pervade the psyche of Nigeria Political class and elites has eroded the spirit of patriotism, therefore corruption has become the other of the day which has subjected majority of Nigerians into abject poverty since the collective treasure that ought to be circulating among the entire citizenry is being sucked dry by the few opportunists among the political elites. This level of impoverishment makes the citizenry hungry hence angry; and the state of comatose of the nation’s education has resulted in high level of illiteracy. The Northern political class looks greedier and self centred which has made the impoverishment much more pronounced in the states especially states where we now see as the bases of this sect called Boko Haram. In the same vein, the CBN Governor; Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has linked the easy recruitment of young adults by the group to the level of poverty and illiteracy which is equally a function of the region’s derivations, Retrieved from: http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/sanusi-links-boko-haram-to derivation/108039/#.TyOdtAmqqFQ.facebook ).
Also, in order to enable the political class to achieve the usage of these young ones as political thugs, the allocated resources and even the favourable power rotation for the north has not changed the face of the region. The indictments of Senator Akume from Benue State, Vice President Namadi Sambo are facts that cannot be swept off as it is learnt that the infiltration of the political interest changed the face of the group’s struggle, as the group become more funded hence deadly.
Nigeria Police: This agency of government had contributed immensely to the bred of terrorism in the country. This could be traceable to their unethical and unprofessional way of handling the group when it initially started. The police started by attacking the innocent and armless group members, demolishing their places of gathering, and most painfully in the extra-judicial killing of Yussuf; a leader of the Yussufiya sect.
And many others who were just executed arbitrarily, extra-judicially without a recourse to a competent law for pronouncement, it is indeed a terror from the Nigeria Police which continually breed counter-terror from this group.
All these precedence of the Nigeria Police could be used to conclude correctly that the claim of the Mallam Shekau of Boko Haram that the group was not responsible for the killings of civilians in the last Kano mayhem can be factual.
The Nigeria Press: There is no gainsaying in the fact that the world press is not balance, fair and just as the ethics of journalism entrenches. The activities of the Nigeria press outfit are equally disheartening and leave much to be desired. In the report of the incidents of killing, maiming and religious mayhem, their report is imbalance which obviously read meaning to their religious bigotry as an institution. The attack on Muslims in Jos during Eid prayer, the reprisal attack in Benin after the Madalla bombing was not given enough media coverage as compared to what is experienced if it was done by Boko Haram or any islam-related group. This form of social inequities breed sympathy since the stance of injustice is conspicuous from the other party; at least he who comes with equity must come with clean hands. The neglect of the coverage of all the extra-judicial killing of innocent souls, even suspects who have not been convicted by court of law could also explain this media conspiracy.
The Religious/ Traditional Leaders: There is element of bias in both parties of the two major religious settings in Nigeria. When the
upsurge of Boko Haram started, Islamic scholars confronted the leader of this heretical sect to enlighten them about the evil associated with ideology inherent in their gospel, in return of this some were killed by the dread sect, while some flee for their safety and others keep mute to ensure their living on earth continues. This development was taken as accomplice by the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria and in return verbally assaulted theleadership of the Muslims fold; which consequently led to exchange of words between the two bodies, not recognising the fact that both parties must sincerely understand the ugly situation they found themselves and collectively find a way out of the national mess. The nature of the attack launched by Boko Haram sends a religious and tribal rejection which was emotionally taken and fueled counter-reactions from traditional leaders especially the Ohaneze Ndigbo, the Ijaws, to the extent that some started calling for the disintegration of the Nigeria entity.
Conclusion
It is of my personal opinion that the present state of the nation’s insecurity is as a result of concerted effect of the actions and inactions of the above-highlighted actors, therefore fixing the situation can only be done via the route of causation where all actors involved sincerely address and correct their shortcomings and take our STATEHOOD as a country above all other interest.
Our co-existence and further relationship as a single entity is a mutual decision, as I am very confident that none of the amalgamated entities cannot stay comfortably and progressively, since, Crude Oil as never being the only surviving resource. Finally, I strongly believe in the conveyance of Sovereign National Conference sincerely and faithfully organised and implemented to find a lasting solution to all these intermittent occurrence of civil, social, religious and ethnic unrest, or undoing the 1914 deed of Luggard, if to be done without a need for bloodletting, so as to avoid a post-war violence which we may be forced to live with till eternity.
Friday, 27 January 2012
"CIA worked with Pakistan to create Taliban"
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) worked in tandem with Pakistan to create the "monster" that is today Afghanistan's ruling Taliban, a leading US expert on South Asia said in London.
"I warned them that we were creating a monster," Selig Harrison from the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars said at the conference in London on "Terrorism and Regional Security: Managing the Challenges in Asia."
Harrison said: "The CIA made a historic mistake in encouraging Islamic groups from all over the world to come to Afghanistan." The US provided $3 billion for building up these Islamic groups, and it accepted Pakistan's demand that they should decide how this money should be spent, Harrison said. Harrison, who spoke before the Taliban assault on the Buddha statues was launched, told the gathering of security experts that he had meetings with CIA leaders at the time when Islamic forces were being strengthened in Afghanistan.
"They told me these people were fanatical, and the more fierce they were the more fiercely they would fight the Soviets," he said. "I warned them that we were creating a monster." Harrison, who has written five books on Asian affairs and US relations with Asia, has had extensive contact with the CIA and political leaders in South Asia. Harrison was a senior associate of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace between 1974 and 1996.
Harrison who is now senior fellow with The Century Foundation recalled a conversation he had with the late Gen Zia-ul Haq of Pakistan. "Gen Zia spoke to me about expanding Pakistan's sphere of influence to control Afghanistan, then Uzbekistan and Tajikstan and then Iran and Turkey," Harrison said.
That design continues, he said. Gen.Mohammed Aziz who was involved in that Zia plan has been elevated now to a key position by Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Harrison said. The old associations between the intelligence agencies continue, Harrison said. "The CIA still has close links with the ISI (Pakistan's Inter- Services Intelligence)." Today that money and those weapons have helped build up the Taliban, Harrison said. "The Taliban are not just recruits from 'madrassas' (Muslim theological schools) but are on the payroll of the ISI (Inter Services Intelligence, the intelligence wing of the Pakistani government)." The Taliban are now "making a living out of terrorism."
Harrison said the UN Security Council resolution number 1333 calls for an embargo on arms to the Taliban. "But it is a resolution without teeth because it does not provide sanctions for non-compliance," he said. "The US is not backing the Russians who want to give more teeth to the resolution." Now it is Pakistan that "holds the key to the future of Afghanistan," Harrison said.
The creation of the Taliban was central to Pakistan's "pan-Islamic vision," Harrison said. It came after "the CIA made the historic mistake of encouraging Islamic groups from all over the world to come to Afghanistan," he said. The creation of the Taliban had been "actively encouraged by the ISI and the CIA," he said.
Thursday, 26 January 2012
PICTURES OF FIRE VICTIMS TAGGED AS BOMB VICTIMS
Hello Nigerians! It is pertinent we become conscious of genuineness of information, hence
stop spreading propaganda at this sensitive period of our nation's polity. As the evil gun
men are busy unleashing terror at all and sundry, some other social-media evil doers are
spreading falsehood capable of inciting and instigating Muslims and Xtians against each
other; both actors are working toward the actualization of civil unrest and disintegration of
our dear country. Even, if we need to undo the 1914 deed of Lord Luggard, it is not
neccesary it is done via bloodletting. Precisely, the circulating eye-sore picture is a scene of
victims of fire explosion wch happened in Congo. For confirmation:
explosion-idUSTRE6620H220100703 Pls, help in sharing this information so that the
mischief cld stop. Remember, in war, the fathers bury their sons, in peace, sons bury their
fathers.
TISHAU SPEAKS; THE LEADER OF THE PURPORTED BOKO HARAM GROUP
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
What is Boko Haram about?
Our aim is to spread Islam all over Nigeria, that is our mission and I want people to understand that our correct name is Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad. Those calling our group Boko Haram do so to discredit the group and it ideas. It was formed at three fundamental levels.
The first level from which our group emerged was from people in this country who, for selfish reasons, recruited young people and sometimes children and sent them overseas for education. In reality, these people are totally ignorant of the reasons why these big men take them abroad. In the name of education, these young men are taken to mostly Arab countries and turned into militants who respect only those who sponsored them abroad. Those big men who sponsor these youths don’t have any conscience and no love for this country.
It all started in 2004 when the Government of Mauritania fell.
It is similar to what is happening in Libya now, though slightly different. When the government in Mauritania fell in 2004, some individuals from that country came into Nigeria to recruit some youths as mercenaries to join forces with them to overthrow the government in power.
The second level of our membership is made up of young men who were recruited by our late leader, Mohammed Yusuf. Yusuf was approached by some people from Mauritania to recruit more Nigerians to continue with the struggle in Mauritania. The grounds were that this young people were being recruited to further their Islamic studies. They were to serve as a support group to the Mauritanian army. But our leader Mohammed Yusuf rejected the plan. But a number of Nigerian big men who were involved in the Mauritania struggle were angry with Yusuf. This led to a disagreement which pitched the young men loyal to Yusuf against those backing the big men. Yusuf, however, insisted on genuine Islam whereas those opposing him were mercenaries who were willing to serve their master’s interest in Mauritania.
At what point did they leave perfect Islam and become violent?
Whatever I am telling you now I have already made available to the SSS when they arrested me. There was a misunderstanding within the group and this disagreement was between those who received military training in Mauritania and those who were loyal to Yusuf. The SSS infiltrated our ranks and began to arrest many of those who were militants. However, as they were arrested some big men moved in to ensure that the court released them and they came back caused more problems within our group.
In 2009 the disagreement developed into a crisis in areas where our group was spreading Islamic ideals. I was in charge of our operations in Bauchi, Gombe and Plateau. The crisis was more in Bauchi State in two locations and in Kano in one location. In Bauchi, a group began to lay claim to a mosque that was built by our group. This caused a major crisis again and a young girl was kidnapped in Bauchi and taken to Borno State. Our group was fingered but we told one intelligence officer, Bala, who was investigating the case that her relations took her to Borno and if the issue was not handled well it could cause a crisis. The SSS directed us to contact the Commissioner of Police in Borno State to secure the girl’s release. We were still in the process when the Bauchi State governor directed that members of our group should be driven away from the state. That was how our people started to resist the forced evacuation and the crisis with the government spread to Borno State. In fact, the crisis began in Bauchi and not Borno.
Anytime there is a bombing in Nigeria Boko Haram claims responsibility, for example, four times in Borno, Police headquarters and UN office in Abuja.
Yes, we bombed some of those places you mentioned. Remember that I told you that some of our members were recalled from military training in Mauritania. Among them were three specialist in bomb making.
When this crisis began I made a move to the authorities advising that the arrest of Boko Haram members would not bring an end to the crisis. I suggested that the government should stop the arrest and release those already arrested. Let me repeat it today, government should rebuild houses, mosques and schools demolished in Bauchi and Borno states. Government should not interfere in the genuine worship of our group and ensure justice for all. If these are not in place, I predict that the Nigerian situation may become like what is happening in Somalia.
I give this warning because many of those young men who went to Mauritania are being attracted back home because of the violent situation brought by the present crisis.
When I gave my advice, the police chased and arrested me, and kept me in detention. Before I was detained, I gave the police the video recordings of how some of how our members were being given military training, but the IGP ordered that I should be detained. I was left in detention for 10 months.
But those things that I warned about are playing out today. While I was in detention, I was in contact with our people and I still gave forewarnings to the authorities about attacks. I even told them beforehand whenever an operation was to take place. The bombing of the police headquarters had been planned and on many occasions and I had always told them in advance.
In fact, Bala had helped the police because each time I got in touch with him he worked to avert the attacks. If not, the police headquarters would have been bombed before now. Three days before the attack I warned the police that there would be an attack in Abuja that would embarrass the security authorities. Also, after the bombing of the police headquarters, I was summoned before the IGP and given a GSM phone. I called the person who planned and led the attack and we spoke right in front of the IGP. So, all these terror attacks are caused by the negligence of government.
Since I was released from detention, I have rejoined my group and some of us have warned our members to stick to the original ideals of our leader, Yusuf. He did not tell us to kill innocent people or to break into and steal from banks. If there is a conflict between the faithful and the authorities our opposition should be against the authorities and not the talakawas.
There are allegations that Boko Haram is being sponsored by some top level politicians, is it true?
The truth is that politicians are the root cause of this Boko Haram problem. For instance, in Borno State, the governor sponsors a group of armed youths known as ECOMOG. It is this ECOMOG that the governor formed and looks after, above the police, SSS and other security agencies. In Gombe State, the governor has the Kalari. I was once contacted by a governorship candidate to kill an opponent for a fee. The security agencies know what I am telling you.
In Bauchi there is the Tarafuka, an armed group sponsored by the government, and the government watches on, even when we have the SSS and police. That is why our new leader, Mallam Abubakar Shekau, is calling on the youths to disregard all government in the country – a call that has that has brought him and the group into conflict with the government. Some politicians are now taking the advantage of the conflict between the Boko Haram leadership and the authorities to execute their own agenda.
Did Boko Haram bomb the United Nations Office in Abuja?
I would not answer the question of whether Boko Haram bombed the UN building or not for some reasons.
Did Boko Haram bomb the Police headquarters in Abuja?
Yes, we bombed the police headquarters in Abuja. I told you earlier that when the bombing of the Police headquarters happened I called the person who led the attack, I was in front of the IGP. Yes, we bombed the police headquarters in Abuja. They asked me why we bombed the police headquarters and I told him (IGP) in his presence that it was because of his statement in Maiduguri that the days of Boko Haram were numbered.
Why does Boko Haram bomb army barracks and attack police and security operatives? What do they do to affect Islam or the work of Boko Haram?
It is because of the indiscriminate killing of our members and innocent people by the police without trial. They arrest innocent people harass and shoot them and the authorities do nothing about it. Why should we then leave the police?
Boko Haram is asking for Sharia in all the Northern states, and the states have Sharia, so what is the problem again?
I have been waiting for this question. I was in detention when it was said that Boko Haram had threatened to turn the entire North, or the country, into a Sharia state. Since I came out of detention have you heard that Boko Haram is threatening to turn the whole of Nigeria into an Islamic nation? The truth is that those spreading such information are just lying against us. What we are demanding is that those states that have independently declared their states Sharia states should implement it to the letter. Have you seen Sharia cut the hand of someone who steals a cow head, while someone who corruptly enriches himself is left to go free? They have chased away local prostitutes and brought in international red light prostitutes to replace them. They have also banned local alcoholic drinks, yet they drink imported spirits in their respective government houses. Is that Sharia? They are insincere, so they must be effective in the implementation of Sharia. Sharia is being abused. I pity this country. Mauritania that does not have any wealth exported Boko Haram into Nigeria. Now, Libya that has money and wealth has collapsed. Who says that this countries would not bring something worse than Boko Haram into Nigeria?
BOKO HARAM: A NEED FOR DIALOGUE
Without hiding my feelings, being afraid of blackmail or misinterpretation from the Nigeria
People, my finding, research and analysis so far has led to this sad, irresistible but an
antidote to the present security flaws and socio-political quagmire of my country; Nigeria.
The graduating trend in an ascending manner of the series of attacks
launched by the terrorist organisation popularly called Boko Haram is convincing enough to
tell the whole world that we are in to it against an intelligent, coordinated, sophisticated and
tactical dreaded group; and without sentiment, it is a group of an international standard not
the local area boys, or the hungry almajiris. In this instance, I will want to state that FORCE
cannot quench their operation or bring them into extinction; this is a lesson we can learn
from other countries like Somalia, Afganistan, Iraq, Pakistan to mention just but a few
where international intervention using their military forces had NEVER restored peace in the
said areas. It will interest you to know that the United States recently supported the move
by the Afghan government to dialogue with the Talibans; and granting them an office to
start the negotiation in Doha, Qatar. Till tomorrow, As-shabab of Somalia is springing up
and becoming more powerful despite the NATO and UN strikes; funnily this group has a
twitter account; HSMPress, just for us to know we must not underestimate the intelligence
and civilization of these people, and not a function of their language nor the dress they
wear. In conclusion, since military intervention in countries that had faced this challenge
previously did not solve the problem, and a peaceful approach engineered by Yaradu'a of
the blessed memory against the Niger-Delta based terrorist organisations reasonably and
relatively restored peace to the said areas, I will suggest that the FG shld swallow her pride
and ego and negotiate for dialogue to solve this problem; and a conveyance of SNG will be
proactive enough and holistic. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO BE DYING.......My heart
weeps!!!!! January 22 at 5:19pm
SECURITY; AN EXPECTED DIVIDEND OF DEMOCRACY. A CRITICAL ANALYSIS( NIGERIA AS A POINT OF REFERENCE)
BEING A PAPER PRESENTED ON THE 3RD POLITICAL AWARENESS PROGRAMME ORGANISED BY JAMA’AT TA’AWUNIL MUSLIMEEN (IBADAN CHAPTER) ON 17TH JULY, 2011.
THEME: 12 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY; PROGRESSION OR RETROGRESSION.
TOPIC: DEMOCRACY AND SECURITY: ANY DISCREPANCY?
RESTRUCTURED TO: SECURITY; AN EXPECTED DIVIDEND OF DEMOCRACY. A CRITICAL ANALYSIS (NIGERIA AS A POINT OF REFERENCE)
DELIVERED BY: ALH M.D AKANMU JINADU, PREPARED BY AKANMU SEMIU A.
16TH JULY, 2011.
Chairman of the occasion, the dignitaries on the podium, the organizer; an amiable organization of advocacy for social change (JTM), brothers and sisters in Islam here present, other protocol well observed.
As Muslims, I say: May the peace of Allah, His blessings and bounties be with every one of us; Asalam alaekum waramatulahi wabarakatuhu.
It is a golden opportunity being here today; neither for jumbo dancing nor merry making, but to discharge our responsibility as Allah’s vicegerents on earth i.e. His overseers and custodian over all other beings (living and non living), saddled with the responsibility of keeping the earth in order. (Q2vs 30)
Invariably, as Muslims, we must be political partakers and administrators so as not to relegate our esteem position on earth. This convincingly will be achieved by organizing intellectual fora and assemblage like this with the primary and sincere motive of raising the true political consciousness of the masses especially in our immediate neighbourhood, and Nigeria as a whole.
It is against this backdrop that I want to appreciate the giant stride of this organization, as we must never be dispersed until our dream Nigeria becomes a reality. John Stalin (1937) said: “… when change is not completed, we shall continue to criticize and analyze, and when change is completed, we shall continue to consolidate, we shall never rest.”
Going to the topic proper: Democracy and Security; Any Discrepancy? With due humility and respect, I will want to restructure this topic so as to avoid any grammatical illusion and contextual ambiguity, hence, Security; an expected dividend of democracy; A critical analysis (Nigeria as a point of reference) will be suitable, taming towards the theme of this political awareness programme; 12 years of Democracy; Progression or Retrogression.
First and foremost, defining Democracy is from diverse political theorists, with that of Abraham Lincoln as the most popular and all encompassing. Lincoln posits that: Democracy is the government of the people by the people and for the people; a fusion of two Greek words; demo-people and cracy- government.
For Democracy as a political institution of governance to maintain its tenets and for the expected dividends to be a reality, its underlying principles must be religiously upheld as the only way to the manifestation of its dividends, therefore establishing the content of its purpose. Few amongst these principles are: credible electoral process, equity, fairness and justice, respect for the rule of law, and most importantly Democracy championed by Democrats and not Oligarchists, Dictators and Aristocrats as presently experienced in this nation of ours; Nigeria.
It is equally noteworthy that Democracy as a political ideology cannot solely administer human due to the multifaceted social and economic challenges. Due to this fact, socio-economic theories and policies must be implemented simultaneously in the cause of governance, not only as subordinates but also as catalysts to help in the realization of the expected impacts of Democracy.
Political Economists have therefore sub classified Democracy in terms of its imbibed economic ingredients to Socialists’ and Capitalists’ Democracy taking socialism and capitalism as tools of political economy administration. While the former has its basis on social and economic planning of production, the later is on private property exploitation, in a clearer term: exploitation of man by man.
Without mincing words, Security which is expected to be a dividend of Democracy can only be achievable when our Democracy is positioned on genuine political and socio-economic independence of Nigeria; a way to the emergence of True federalism and Resource control. Security is equally a conceptual institution where life and property are relatively free from external negative interference. It is indeed a relative term since earth in its entirety is never a peaceful place since the insurgence of mankind. Allah says: “….Indeed, mankind is created in toil (survival insecurity and difficulty)”.Q90 vs.4
It is never an overstatement that no continent, nation or country on this planet is 100percent secured: catastrophes could be natural or artificial with the end product of loss of life and property.
However, statistical analysis will bring to the fore that Nigeria is a war zone where its security machineries have not only collapsed but equally dead, waiting for burial. This insecurity ranges from the alarming rate of crime: armed robbery, arson, kidnapping, ritual killings, political assassination and politically staged-managed unrest: like the recent factional clash of the members of NURTW in Oyo State, to mention just but a few.
The unfortunate state of the nation’s security is undoubtedly traceable to the faulty foundation on which our Democracy was built and equally the erroneous marauders parading themselves as Democrats whereas they are cheap political sycophants and opportunists. Nigeria’s Democracy had failed to secure her citizenry because of the adopted economic polity where all the exorbitant budgetary allocation had never translated to food on the table of the common man.
Securing this nation is not by the amount budgeted on security viz-a-viz the number of police men, agents of SSS, other security personnel employed or the sophistication of their arms and ammunition, but simply by making life comfortable through the provision of basic social amenities and infrastructural facilities.
Karl Marx posited that: “the substructure of all superstructures is the material base, a foundation for all structures. To make a man happy, give him materialism.”
I have overtime researched and scientifically concluded that: Unemployment is the mother of poverty, Poverty breeds hunger, hunger breeds anger, Anger breeds Violence. Taking guns away from the Niger- Deltans without the deployment of armed soldiers characterized by the amnesty programme started by late Umar Yaradua (of blessed memory) is a convincing fact that no right thinking person, gainfully employed or empowered will risk ruining his life.
Not to over-emphasize economic instability as the remote cause of the nation’s insecurity, lack of education, juicy financial gain by our partisan politicians and the monster; corruption are inseparable entities from the lingering state of Nigeria’s insecurity; jeopardizing the ideals and values that should be the flourishing gains of our nascent democracy.
Nigerians must be educated; education that is qualitative and affordable. Also, proper civic education and respect for social norms and nuances must be passed to the blood streams of Nigerians; a clarion call for revolutionary struggle for economic emancipation which does not lie on racial, ethnic, religious and political sentiment. It is on this note that I want to crave your indulgence to collectively condemn the barbaric, uncivilized and faceless struggles of the so-called Islamic sect; Boko haram. Without reservation and apology whatsoever, Education of our conventional institutions is not compulsory for whosoever see it as forbidden; haram, and therefore must not be made a general rule against the interest of who do not share the ideology. However, it must be clearly stated that it is incorrect to tag the education we enjoy as being western because the word “west” connotes a description of a geographical location or an ideology of the people of this political bloc. Nor of these can explain in its real sense what we learnt in our economics, geography, government, physics, chemistry e.t.c., and therefore I want to subscribe to the submission of one of our teachers; Umar Paiko who said: Material education will precisely describe the nature of our conventional education because it is the study of matter; material.
Many of these faceless strugglers are coerced with brainwashing ideology due to the fact that they are not properly educated not only the material education as highlighted but even the correct Islamic teaching in accordance with the Sunni Islamic jurisprudence.
The expensive administration and governance as being experienced in Nigeria’s democracy has equally fuelled the nation’s state of insecurity due to the fact that politicians has made to see elected offices as antidote to their financial and economic imbroglio, and not as a call to serve humanity; this is the message from the attached jumbo pay of our political offices. This is the main reason why people seeking elected offices desperately witch hunt their co-contestants and exercise a do-or-die antics; a signal from the high rate of political assassinations and politically staged managed unrest; thus perforating our security network.
Establishment of an egalitarian society will chase the monster called Corruption which has eaten deep to our fabrics as Nigerians; a development from the oppressive life lived by the few elites and members of the high social class; a syndrome that has changed the psyche of an average Nigerian, and every body want to make pecuniary gain of any office or opportunity he had, either by crook or hook; making our country socially insecure.
For security to be enjoyed as a dividend of Democracy, our economic structures must be well institutionalized in order to cater for the needs of the citizenry. Affordable and qualitative education, and comfortable livelihood as entrenched by the constitutional provision of chapter IV, section 33, 34 and 35 of 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria( as amended) must be enjoined. As this is the only way to prevent our constitution from becoming a quasi material, and just a fold of papers as good as a waste basket product.
Security will be a mirage in the enlistment of Democratic dividends if things are not gotten correctly as a fore discussed and positioned, and what is required in Nigeria and other countries where security is a scarce commodity (Bahrain, Egypt, and Cote’dvoire etc) is not civil, ethnic or religious war, but a revolutionary war whose goals should be total liberation. This is what Amilcar Cabral had warned that: “we form part of a specific reality, namely Africa, fighting against colonialism, racism and imperialism…”
Conclusively, criticizing the theme of this programme for proper positioning takes an intellectually robust, scientific and empirical analysis to submit whether our Democracy is progressing or retrogressing.
As far as I am concerned, a point of reference must be specified in this assessment because there are numerous intervening variables which are capable to make any hasty submission faulty. In terms of the nation’s security, a graphical representation of a sine curve (sinusoidal wave) will depict our security trend, where as our socioeconomic indicators have been practically on the decline due to the rated hyperinflation and consistent devaluation of our currency.
Nonetheless, in terms of building our democracy as a political institution, there is a steady progress and improvement towards the dream Nigeria, as a clearer comparism in the electoral process, independence of the judiciary and respect for the rule of law between the dispensation administered by Olusegun Obasanjo and the present government will convince us and give us the hope that one day Nigeria will become a developed nation; socially, economically and politically.
I must equally reiterate that to us in the civil society, Nigeria is yet to attain democracy as defined by advanced political theorists, and what we are experiencing in Nigeria is a democratization process which painstakingly will take us to our promise land; Democracy, where all right will be respected and the common man will have food on his table with convenience; the only path to a secured nation.
No food, No security.
Thanks and God bless you all.
Asalam alaekum waramatulahi.
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