In a recent interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), former President Olusegun Obasanjo who we learnt recently revived a plan for dialogue with the Boko Haram insurgents’ family members but waiting for an approval from the presidency, disclosed that some of the abducted Government Girls Secondary School girls will never return back alive. Obasanjo was quoted as saying some will give birth to children of the Boko Haram members. This revelation by a retired General and former Head of State is enough for the President Goodluck Jonathan-led government to involve, intensify, fast-track every avenue at the search and rescue mission of the Chibok girls. It is apparently going to be difficult for the parents, blood relations of these abducted girls to sleep, eat, reason because of the kidnap of their daughters more than two months ago.
Not quite long, the local vigilantes and hunters in Borno and its environ mobilized and volunteered to go into the Sambisa forest for the rescue of these innocent girls, sort for the approval of the military but were denied till date. The live of these girls is sacrosanct, weigh far above all sentiments, politics, intrigues, pride, passing of bucks going on among the government and political circle. We must imagine the trauma these parents are going through since the abduction of their children on April 15. The solution to get these above 200 girls back and alive lies in the citizens and government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Gradually the Government and people of Nigeria are carrying on with business as usual while our daughters languish in Sambisa forest.
In spite of the emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, the near lack of security appears very visible as, the Boko Haram boys operate without any strong resistance from our military. There is palpable fear, tension everywhere as it appears these insurgents are spreading to other parts of the country. There were bomb explosions in Jos, Kano, Abuja and Kaduna, bomb scare in Lagos. An attempted bomb detonation in Owerri, suspected hundreds of Boko Haram members arrested in Abia on their way to Port-Harcourt. It is then pertinent that we must take security of lives and property extremely serious devoid of politics, religion and personal interest. And, to do this we need to involve our past leaders with vast experience in security intelligence. Nigeria is today as were, sitting on a keg of gunpowder.
Nigeria belongs to everyone called by the name of Nigerian and so the majority of us who still believe in one Nigeria must put our feet down irrespective of our political or religious leanings to find solution to our common problem. It is obvious now that the Boko Haram insurgents have gathered very powerful sponsors, sympathizers, weapons and followership and are determined to achieve their aim – Islamize Nigeria, though that is unachievable here but we must act fast before we are consumed by the inferno arising from such. In 2012, in a widely circulated video recording that is easily accessible on the internet, Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram announced the mission statement of his sect. Among other things, he said “this war is not political. It is religious. It is between Muslims and unbelievers (arna). It will stop when Islamic religion is the determinant in governance in Nigeria.” This is one of the factors why the government of the day must consider a serious approach to dealing with this insecurity bedeviling our country today.
This insurgency can be fought from different approach, we may have to adopt the Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s interest in talking with both family members and friends of the leaders of the insurgents on one hand and, challenging the local vigilante and hunters in assisting or joining the military considering the fact that they understand the terrain better than our soldiers. Gen. Obasanjo is a Nigerian, a former military chief, president, an internationally respected figure, he is no saint, but his interest, contributions at offering an assistance to resolve this issue cannot be wished away by President Jonathan or the military. No doubt, if he succeeds, that would be a plus to his political profile but we must understand he is already a political colossus in Nigeria, no matter what we think of him. When in 1993, Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace prize in Oslo, Norway, Mandela confessed and recognized then how important de Klerk was to the settlement of the political crisis that bedeviled South Africa. He remarked that, “my worst nightmare is that I wake up and de Klerk isn’t there,’ Mandela told his guests at a private dinner party to celebrate the award that, ‘I need him, whether I like him or not is irrelevant, I need him.’ In this case President Jonathan needs former President Obasanjo whether he likes his face, politics or not in our overall national interest and in dealing, once and for all, with this insurgency.
There is a serious security challenge in the country that cannot be handled by the government alone. It definitely needs the heart, head and hands of all Nigerians irrespective of political, religious leaning. No person can worship or politick in a land of turmoil. If the former president is showing interest, courage in getting involved in tackling this insurgency and rescuing these girls let Mr. President Goodluck Jonathan engage him, support and pat him at the back. We need these girls back!
Further still, if the local vigilantes and hunters are volunteering to use their cultural and traditional intellects in getting involved in the search and rescue of these girls, then they need the government and military’s assistance. A member of the civilian JTF, Bana Bukar once said, “If the military can give us cover, we can confidently enter Sambisa. We know the terrain better than the security operatives.” These people are Nigerian citizens and members of the community, the government and security agencies should talk with their leaders, reach an agreement, give them all necessary support and move into the forest together for a successful operation. The hottest and most interesting news expected from the presidency today by the peoples of Nigeria is the freedom of these girls after all and the dislodgement of the Boko Haram insurgents. Even if the Super Eagles wins the ongoing World Cup, the joy will not be as glorious as in the freedom of these girls. This is the biggest gift our women, the women of the world are expecting from President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR.
Written By Uzodinma Nwaogbe
