Reminiscing the period our Nigeria - which has become a rot to the international community and an unsafe haven for its citizens as a result of the Boko Haram activities, was the envy of other nations.
Before the insurgency, Nigeria was regarded the most happiest and peace loving nation, despite the hardship the government put the people through with its bad system of leadership.
As at this period, the clamour of Nigerians; from the east, west, north and south was for good governance. Although each ethnic groups had their individual differences, there was still that love and oneness binding us as a people. We were known for having laughter on our faces amidst the poor economy, lack of basic infrastructures and every societal decadence we suffered.
We were regarded a joyous nation because, in spite of our challenges, we still found time to party and celebrate one event or the other like we always did. Today, all that seem to have become history as Nigeria has now been tagged a terror nation by the international community for the incessant terror attack by the Boko Haram sect on its citizens.
Continue reading after the cut....
Before Boko Haram, the nation was faced with the terror activities of some militia groups from the Niger Delta known as M.E.N.D (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta). M.E.N.D's own terror activities were more of bombings of the oil rigs and kidnappings of the foreign expatriates who worked and resided in the oil rich Niger Delta region.
The reason according to the militants for carrying out violent activities like they did then in the Niger Delta was basically because, they were the oil producing state and were neglected by the government to suffer in the creeks. Their continuous bombing of the oil rigs and kidnappings got to the government that they called for negotiations with the militants and granted them amnesty.
Today, the heads of the militants have been appointed to secure the same oil rigs they once vandalized with a great financial benefit which is between 7 and 9 digits annually. Many others granted amnesty by the government have been sponsored abroad to acquire basic skills in other to better their lives.
The government's response to the needs of the people in the region brought every form of restiveness to a bearest minimum. The big question is, like the Niger Delta militants fought for a purpose, what actually is the purpose of Boko Haram for this fight? If there were to be negotiation for their agitation, what would it be?
What Boko Haram stands for is, No Formal Education. If there were to be a negotiation between the federal government and this dreaded sect, would it be that the government gives in to its conditions of No Formal Education and conversion of Nigeria to an islamic state? I guess your response would be, very impossible agitation.
There's more to the Boko Haram insurgency than meets the eyes. A school of thought believes that the sect was formed and sponsored by the leaders of some opposition parties to frustrate and make nonsense of the present government of the nation, while some believe that the international terrorist group known as Al-Qaeda, and some foreign countries especially the U.S are behind the activities of the sect, to bring about dis-unity and affect the peace and tranquility we once enjoyed as a nation.
These conflicting beliefs, makes it difficult to pin-point the sole purpose of the sect. Could a statement credited to Major General Muhammadu Buhari when he lost the Presidential election to President Johnathan, that he was going to make the nation ungovernable, be the reason many are pointing accusing fingers at him and some northern leaders for being behind the activities of Boko Haram?
Or could it be the statement credited to America that Nigeria will divide by 2015, and it's actually on the verge of doing so, following the incessant terror attacks by the dreaded sect? All these are questions that needs urgent answers.
-Reginald Chukwu
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