Nigeria, What Next?

The present insecurity in the North-East and the nation capital Abuja is worrisome by the masses for the past two years plus. Security can be defined as a state of safety which permits a healthy environment and guarantees respect for lives and property. In any given society, security is an Indispensable for growing and development.

It's very glaring that nothing can be achieved in a state of anarchy, the prevailing crisis in the North is such that if it continues no meaningful development can be achieved in the region.

It's a known fact that a society which is consistently exposed to violent activities can only offspring or breed youths whose psyche and perception are criminally tailored, e.g. failed state of Somalia and Afghanistan etc.

The recent dastardly bombing attack at Nyanya motor park suburb of Abuja on Monday 7 April, 2014 , which killed hundreds of innocent people and injured many, was a national tragedy, a heinous crime against humanity and 24 hours later the same jihadist group Boko Haram has abducted 200 School girls from their hostel at Government Secondary School in a village in Borno State of North-East volatile region; thereby subverting the nation at all cost, therefore, all Nigerians should co-operate with the government to end the circle of violence.

Since, the Nigerian President is voted into power by the electorates he had been having tough times to tackle endemic symptom of the international terrorist group called Boko Haram.

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a southern minority Christian from the Ijaw ethnic nation; the Niger Delta region were the mainstay of the Nigerian economy is been derived for the past 54 years , came to power in 2011 Presidential election, defeating the Hausa-Fulani, flag bearer of the CPC Party, Muhammadu Buhari a retired General and former military Head of state who truncated the first democratic elected government of Nigeria led by an Elder statesman Alhaji Shehu Shagari in December 31,1983.

General Buhari immediately cry foul when he was massively defeated by President Jonathan's led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government and verbally warned in the media that he will make the present government ungovernable and overtime, he had made the state uncontrollable.

Also, Junaid Mohammed, a Northern politician “ Let me tell you, in the event of break- up of Nigeria, the north is the component that will remain one and united ''.

However, given the fact that Buhari had once held the highest office in Nigeria, It is a pity he did not shows Statesmanship. I did not believe that political power should be won at all costs through the barrel of the gun.

To corroborate this the National Publicity Secretary of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Olisa Metuh, said that “More so, these key figures never condemned acts of terrorism and the killings until well-meaning Nigerians started pointing accusing fingers at them'' it noted.

“They rather blamed government for not reaching out to pacify the terrorists instead of helping to find solutions.

They relished in comments that inspired violence and emboldened insurgents against the system,” the statement noted.

The PDP insisted that it was not a coincidence that after the former Head of State General Muhammedu Buhari rtd, beckoned on his supporters “ to go on lynching spree should he lose the 2011 Presidential election” as candidates of now defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC ), an unprecedented violence broke out , claiming the lives of hundreds of innocent Nigerians: “ Not satisfied with the enormity of the mayhem and bloodletting of 2011, Buhari on May 14, 2012, said , “ If what happened in 2011, (alleged rigging) should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood,” the PDP re-called.

On January 23, 2014, APC Deputy National Secretary, Malam Nasir El-Rufai said, “The next election is likely to be violent and many people are likely to die. And the only alternative left to get to power is to take it by force, this reality on ground. “Are we not now witnessing a foretaste of the bloodbath promised by Buhari and El-Rufai. The party insisted that the provoking utterance is to destabilize the administrations of Jonathan's, an allegation the opposition party APC has denied it's support for the insurgents; but unguided statement of the opposition figures are known facts.

What is happening is a cannon fodder for the Hausa-Fulani people in their unending struggle to dominate Nigeria. In terms of Federal appointment in government we have more Northern no difference from the days of the Northern dominated leadership.

It is laughable that the North had ruled the nation since 1966—1999 of the nationhood only 2 years plus of a South-South leadership, they have gone weary. The only legacy that Oil has brought to the entire Niger Delta region is death, because of environmental degradation by the Explorations and exploitation of the multi-national oil and gas corporations.

Bok Haram means western education is evil or sinful in Hausa language was founded in 2002 as a ragtag army by Mohammed Yusuf to impose a strict Islamic fundamental states in Northern part of the country. The monster that created this group had outlive their vision; the number and intensity of the dread jihadist violent conflicts has increase than decrease to destabilize the government. Conservatives ethnic champions or political leaders should not blame the presidency that he failed to tame or crush the Boko Haram insurgents.

To protect lives and property is for government and a collective responsible of the entire citizenry; we must all condemn it than politicizing the incessant killings and other security breaches confronting the country.

Overtime, Boko Haram sectarian group is mentor by Al- Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) an affiliate to global Islamic jihad, Taliban founded by late international terrorist Osama Bin-ladin. International terrorism is a threat to peace all over the world, is not only in our country. Its passes through the weak borders with, Republic of Chad, Niger and Cameroun to cause mayhem. Lest we forget the fall of the late Libyan leader Muammer Kaddafi also contribute to the proliferations of arms in the Sahel.

The situation in Northern Nigeria is of course of very grave concern to us; very grave to every Nigerian and the sub-region. If there is crisis it affect the entire Sub-Saharan African.

The critics are absentee politicians not against Jonathan's PDP led federal government but the Nigerian state.

I wept for my beloved country of the cat and mouse game between two erstwhile political ally Hausa-fulani and South-South; since Jonathan's leadership, it's becomes weaker ; who becomes the next President ; should not be an issue of religion, politics and tribe; but who provide the dividends of democracy not selfish goals.

Democracy is the best form of government, during the long years of military rule in Nigeria, most of the military Governors and Administrator of the South-South were Nigerians from others states of Nigeria, especially from the Northern Nigeria. Why not just work together sincerely for the good of everyone in this difficult moment.

Nigeria has gotten itself entangled in too many political squabbles lot of precious time and energy is being wasted. Despite these lamentable problems, Goodluck Jonathan managed to ensure that the state apparatus functioned effectively.

Democrats and progressive in all spheres of life in Nigeria were aware that General Buhari during his reigned of terror as a Military dictator, he oppressed the Nigerian press, two notable journalists of the Guardian newspapers; the influential Lagos based national tabloid at Rutam House Nduka Irabor and Tunde Thompson were jailed under the regime's obnoxious Decree 4.

Also three young Nigerians, Lawal Ojulope, Bathelomew Owoh and Bernard Ogedengbe were summary executed in Lagos on April 10, 1985 for alleged drug trafficking.

Buhari reign of terror was however stopped in a palace coup carried out by his Chief of Army Staff General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida popularly called IBB; the Military President on August5 27, 1985.

The ongoing National Conference ; Delegates must sincerely save the country from a looming anarchy through a patriotic approaches, the outcome would not make any differences in the lives of the ordinary Nigerians; if true Federal is not discuss, agree upon and accepted.

True federalism - a state in which component units of federation would be free to express their values.

The entire traditional rulers, Religious and Community leaders in the North have greater responsibilities to ensure that sanity is restored in their regions by preaching mutual peace and remain transparent in their relationship with the government security forces and people from other ethnic groups.

Security is everybody business not only the security operatives.

It is clear that what happens, the leadership in Nigeria is depressing, but what are the rest of us doing, to be sensitive to the problems and of our people, the masses.

I wish the country Goodluck of the antecedent of the supporters of the fundamentalist for years to come that had undermine the stability of the most populous black nation on earth.

Jinbobaraye Karibo-Nelson, JP, SIPM, FECRMI,
a Social Commentator and Security Analyst wrote from Ogu Town,Rivers State,Nigerian