When have World Powers come out to defend the Economic Interest of the African countries? As they think about Africans, it has always been about economic subjugation. Their ways of getting free resources and free workers is to cheapen what they see as products so that they can take it at bargain base price. If they don’t have their way, Gunboat Diplomacy of Mass Destruction to bomb you into ashes and reduce your country to rubble is their weapon!
The radical extremists pushing or trying to choose religion for any African country are only looking for ways to destabilize and polarize the country along religious lines. These are not serious Christians themselves. They do not belong to or attend any church but are quick to misinterpret their own Bible to justify Slavery, abolition of Civil Rights for women and minorities and roll back gains made by progressive sectors upon which their country triumphs.
It is very difficult to believe that a reasonably constituted authority in the world would dictate to an African country today which religious laws to proscribe. How have you succeeded in China or Afghanistan? Though Nigeria adopted British ways from the Era of Roman and Judeo-Christian laws, Sharia laws are not the problem in Nigeria. Sharia applies to the Talikawa but hardly to the rich Muslims. Otherwise, many hands of Northern political kleptomaniacs could have been cut!
People are very conscious about their very existence and are willing to take help from anywhere for preservation. Most of the time a helping hand always has a price in the face of existential threat. We cannot condemn those who feel so threatened that they become desperate for any salvation, even from the devil, believing that a temporary relief is better than none. Christians are crying for help but so are the helpless Muslims, facing a real impending blackmail massacre.
The blessing in disguise of the threat of foreign invasion is that the Nigerian House finally came together to discuss openly without fear, an agreement on combating Boko Haram sponsors and enablers terrorizing communities throughout the country. One would think this is the first time they become aware of members and sponsors of Boko Haram. Of course the negotiators are political bandits who hold folks to ransom in order to extort as much money as they can get.
The silver lining is local Police and local vigilantes have become real again, now supported in the North and South of the country. These have always been a difficult sticking point since some powerful politicians and retired Generals want central control so that they could spill military intelligence and call off the Military and Police defenders; whenever sponsors and members of Boko Haram are about to be incinerated as the USA did. There is no way terrorists can become so bold to parade themselves openly with impunity, unless they have backers in the high places.
Nigeria has always been a secular state though Federal laws are based on Judeo-Christian European laws. The fact is that Nigeria is about half Christians and half Muslims with most of the people still loyal to indigenous religions; even as active members of both religions. The few leaders that joined organizations of Muslim or Christian states, are zealots abusing their power. The issue of joining one religious organization or another has always been controversial.
Nevertheless, Christian and Muslim regions are not indigenous to Africa, both were conversions by force or enticement; some claimed in order to be educated in Christian and Arabic schools. Otherwise, one may wonder how foreign religions have become the point of contention that foreign power from another continent with a history of Civil Rights violations, is threatening an African country as champion of Christian Crusade or even Muslim Jihad in the 21st century!
Unfortunately, people have a double standard between terrorists within and terrorists from outside. Though the consequences of mutilation and death are no different. Voices are growing louder against terrorist invaders. While fear of protest against domestic terrorists is obvious since they can easily identify squealers. Outside terrorists look for weak targets, regardless. It is your neighbors that are being raided today, tomorrow the same marauders would come for you.
Ransom may be common to all terrorists but it is not sustainable in a country known as the world capital of Poverty. The ransom paid by the government to terrorists could be used to alleviate the suffering of displaced victims and the poor. It is ironic that politicians that cornered every allocation from the top and loot foreign earnings are willing to find money for ransom demands of bandits but cannot find money to improve the impoverished situation of the masses.
The reason politicians are willing to pay ransoms is because they keep the lion share. So, in essence, the politicians are the ones arming poor Talakawa and Fulani to go after targets that can produce the lion share they take. These are accomplices that aid and abet terrorism in their own country. They intentionally keep their own country porous in order to increase members of their ethnic population to dominate other ethnic groups: calling and sharing ransoms within!
Localized law enforcement officers can do a better job guiding their borders jealously than the Government at the capital. Prominent patriotic members of the Nigerian Armed Forces say Nigeria can defend the porous borders across the country if the Government is willing and sincere. No country allows those that are not citizens to cross into their country as they wish. Unless there are ulterior motives as we have in Nigeria.
Forest rangers or community vigilantes under the supervision and support of local Police will go a long way in solving the terrorist problem in Nigeria. Once outside terrorists realize that the borders of Nigeria are no longer porous for nefarious activities, we may get some peace within Nigeria. Political importers of thugs and politicians who think their ethnic group have free access and citizenship in Nigeria must be put on notice.
It is now obvious to most Nigerians that proposals to establish grazing land for one ethnic group and not others has always been a sham. Another way to dominate other states apart from their own. No country in this modern day rear their herds into the established farms cultivated after hard work and investment of their own savings and loans from their banks. It is insensitive and cruel to be indifferent to the welfare of those who do everything to take care of themselves.
Farouk Martins Aresa @oomoaresa1
