Obviously, to say that Nigeria is at war is not saying much nor is it news. Much of the world would recognize it as stale news.
Yet, tragically, only the truly blind observer of events in Nigeria would be forgiven to think that majority of Nigerians honestly believe their country is indeed at war.
In spite of the growing multitudes of wailing victims, of those killed, uprooted, destituted and sent into wilderness as refugees, the elites in Nigeria appear blissfully oblivious and give scant concern that their nation is fighting a most destructive war with Boko Haram.
They seem to be thankful that the fire is burning in the remote northeast corner of the country; a fact that they seem to think has relieved them of any responsibility.
How else can one describe the recklessness and the cold indifference being displayed by our politicians, as they divert attention of the nation away from the killings and create the impression that all that matters is the 2015 elections?
While our politicians dance away the nights and days to the wild cheers of their gullible and greedy supporters, town after town is overrun and brought under the merciless control of the Boko Haram insurgents.
After the deed is done, it is often too late to advise or call for caution. But it is impossible to hold back given the scale and direction of this tragedy for our country.
I feel compelled to appeal to all Nigerians to recognise that Nigeria is indeed at war. It is a war that seems set to engulf the entire country.
We need to understand that the war in northeast is a war against Nigeria. The insurgents intend to use a conquered northeast as a launch pad on which to invade and conquer the rest of the country and possibly the whole of the West African sub-region.
Boko Haram is well-funded by al Qaeda in the Magrib (AQIM), as well as the booty they acquire in the numerous territories they conquer.
Nigerians must wake up to the reality that their only defence against the marauding insurgents is our visibly demoralised military.
Nigerians, irrespective of our religious and ethnic differences, at home or in the Diaspora, must feel threatened and act accordingly against this growing threat of Boko Haram insurgency.
We must be psychologically and emotionally involved in the war against Boko Haram. It is a task that we must do while we still can.
Nigeria and Nigerians must resolve to show unity of purpose by stopping all divisive recriminations as to which group of Nigerians is responsible for the emergence and support of Boko Haram.
It is not true that the federal government is behind the Boko Haram nor is any anti-Jonathan politician responsible.
No comments:
Post a Comment