Hawks sabotaged efforts to effect the release of Chibok girls -Shehu Sani
How do you feel to know that 90 days after, Chibok girls have not been rescued by the military? The spectacular abduction of the Chibok girls and the wave and heat it generated nationally and globally led to a number of things and events. The abduction testifies to the vulnerability of the Nigerian state and […]
How do you feel to know that 90 days after, Chibok girls have not been rescued by the military?
The spectacular abduction of the Chibok girls and the wave and heat it generated nationally and globally led to a number of things and events. The abduction testifies to the vulnerability of the Nigerian state and the pervasiveness of the insurgency in the North-east. The abduction aroused broader national consciousness on the crisis at hand. The abduction generated global interest on the conflicts and challenges facing the Nigerian state, the abduction evidently affirm to the impotency of the government in handling the issue. The abduction presented before the world the vacuousness and vapidity of our own stock of leaders.
The Federal Government failed the girls of Chibok, but as a generation, we share the collective guilt for our inability to ensure and assure the next generation of Nigerians on issues that guarantee their future.
What roles did you play in the effort to ensure their rescue?
As a citizen and most importantly as a human being I’m not just concerned but troubled by the degenerate state of my country. The years of unceasing violence and it’s attendant carnage has demonized my part of the country and seriously corroded the integrity of Nigerians before the eyes of the world. The insurgency has paralyzed both lives and economic activities in the north eastern part of Nigeria and has evidently led to negative demographic changes. The insurgency is a clear threat to our very existence as a people and as a country, our democracy and our freedom is stretched to a stressing point. This is a special moment in our history that calls collective action and national solidarity. Any role any individual or group can play that will advance the course of peace is a welcome development.
Times of crisis are challenging moments in a history of a nation and the bridge over it is nothing other than a resilient spirit and courage on the side of the citizens and as for the Government and our political leaders,they should give hope by inspiration and motivation. Leadership is not simply about presiding over a people in good times, it’s about taking tough decision, taking the front seat and riding the people through turbulent storms and to safety. As a citizen I play my role with my voice and availing myself to any genuine and credible effort that will fumigate our country of any form violence.
Why is it that at a point government backed out when a release was imminent?
There were actually some positive interventions that went busted in the process: I believe those who were directly involved are in the best position to explain these. It’s instructive to understand that dialogue or negotiation achieve best result if done discreetly and confidentially.
Because in the corridors of power, no matter the interest and commitment of the Government there will always be hawks who will sabotage the process. By hawks it’s meant entrenched interests profiteering from the bloodletting and these include defence and security entrepreneurs and other merchants of crisis. However, we should not be discouraged because we failed an attempt. If you study events in crisis spots worldwide like the Israeli – Palestinian issue, you will understand what I mean. In the UK, the Northern Ireland issue was also resolved after decades of violence and many failed attempts at peace.
We understand negotiators demanded for N7 billion. How true is this?
I am not actually aware of that and don’t know who they are but this is clearly also part of the problem. False and misleading negotiation and ceasefire were dummies that have been sent to the Nigerian public in the last few years. If all that was said were true, we could have experienced peace by now. There are actually genuine people working for peace. Its most inhuman for anyone to cash in on bloodletting and violence. The insurgents have never publicly made any financial demand it’s left for the government, if they allow themselves to be fleeced.
Are you sure these girls are still alive?
You can’t be sure of anything in such a suffocating and lethal atmosphere of life and death. But I believe that the last video issued by the group is a testimony that the girls are alive and I believe the clip is genuine. The moral flag of our country will continue to fly in half mast until we get those girls rescued. I have never been a hostage but I have been a prisoner and I know the pains of captivity.
It seems you have confidence in the sincerity of purpose of Boko Haram. Why?
It’s not about confidence, it’s about hope and optimism. I believe this problem will not be with us forever. We, as a people, will overcome this. This is a turbulent moment in the history of our country. The task before us is that we must not allow it to be our fate. All nations of the world pass through periods of great stress and challenges. What is going on in Nigeria is same that is going on in Kenya, Pakistan, Yemen and worse of is Syria. Nigeria is still a better place to live than in eastern Congo or South Sudan or CAR. Our trouble should shape us for the better and not define us.
What should government do to ensure their release?
The government should explore all options and be open to all options that are credible and result-oriented. The Chibok saga is not just about the credibility of President Jonathan. It’s also about the moral status of our country. Any part of the world you go as a Nigerian today,you will be asked about the Chibok girls and this shows how culpable or attached we are all to the impasse.
What is the way forward in tackling the insurgency, after the release of Chibok girls?
Insurgency is confronted either by the force of arms or force of reason and the later means negotiation. The first option had worked in Russia when they crushed the Chechens. It worked in Algeria when the exterminated the FIS and it worked in Sri Lanka when they ended the rebellion by the Tamil Tigers. Negotiation, like I earlier said, brought peace to Northern Ireland and in Colombia, the government and the FARC rebels are talking.
If we can learn from these lessons, we will be done with this. However, in as much as the government have a lot to do, I’ll like to see a more visible intervention by northern leaders in the search for the solution. The bickering going on between the government and the opposition party is not that helpful. The States of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa need to be assisted to tackle social and economic issues. What stops other states from sacrificing a percentage of their monthly allocation to the north eastern states, if that will help?