These bombs, too, are haram
The statement from President Jonathan in the aftermath of the bombs suggested that either we have to endure to live with the bombings or accept the fact that it will not be forever but what the president failed to tell us is for how long we have to live in fear and agony. However, the […]
The statement from President Jonathan in the aftermath of the bombs suggested that either we have to endure to live with the bombings or accept the fact that it will not be forever but what the president failed to tell us is for how long we have to live in fear and agony. However, the letter said to have been written by Nigerian children to the president on the matter even if it was by the parents on behalf of the children in my view is strong enough to make the government know that the citizens are in fact to say the least disappointed after such a horrific election that brought them to power riding on the crest of providing fresh air to Nigerians. Indeed, this is fresh air.
The nation’s security agencies have paid so much attention to a particular dimension which is not radically different from the western view on the spate of bombings. The agencies are bent hell on believing that whatever and whenever we see bombs explode from no matter what corner of the globe, it is a result of Islamic insurgency. So the Nigerian security apparatuses also seem to believe.
My view here is that such a dogmatic approach to unraveling a mystery is defeated right at the beginning since a level playing grounds where facts could be gathered has initially been defeated. That may be the reason why we don’t seem to have any more robbery cases in the country. Whenever banks are robbed, it is Boko Haram. In Saminakla, in Kankara, in Tambuwal and many other places. What this means is that we are missing the point and we may not get to the bottom of the national calamity which we are facing today with such attitude.
Who wants Nigeria destroyed? Who wants the nation divided and for what reason and at what cost? These are questions that are at the moment agitating my mind and those of several other citizens. I have written for while now and commented that the situation that Nigeria finds itself in as a nation and Nigerians as a people is scaring in view of the fact that at such crucial thresholds in history, what saves a nation and people to a large extent is determined by efficacy of political brinkmanship of the leadership.
I think it is crucial that President Jonathan and his team re strategize effectively in order to win this battle without losing the grip on the nation. It is crucial equally that what leaders say to the people could either reinvigorate hope or increase the level of despair and endanger more conflict in the nation.
When I read in one of the newspapers the statement credited to the National Security Adviser urging Christians not to retaliate, I was baffled at such a statement coming from the nation’s security chief. Retaliate against what or who? In a situation where everybody, Muslim or Christian is a victim, who is killing who? Or who is taking the revenge?
Leaders must not hide their failure under the shadows of statements that could be inflammatory. We must all come out collectively and understand what the problem is and make a priority out of its resolution. Unless we want to stand condemned, it is high time a more pragmatic approach to dealing with this growing national insecurity is devised so that we are not condemned by our very incapacity.
In as much as I don’t give so much attention to conspiracy theories, those who are already raising some fundamental issues about the involvement of some be they internal or external of Nigeria may not be totally out of place. I think it is time to begin to blend intelligence with reason and stop this idea of straight jacket approach of assuming those behind this national outrage are already known and clearly defined.
It is a shame that Nigeria cannot determine those who are trying to destabilize it. The picture is getting clearer that there is a massive failure of intelligence in the country. I want to see a situation where-by the real issue is in focus. I don’t want to continue to hear this false hypothesis from the government and its security agencies.
In the theory of the Westerphelian state, the raison d’être behind the coming together of people and relative surrender of certain aspects of personal liberties has to do with the quest for organization so that life and property are protected by the state while the citizenry pays tax and is obedient to the laws of the land. These bombs cannot continue for God sake while our leaders at best will come out and tell us to bear with them because they will not last forever. This statement is not in tune with the ethics of responsible leadership. Nigerians are certainly in pains and what they need most is security but not this wait and search security that yields negative results while gulping billions.
More concerted security arrangements must be the priority because these bombs are certainly haram as they cut short the lives of Christians and Muslims, Northerners and Southerners. Like President Jonathan, I do also believe that they will not continue but not in the context of the President’s response to an aggrieved nation.