Fr. Richard OMOLADE

Human being play the blame game always, it is a tactic to deflect responsibility from ourselves.  So, if we have been alive to our responsibilities, no one will rise up to want to take over the task we should have accomplished by ourselves and for ourselves.  Why are we still talking about genocide and terrorist attacks or cattle rustlers and the likes? It is because many of us are not thinking straight. We have allowed myopic biases to becloud our judgment and we are no longer able to make impartial evaluation.

There is no gainsaying the fact that many Nigerians have been tormented and traumatized by the antics and attacks of unscrupulous elements. These people do not even pretend to hide their identity. While there may not be a supreme leader of any religious group that sanction the operations of these marauders, it is crystal clear that they often operate under the banner of Islamic faith. Their annoyance is often first directed against Christians as a thorough analysis of the numerous deaths will confirm. While Muslims have been killed and Muslim villages have also been sacked, it is believed they have resorted to this barbaric act because they expected cooperation from their brothers and sisters in the faith and these have not always acquiesced.  As a punishment, they are also killed. These are bestial acts that must be condemned by all people. It is against such acts that the masses have been calling on the government to do something tangible to ensure the protection of life and property.

Unfortunately, various governments have not acted decisively. Many notable figures of our Government, unfortunately, have been of the same faith with the people suspected of causing these senseless murders.

President Trump may have indicated his interest to intervene, but this would not have happened, if something concrete had been in place.  Many Nigerians are tired of the bloodletting and the inability of the security apparatus to bring the perpetrators to book. The evil happening in our midst is systemic, it is no longer sporadic attacks and killings, now whole villages are often sacked, razed down and taken over by these Islamic militants. Now the problem is not as it seems since these evil perpetrators are all over the land and the forest not only harbours but also give safe haven to these people. President Trump’s desire to intervene is shrouded in many layers of disturbing values. It could be seen as a fight for the dignity of human life, especially those of persecuted Christians. Is America also fighting for another sphere of influence and sees this as a golden opportunity to show character and strength?

Desire alone is not going to be enough.  The whole idea of gun blazing and maximum fire is the stuff of Hollywood, decimating and eradicating Book Haram and other Islamic groups involved in senseless killings cannot be easy because these people have the benefit of many years of blending into the forest and remaining anonymous until they want to feed their fiendish hunger. Proactive collaboration is necessary. Governments must engage in constructive dialogue and planning to accomplish this purpose. Short of this, the situation will not improve, and more problems will be created that will put more people in arms way.

If the Country’s leaders are ready to find a permanent solution to the problem of banditry, attacks of defenseless people and threat to worship, then looking for help from reliable partners should not be ruled out. If our government believe and know they can do it by themselves, then they should rise up now and get rid of the outlaws.

In the final analysis, Nigeria should not be invaded, but needless death must be put to an end. The President and the relevant security outfits must come out publicly to announce their plans to uproot all the roots of terrorism in the land.  President Trump is not our problem; our problems are manifold, and we know them. Those who kill in the name of God are our problems and they should be uprooted. Those who are unwilling to take on this task are also our problem and become complicit in the problem affecting many people.  It is not unthinkable that some are also benefiting from the problem – all these are birds of the same feather unworthy of being called humans therefore we commit them to the trash can of society. After all our semantics and gaslighting, the problem affecting us is still there and because we desire life, and true and honorable life at that, we demand that our government fulfil her constitutional right to protect the lives and property of people, especially defenseless masses, be they Christians or Muslims but especially Christians who have borne the brunt of the atrocities.

Let’s not make President Trump a saviour for Nigeria.  The problem in Nigeria requires more than surgical operation, it requires formation of hearts and minds, resetting of people’s mind to a more rational and humane mode befitting of human beings. This task will need to be sustained for many years and no one outsider can do it for us.  Clap for Trump but when President Trump leaves, who will rise up to pick up the litters and clean the trenches?