S.O.S ALIEME

There is no gainsaying that there is serious insecurity in Nigeria. But the most affected group are the Christians. There is virile report going round in newspapers that during the era of Goodluck Jonathan, Tinubu in company of late Muhammadu Buhari, Rotimi Amaechi and others went to US to report that all is not well in Nigeria because they said Goodluck Jonathan was incapable of combating the menace of insecurity. 

All these were done to paint the former President Black.  But now that the US President wants to react, people are now wagging thongs. In a related development, it was gathered that the US President Donald Trump has ordered the military to prepare for action in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militant groups, accusing the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians. Trump did not say which killings he was referring to, but claims of a genocide against Nigeria's Christians have been circulating in recent weeks and months in some right-wing US circles. Daniel Bwala said Nigeria would welcome US help in tackling the Islamist insurgents but quickly noted that Nigeria is a “sovereign” country. Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has insisted there is religious tolerance in the country and said the security challenges were affecting people “across faiths and regions”. Trump wrote in a social media post that he had instructed the US Department of War to prepare for “possible action”. He warned that he might send the military into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” unless the Nigerian government intervened, and said that all aid to what he called "the now disgraced country" would be cut. Trump added: “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!” US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth replied to the post by writing: “Yes sir, “The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities”.

Trump’s threat has triggered alarm across Nigeria. Many on social media are urging the government to step up its fight against Islamist groups to avert a situation where foreign troops are sent into the country. Trump earlier announced that he had declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” because of the “existential threat” posed to its Christian population. He said “thousands” had been killed, without providing any evidence. This is a designation used by the US State Department that provides for sanctions against countries “engaged in severe violations of religious freedom”.   It should be noted that the Jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have wrought havoc in North-Eastern Nigeria for more than a decade, killing thousands of people.  In central Nigeria, there are also frequent clashes between mostly Muslim herders and farming groups, who are often Christian, over access to water and pasture. Deadly cycles of tit-for-tat attacks have also seen thousands killed, but atrocities have been committed on both sides and human rights group say there is no evidence that Christians have been disproportionately targeted. 

The state of the nation is such that it cannot afford to engage in any type of war be it civil or international because the wounds of 1967-1970 have fully not healed since that unfortunate incidence.  Those who were actively involved in that war will have bitter tales to tell.  But it appears the young ones who did not witness it are calling for destabilization and division of the country because all that they know about the war were read on the face of newspapers or from few individuals who could add or subtract from the real thing that occurred then. 

War is not a joke anyone should toy with. Nigeria is not a stranger to crisis, nor is she immune to it. In a profound sense, Nigeria can be said to have been created out of crisis, a nation state that continues to strive to subdue and transcend crises. In over a century of its formalized colonial architecture, Nigeria has grown and made remarkable progress in the midst of crises. What about the June 12, 1993 elections? The most tragic and horrendous episode in Nigeria’s history has been the 30 month Civil War of July 1967 to January 1970, in which many not only compatriots but innocent children lost their lives. Indeed, many others also suffered terrible injuries of human and material dimensions. So, who really wants to go through the depth and dimensions of another War in Nigeria again?

The current on-going claims and counter claims and insinuations of hate across the country by individuals, well-known leaders, religious leaders, group of persons and organizations is worrisome and portends danger to the corporate existence of this country. We need to remind ourselves that conflicts are not evidently the stuff of politics and governance, particularly so of democracy, hence we must apply caution in our utterances, body language and news reportage.

The management of conflicts is the acid test of maturity, of mutual livelihood and of democratic governance. We cannot and we must not allow the current atmosphere to continue to freely pollute our political landscape unchecked. It will not be right for politicians to fuel and hype conflicts nor should we allow losers and gainers of our governance regimes to make pronouncements and threats that exploit our ethnic, religious and geopolitical construct.

The opposition party and the party in government should place the love of the nation in the foremost of their hearts and stop playing with the lives of Nigerians. The drums of war are easy to beat, but their rhythms are difficult to dance. Starting wars or political upheavals comes with the slightest provocation, but ending them becomes inelastic, almost unending with painful footages of the wrecks of war. Nigeria can attain greater greatness if we all nurture our minds in the direction of building a nation, and accepting responsibility for its successes and failures. No one government or administration can provide all the answers to the myriad of problems and challenges confronting us as a country; no matter how determined, resolute, committed and motivated such a government is. The citizens have their roles to play, and their obligations to fulfill in order to motivate government in achieving its stated goals and objectives.

Of late, Nigeria has become so sharply divided with emotions running high on the least provocations. Once tempers are that high, the fault-lines become easily visible and with the slightest prompting, the unexpected can happen. Nigerians are highly endowed in various skills and intellectually empowered to compete anywhere in the global arena. Nigerians are great people and these qualities should not be allowed to waste away just because of some selfish individuals who never witnessed war and felt they could be made puppet leaders in their domain.

The inalienable fact that Nigerians can live in any part of the country to pursue their legitimate aspirations is a strong indication that we have accepted to invest in the Nigerian project, and are no longer driven by mutual suspicion but mutual respect. That we have not fully realized our potentials as a great nation is not enough reason for us to want to toy the foundation of our nationhood or rubbish the labours of our heroes past; both of which are borne out of our collective efforts to build a truly great nation, and great people. If we have repeatedly done certain things and not getting the desired results, we need to change tactics and approach, and renew our commitment. We cannot afford to play with the destinies of about 200 million Nigerians by the shape of our discourse and the content of our pronouncements. We must carry out conscious attitudinal orientation that will change the mindset of our people and their beliefs. The attitudinal orientations should be based mainly on the words of the National Anthem and the National Pledge.

Nigerians should embrace and explore the therapies of dialogue and constructive engagements in our desire to make life more meaningful for our people. Having fought a costly war, Nigerians should uphold the unity of Nigeria and continue to give their best to the country.

God Bless Nigeria!!!