• Main News
  • About Us
  • Contact
Premium Times Opinion
Sunday, May 22, 2022
  • Home
  • Democracy and Governance
    • Bámidélé Upfront
    • Jibrin Ibrahim
    • Okey Ndibe
  • Economy
    • Ifeanyi Uddin
  • Issues of the Day
    • Adeolu Ademoyo
    • Aribisala on Tuesday
    • Dele Agekameh
    • Pius Adesanmi
  • Politics
    • Ebeneezer Obadare
    • Femi Fani-Kayode
    • Garba Shehu
    • Hannatu Musawa
    • Zainab Suleiman Okino
  • Guest Columns
  • Faith
    • Article of Faith
    • Sunday Ogidigbo
    • Friday Sermon
    • Elevated Sight
  • Home
  • Democracy and Governance
    • Bámidélé Upfront
    • Jibrin Ibrahim
    • Okey Ndibe
  • Economy
    • Ifeanyi Uddin
  • Issues of the Day
    • Adeolu Ademoyo
    • Aribisala on Tuesday
    • Dele Agekameh
    • Pius Adesanmi
  • Politics
    • Ebeneezer Obadare
    • Femi Fani-Kayode
    • Garba Shehu
    • Hannatu Musawa
    • Zainab Suleiman Okino
  • Guest Columns
  • Faith
    • Article of Faith
    • Sunday Ogidigbo
    • Friday Sermon
    • Elevated Sight
No Result
View All Result
Premium Times Opinion
Home Opinion

As the War Intensifies, By Jibrin Ibrahim

by Ogala Emmanuel
March 2, 2014
4 min read
0

Last week, someone from the Presidency finally admitted that there is a war going on. Dr Doyin Okupe, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs declared to the press that “we are in a war,” he has been the last to find out, Nigerians have known that for quite some time. Its however good that they are admitting now so that we can define the legal status of the combat and ensure we fight it in a way that is respectful of the rights of Nigerians and at the same time provides security to the people.

I am writing this column from Niamey in Niger Republic where I have just arrived. Two items related to the war were on the news last night. The first is the burden of caring for the 40,000 refugees “from the Boko Haram war in Nigeria” the broadcaster announced which is threatening their economy.

The second item on the news was the announcement by General Seyni Garba last week Tuesday about the discovery and dismantling of a Boko Haram cell in Diffa just before they embarked on an attack in that Kanuri town so close to Maiduguri. The Nigerian war is becoming a Nigerien war. Of course the issue in Niger is that of really understanding how they have remained outside this war all this time. The composition and sociology of the people, the tendencies and ambitions of radical religious movements on both sides of the border are the same so logically, they should have been a central part of the war for some time.

I asked some of my friends how come Niger has remained outside the war for so long. I identified two different sets of explanations. The first explanation raises two issues, one about the state and the other about the people. The story of the state in Niger is that after Tunisia, the state in Niger developed the most elaborate and effective system of surveillance of the people on the continent and that system was never completely dismantled. The result is that state security agents pick up people before they do the damage. The second aspect is the community. Most communities in Niger, I am told, do not accept preachers to simply turn up and start proselytising. Anyone that tries it gets reported to the authorities. What this means is the Islamic radicals from Niger have to go to Nigeria to practice their trade.

The second explanation is more troubling. It argues that with the Sahel/Sahara zone firmly in the hands of Islamic militants, the real prize is Nigeria so for tactical reasons, it makes sense not to attack in the base for retreat. After they get Nigeria, Niger would be an easy pick, sandwiched as it is between Boko Haram and the Jihadists in the Sahara. The cells from Niger therefore join the struggle in Nigeria while bidding their time to take on Niger.

The Nigerian armed forces also came out last week to declare that they have identified twelve bases in Cameroon from where attacks in Nigeria’s North East are organised and to which they retreat after their operations. Nigeria is currently engaged in discussions with the Cameroonian authorities over rights of hot pursuit and I do hope the two governments could agree to peaceful collaboration on this matter. I recall in the 1970s and 1980 that Mohammed Marwa Maitatsine from Cameroon came to Nigeria in the 1970s and 1980s to practice his trade because he was prevented from practicing in his country. The Maitatsine movement was of course the first major case of direct and significant confrontation between security agencies and Islamic militants.

As the war in Nigeria intensifies what has been really saddening for us as a nation is the impact on the younger generation. The attack on the Federal Government College Buni-Yadi in Yode state and the recent abduction of

twenty female students are yet another devastating events. These events follow the recurring massacres in Baga, Bama, Konduga, Maiduguri and so on. More broadly, Governor Suswan has been warning about the emerging “ethnic” war in Benue between the Fulani and the Tiv, events that have been reproducing similar conflicts in Plateau, Kaduna, Nassarawa and other states. As the Emir of Birnin Gwari explained also last week, the issue is not the ethnic issue as in his Kingdom, the war has been raging and the issues are cattle rustling and armed robbery. What is on the cards therefore is the loss of state monopoly over the monopoly of the instruments of violence and the rise of systemised banditry. If the star guest to our centenary celebrations was the French President, that might not be unconnected to feelings in Government circles that we need the big boss after all today, the French with 6,000 boots on the ground in Africa is the power player.

Also last week, I attended the press conference given by Ms Rita Izsak, the United Nations Independent Expert on Minority Rights. She expressed her sadness at the reports she received that so many communities that have lived peacefully for generations are today torn by violent conflicts. She was particularly concerned at how the settler/indigene dichotomy has grown into a major generator of communal conflict and called for a review of the legal regime but above all for improved governance that would allow Nigerians enjoy the dividends of democracy. Yes indeed, we need to deepen our democracy and improve the capacity of the state to deploy accountability mechanisms so that those who commit crimes against the people pay a price.

The major news item last week was of course the celebration of the centenary of the creation of Nigeria. Many wondered whether it was appropriate to continue with the celebration following the massacre of the students in

The other question was the composition of the famous one hundred people identified as makers of Nigeria. Under Category A, Lord Lugard, his spouse Flora Shaw and the Queen were celebrated for their contribution to making Nigeria. If I were the one making the list, I would have categorised them as imperialists and colonisers who pillaged the country. I dare say that my categorisation would have been more historically accurate.

Along the same vein, I would have categorised the B list of people who struggled for our independence such as Herbert Macaulay and Michael Imoudu as the people who really made Nigeria. The late General Sani Abacha only made it to category M of people who promoted unity, patriotism and national development. Once again, I was to make the list, I would not place Abacha in the category of national unity because his regime really fractured Nigeria’s unity. No one asked me to make a list, nor was I invited to the great celebration in State House so I can only reflect on this list of one hundred, many of whom, or their families are already rejecting the offer due to discomfort with the list.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Print
  • More
  • Pocket
  • Share on Tumblr

Related

Previous Post

In Search of New Scapegoats, By Ifeanyi Uddin

Next Post

Bama’s 8 Hours of Armageddon: How Angry Should We Be? By Perry Brimah

Related Posts

Zamfara Gold As Commonwealth, By Zailani Bappa
Opinion

Sheikh Gumi, Governor Matawalle and the Sands of Time, By Zailani Bappa

February 2, 2021
June 12 As Democracy Day Needs To Be Reconsidered, By Bashir Tofa
Opinion

The Need To Act Now To Stop the Ethnic Conflagration!, By Bashir Othman Tofa

February 2, 2021
Kofi Annan: In Service of the World, By Ejeviome Eloho Otobo & Oseloka H. Obaze
Opinion

Biden’s Likely Policy Orientation Toward Africa, By Ejeviome E. Otobo and Oseloka H. Obaze

February 2, 2021
Agenda for ‘Born Again’ JAMB and TETFUND, By Tunde Musibau Akanni
Opinion

Oyeweso, A Celebrated Historian, Ascends the Sixth Floor, By Tunde Akanni

February 2, 2021
Before Nigeria Burns, By Akin Fadeyi
Opinion

Is President Buhari Presiding Over the Last United Nigeria?, By Akin Fadeyi

February 2, 2021
On A Soyinka Prize In ‘Illiteracy’, By Biko Agozino
Opinion

Obasanjo: Only Those Who Did Not Do Well Went Into the Military, By Biko Agozino

February 1, 2021
Next Post

Bama’s 8 Hours of Armageddon: How Angry Should We Be? By Perry Brimah

Understanding Nigeria’s President Jonathan, By Tolu Ogunlesi

Editorial

  • EDITORIAL: The Urgency of Tackling Nigeria’s Second Wave of COVID-19

    EDITORIAL: The Urgency of Tackling Nigeria’s Second Wave of COVID-19

  • EDITORIAL: Unearthing the Cogent Lessons In the NESG-CBN Economic Policy Imbroglio

    EDITORIAL: Unearthing the Cogent Lessons In the NESG-CBN Economic Policy Imbroglio

  • EDITORIAL: COVID-19: Calling On Nigeria’s Billionaires and Religious Leaders To Step Up

    EDITORIAL: COVID-19: Calling On Nigeria’s Billionaires and Religious Leaders To Step Up

  • EDITORIAL: Bichi Must Go; Buhari Must Halt Slide Into Despotism

    EDITORIAL: Bichi Must Go; Buhari Must Halt Slide Into Despotism

  • EDITORIAL: The Flaws In Governor Emefiele’s Five-Year Plan For Central Bank of Nigeria

    EDITORIAL: The Flaws In Governor Emefiele’s Five-Year Plan For Central Bank of Nigeria

Subscribe to our Opinion articles via email

Enter your email address to get notifications of new opinion articles as they are published.

Join 526,538 other subscribers

Most Popular

  • The Bad Consequences and Dangers of Adultery and Fornication (Zina) In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
    The Bad Consequences and Dangers of Adultery and Fornication (Zina) In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
  • World Teachers Day and The Position of Teachers In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
    World Teachers Day and The Position of Teachers In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
  • Islam and the Conditions For Marrying More Than One Wife, By Murtadha Gusau
    Islam and the Conditions For Marrying More Than One Wife, By Murtadha Gusau
  • The Qualities of a Good Leader In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
    The Qualities of a Good Leader In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
  • Olabisi Ajala, the Traveller: Of Fame and Penury, By Femi Kehinde
    Olabisi Ajala, the Traveller: Of Fame and Penury, By Femi Kehinde
  • You Will Be Held Responsible On What Happened To Your Children!, By Murtadha Gusau
    You Will Be Held Responsible On What Happened To Your Children!, By Murtadha Gusau
  • Slaughtering Animal for the New Born Baby (Al-Aqiqah) In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
    Slaughtering Animal for the New Born Baby (Al-Aqiqah) In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau

Like us on Facebook

Like us on Facebook

Podcasts

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

  • Main News
  • About Us
  • Contact

© 2022 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Democracy and Governance
    • Bámidélé Upfront
    • Jibrin Ibrahim
    • Okey Ndibe
  • Economy
    • Ifeanyi Uddin
  • Issues of the Day
    • Adeolu Ademoyo
    • Aribisala on Tuesday
    • Dele Agekameh
    • Pius Adesanmi
  • Politics
    • Ebeneezer Obadare
    • Femi Fani-Kayode
    • Garba Shehu
    • Hannatu Musawa
    • Zainab Suleiman Okino
  • Guest Columns
  • Faith
    • Article of Faith
    • Sunday Ogidigbo
    • Friday Sermon
    • Elevated Sight

© 2022 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.