President Buhari Knows How To Win Battle Against Boko Haram. What Is He Waiting For?

Editor’s note: Many Nigerians made their choice in the 2015 presidential election based on Muhammadu Buhari’s pledges to eliminate insurgency on Nigerian soil, and they are still waiting patiently for any tangible achievements. The battle against Boko Haram did not begin yesterday, and there is obviously a long way to go. However, just one tiny step is required to turn the deadly war around. Naij.com guest columnist Ubaka Chukwuka Maximus knows which. 

Peace is becoming very elusive to Nigerians in the north-eastern region, because the callous elders and politicians decided to play to the gallery. It seems to be nobody’s obligation to ensure stability in the troubled region, as different interest groups are keen on scoring cheap points with the cancerous Boko Haram. Many people thought it was the problem of Jonathan’s government, as those, whom the killings affected the most, were chasing rats, while their houses were on fire.

However, the activities of Boko Haram group divided the nation’s common goal, as the reasons for their fourth emergency was misunderstood and downplayed by the local and foreign powers. Nigerians were busy accusing the north of backing Boko Haram for political reasons, while the northern Muslims blamed the plans to decimate the voting population in the region on Jonathan. While we were debating over who was to blame, the sect grew stronger and deadlier.

President Buhari’s indisposition and the northern elders’ forum didn’t help in the fight against terrorism. Statements like “we do not want troops to be deployed to the north-east”,  “do not make Boko Haram a foreign terrorist organization”, “attack on Boko Haram is the attack on the north”, etc. only fueled insurgency. Unfortunately, the president rationalized the massacre of Nigerians by stressing that Boko Haram was only avenging the death of Mohammed Yusuf. Though the statement is extremely damaging, let’s grant it luxury of ignorance, since Bihari wasn’t in government to have the privileged information, and he didn’t attend the Council of State meetings even when he was obligated to. Buhari should have known that winning the elections was just a means to an end, as the party placed its interests above the national ones. Today the common enemy Buhari refused to recognise has become the nightmare of his government.

History of struggle against insurgency

It is interesting that the satanic group rose on three occasions in the past: in 1980, 1982 and 1984, in Kano, Bulumkutu and the then Gongola state respectively. The civilian government of Shehu Shagari neutralized this madness in 1980 and 1982, except for the 1984 uprising, which General Buhari took care of. The sect lost close to 10,000 members within a four-year period. Ironically, with the recent change of events, some dare to say that Nigeria has lost its coercive strength, as the Buhari government is begging the terrorists to come to the negotiation table. Is this the same Buhari of 1984?

Moreover, the Sharia system under the former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s rule gave Boko Haram a fertile ground to operate. The former governor Yerima was allowed to run a special agenda, which injunctions mostly negated the Nigerian Constitution. Obasanjo indirectly nurtured Boko Haram. Buruji Keshemu, one time the PDP mobilization committee chairman in the south-west, blamed Obasanjo for not nipping the sect in the bud stating: “He chose to look away, and downplayed the issue of Sharia criminal codes.” Today the proponents of strict Sharia practice in the country are using Boko Haram as a channel to actualize thieir dream.

Sink or swim

Candidly, the APC and President Buhari are yet to fully understand the situation with Boko Haram terror group. They still think the United States is the solution to insurgency in Nigeria. President Buhari should swallow his pride and ask “Oga Jona” how he acquired ammunition used to liberate the Nigerian communities from Islamic caliphate in a six-week period.

Considering the graveyard quietness over the outcome of the bilateral talks between President Buhari and President Obama, it seems nothing concrete and tacit was agreed on, especially in the area of security. The only visible achievement of Buhari’s visit is a billboard showing Obama’s handshake with Governor Rochas Okorocha, as if shaking Obama’s hand has automatically made the latter an achiever.

Undoubtedly, moving the military headquarters to Maiduguri won’t end insurgency; blackmailing Ihejirika will kill the soldiers’ morale. Waiting for Obama to lift the arms embargo will give Boko Haram the time to regroup. Blaming the ill-equipped air force is also not an antidote to terrorism. The solution lies within. The northerners including President Buhari should see Boko Haram as an enemy of Nigeria. Buhari should go hard on them and make them beg for ceasefire. Some people see Buhari as being sympathetic to Boko Haram. The way he fights this war will either invalidate or confirm our long-imbibed suspicion.

The president should see beyond the US Leahy Law, as it is just a smokescreen to frustrate Nigeria. It is not affecting countries like Israel, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Somalia, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Ukraine, Pakistan, Yemen, Kenya and Iraq, though human rights abuses are regularly taken place there. Human rights violation in Nigeria has not been proved, but America is punishing us on mere accusations. Let’s go to the east for help. Let’s make friends with China, Russia or even Pakistan. These countries are friendly without attaching any conditions.

We are in the middle of a bitter war, and our enemies are being sponsored by the affiliated terror groups. This war is beyond partisan, religious or regional interests. We must come together to kill Boko Haram before it kills us. Terrorism has no political or geographical boundaries. The former NSA Sambo Dasuki was appointed because the north clamored that only a northerner could solve the problems of the north. The same Dasuki is being accused of felony even when the northern elders suggested his name to the former president Jonathan. Today, under Buhari’s presidency, the NSA, the CAOS, the DSS and other military and paramilitary positions are occupied by the northerners. The north has the political and military power, so let them solve the problem they started before we become guinea pigs in the hands of the misguided miscreants. It is not the time for dirty politics or political witch-hunt, because Nigeria is at war.

Maximus Chukwuka for Naij.com

Mr Chukwuka is a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. 

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Naij.com. 

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