By the
time the Chibok girls were abducted, it was clear to the whole world that the
Nigerian forces, do not have the capacity to contain the Boko Haram insurgents
and so, many countries volunteered their assistance.
This is not unusual because Nigeria has in the past, been
in the vanguard of sending troops to countries requiring stability in their
systems – Liberia, Congo, Sierra Leone, Mali, Somali and so on.
The response of
the whole world to assist us is indeed good.
However, we must frown at the methods of the Americans in
the Chibok issue. So far, what we have seen is a continuous demystification of
the Nigerian armed forces. Every day, they have gone to the press, condemning
one aspect of our operations or the other, even in their House of Assembly, this
is indeed bad.
Even with our poor military capabilities, we are still an
independent nation. If we reject their request to assist, they will not be in
this country, so since they elected to assist us, it is expected that, they
will be in top level discussions with our senior military and government
personnel and, any observations made handled confidentially at that level.
The whole world knows that Nigeria does not have the
capacity to engage in this type of guerrilla warfare, so, going to the media
every now and then, to harp on the shortcomings of our military, will not do
the operations any good. First, it serves to glorify the strength of the Boko
Haram forces and secondly, it is a dampener to the morale of our troops. And if
this situation persists, it will affect relationship between the Americans and
our Nigerian troops. The two sides must co-operate to get the job done.
America is not the only country involved in the
operations.We have France, Britain, Canada, Israel, China and others. America
should not assume an imperial disposition, as if they are infallible. It took
over ten years to get hold of Osama bin laden, up till today, the continuous
insurgency in Iraq is the product of America’s mishandling. They were in
Afghanistan and had to withdraw, when they found the going too costly to
handle. Pakistan, Yemeni, Syria are a few examples of countries America failed
to bring insurgents under control, why are they making so much noise about
Nigeria’s military shortcomings.
It would be recalled that if action had been taken by
America and the rest of the world, when the Boko Haram insurgency was at its
tutelage stage, the situation would not have degenerated to this level.
The CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria) and other
focussed and forward looking Nigerians, did cry out to the world to declare
Boko Haram a terrorist organisation but America, with the same Hilary Clinton
as Secretary of State, claimed that it was a localised uprising, caused by
poverty and other negligible factors. Today, the wool has been removed from
their eyes.
Pastor
Ayo Oritsejeafor, the President of CAN, was in America parliament to lobby for
America’s prompt action but his pleas were ignored. Why is America now playing
the saint in this instance.
Because of her role as the policeman of the world,
America is indirectly culpable in the present situation that we have found
ourselves. When they were to take action, they prevaricated and when they were
to prevaricate, they acted hastily. That is why Syria is where she is today.
Those who condemn the Nigerian authorities today, were
the ones who advised President Jonathan, not to be too hard on the Boko Haram
Islamist, when the situation was within control. We all know President Jonathan
as one that is easily swayed, he has even come out publicly to say that he is
neither a lion or a general, so he takes his time.
Because they know that he listens and takes his time,
they go to him with different proposals, when he adopts their recommended
approach and it fails, the blame is placed on him.
The Americans once advised Jonathan to deal tenderly with
the Boko Haram insurgents, others advised that they should be granted amnesty.
This is after they (Boko Haram) have committed heinous crimes like the bombing
of the United Nations office, the Police head quarters attack and the attack at
the mobile police base at Abuja. Several bombings of churches and innocent
citizens, they claim it is a local thing, now the whole localised thing has
gone out of proportion and we are now trading blame.
The army retaliated hard on the insurgents when Ihejirika
was Chief of army staff, the shameless northern elders forum threatened to take
him to the United Nations special tribunal for genocide. The whole world
watched and nobody said anything to condemn such statements.
Whole towns have been destroyed by these mindless
insurgents, very important professional institutions like the School of
Agriculture, Mubi, were attacked and innocent students slaughtered, the
leadership of the north found nothing wrong in such actions. Instead of
settling down to find viable approaches to the enormous challenges facing them,
they went about trading blames and lobbying countries like the United States to
tow their line.
If the people whose lands are being destroyed, are not
interested in protecting the lives and properties of their people, who will
help them?
When the local village vigilantes took it upon themselves
recently, to take their destinies in their own hands, several insurgents were
killed and a few of them handed over to the authorities. The CNN reported it,
that is how it should be. The affected regions must first show commitment in
ending this insurgency challenges before outsiders can join in the crusade.
The Americans should concentrate on what they came into
the country to do, bring back the Chibok girls in safe conditions and
collaborate with the Nigerian authorities, in other ways to stop the activities
of these insurgents.
It is the responsibility of the whole world.
Mr. Sunny Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote
from Lagos.
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