MR. PRESIDENT, STOP BRIBING ETHNIC MILITIAS

The award of “Anti Oil Pipeline Vandalism” contract worth 2.4 Billion monthly by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to Dr. Fredrick Fasehun faction of the Oodua People’s Congress is calculated to further weaken and demoralize the nation’s security apparatus. Why the resort to bribing the militant groups instead of empowering the nation’s security agencies established by law? It is a revelation of Mr. President’s lack of confidence in the ability of the security agencies to protect the nation and its assets. I am afraid whether our leaders have the time and commitment to listen to advices or read suggestions pouring out daily to them from Nigerians.

 

It is on record that on 28^th January, 2013, I wrote under the caption, “AMNESTY FOR BOKO HARAM?” in my blog, that,  “…the apostles of dialogue are seeing the “carrot” as some juicy contracts for the Hausa/Fulani Boko Haram sect.  Possibly they are of the opinion that since the Niger Delta militants are now pipeline security contractors earning over half a billion Naira, the Federal Government should contract out our northern borders’ security to Boko Haram at a cost double that amount?

 

“Next, the Yoruba OPC will eventually take up arms to destabilize the west, and then we will respond with “carrots” by means of contracting them to secure our western coasts and oil pipelines?

“Do you not think that in this arrangement, the Igbo MASSOB will eventually lose out because they will have nothing to hold in order to pull Nigeria to their angle? Except MASSOB will embark on arms struggle and front commerce and ingenuity as instruments of negotiation; and because it concerns the Igbos we will at that time pullout armoured cars and tanks to massacre them?

“Although the 30 months civil war has contributed to check arms bearing in eastern Nigeria, the ongoing events in Nigeria are enough to change a people’s perception of peace, gentleness and loyalty. This endless circle of dialogue and negotiation with tribal based outlaw or pseudo groups for the soul of Nigeria and share of the national cake should stop. We should always remember that Nigeria is not comprised of the four major groups alone, namely: Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba, Ibo and Ijaw. What of the minority groups that cannot bear arms or engage in senseless killing of fellow humans and destruction of valuable properties? Or how will the carrots of arms struggle get to the minority of minority groups that cannot afford a catapult?” Unfortunately, these predictions are already coming to pass.

Boko Haram’s amnesty is bound to fail. It may sound pessimistic. But time will tell. Its failure will spring from the fact that Boko Haram insurgency has gone beyond arms struggle for negotiation for socio-economic development. Its primary aim is to Islamize Nigeria. Then, how do we reconcile Islamizing of Nigeria and the proposed unconditional amnesty? Have we ever consider the fact that Abubakar Shekau and his followers in Boko Haram are mere puppets in the hands of the puppet masters who are not only non-Nigerians, but also reside outside Nigeria, from where they direct Boko Haram’s operations and attacks in Nigeria?

Is Mr. President hurriedly giving consideration to Amnesty Commission for Boko Haram because of the threat coming from the Niger Delta’s militants under the auspices of MEND? Will members of the Boko Haram sect be required to submit their arms as precondition for registration and granting of individual amnesty in the same way the Niger Delta militants did? Or the powers that be will grant them authority to keep their arms aside for the next jihad? This is not the way to Go-With-One-Nigeria (GOWON) which must of us sacrifice our lives for!

Mr. President, please stop bribing ethnic militias. We all know that your predecessor started it all, but it is not a good precedent. It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to empower and strengthen the security agencies so as to be in a position to discharge its primary duty which is the “security and welfare of the people”.