Bomb blasts: Will Nigeria remain one and safe?

With the Christmas bomb blast atMadala near Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory among others and otherreligious riots, kidnapping, assassinations, one begin to wonder if Nigeriawill remain one and safe.  It is a truismto say that the incidence have raised fundamental issues on national security,governance, as well as Nigeria’scorporate existence for both the big and small. In other words, the continuous killings of innocent citizens as well assetting buildings and other properties ablaze by a religious sect, BokoHaram in the far North has left many Nigerians both at home and in theDiaspora including international observers in a stupor of surprise and pangs ofanger and righteous indignation.  Basedon the sect’s inimical activities, it had been shock, grief, and lamentationand about causing splitting of Nigeriawith force.

Based on the above, I think andbelieve there is the need for our security agencies to always take pre-emptivesteps to prevent crises through bombings, riots, among others by nipping themin the bud.  The security agencies shouldintensify efforts to monitor effectively the plans for bombings, killings andmaiming.  It is appropriate to saycategorically that such dastardly acts caused the Nigerian civil war thatlasted for three years. 

As a result, Nigerians shouldalways be religiously and jealously guided by the words of an elder statesman,octogenarian and first executive president of Nigeria, Alhaji

Aliyu Shehu Shagari when he saidand I quote “This moment in our history demands of all of us the spirit oftolerance and cooperation rather than retribution and intrigue.  If we succeed in highlighting the things thatunite rather than divide us, we will have succeeded in bequeathing a fittinglegacy to the coming generation”.

Most importantly, no meaningfuldevelopment can take place in the country without sustained peace.  As regards the various incidence in thecountry especially that of the xmas bomb blast at Madala, I am sure the currentdemocratic structure will make a pronouncement on the dastardly acts and addressthe root causes to avoid future occurrence and bring the perpetrators tobook.  This is absolutely necessarybecause such acts must not be shy away from or to be swept under the carpet.  In this connection, the latest bomb blastsand other inimical acts across the country should be urgently addressed for astitch in time saves nine.  

In addition, the federalgovernment needs to investigate all the latest crises including that of thebomb blast at Madala so as to make Nigeria safe and remain one.  In the words of Desmond Mpilo Tutu “Justicemust be done to the poor and oppressed and if the present system does not servethe purpose, the public conscience must be roused to demand another”.  To this end therefore, the government needsto investigate if there was crassa negligentia that is gross negligenceby any person no matter how highly or lowly placed in the society.  This is because truth can be taunted butcannot be humiliated.  It can betemporarily suspended but cannot be annihilated.  It can be suspended to injustice but willsurely emerge with a resounding victory. The ugly part of truth, for the unjust, is that it can rear its headwhen it is least expected.  Like the chameleon,truth can move at a very slow speed but will surely get to its destination.  

Boko Haram meaning“Western education is sin/evil” preaches hatred for everything western, but itsleaders indulge in western luxuries.  Theextensive nature of the sect’s operations in some parts of the countryespecially in the far North was flabbergasting and shocking.  There is no need for us to be agents ofdarkness and destruction.  To this endtherefore, Nigerians should remain steadfast, focused on the part of truth,honour, fairness and justice so that we can know the true sponsors of BokoHaram (enemies of western education). Like Pope Benedict XVI, while appealing for peace in a message tocommemorate the 2007 World Peace Day (WPD) said “Those with greater political,technical or economic power must not use that ;power to violate the rights ofothers who are less fortunate”.  There isthe need therefore for the Boko Haram to declare publicly withouthesitation what next for Nigeria. 

A wise man once said: “There isno problem anywhere, and your problem is your ignorance”.  Another wise man said “What you call problemis no problem but a challenge”.  The sectshould see western education as a challenge, some of their brothers and sisterswho scaled through western education are competing favourably at the federalpublic service including the armed forces under the phrase “federal characterprinciple”, which the late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed a one-time head ofjunta introduced and directed the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) toenshrine it with immediate effect in the 1979 Constitution of the FederalRepublic of Nigeria while addressing them on Monday, 20th October1975 in Lagos.  Whatever the case may be,the sect needs western education and counseling urgently unless if they are nottrue and responsible Nigerians.  The BokoHaram should know that “education is a progressive discovery of our ownignorance according to Will Durant (1825-1981)”.

While Nigerians are sympathizingwith the families of all those who lost their lives, properties, and sense ofsecurity, Nigerianeeds to be made safer for all irrespective of tribe or religion.  In this direction, the federal governmentshould lead and show the way to this, purposefully and decisively so that Nigeriawill remain one, safe and not to be terrorized by any religious sect.   

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