I hate to write that this nation is a failed state. I hate to define our democracy as “Government of the people by Boko Haram and for the people”. I hate to think our Nigeria; once “A Fuji House of Commotion, has become A Hammer House of Terror”. I hate to admit that life in this country is now brutish, nasty and short; and the only things we can all do is pick one of Ola Rotimi’s works and ask; where is the “Hope of the Living Dead”?
Yoruba says; “if your mother’s concubine is powerful than your father, you must call him daddy”. This is the ugly reality in this nation today. Therefore, if Boko Haram is bigger, ubiquitous and more determined than our government; shall we then not beg for our lives?
Today, we are like the proverbial monkey who strives not to be shamed; and once it is disgraced; it strives not to die. If we strive not to be shamed as a people, and Boko Haram has seized into the ineptitude of our government to make us dance naked in the market; shall we then beg not to die?
For me, all hopes are lost, all options exhausted and our government is ran, de facto, from the jungles of Bauchi and Borno states. If you think I’m cynical, have you heard the president speak lately? Did you listen to his interview with Reuters? Did you hear our president ‘begging’ to dialogue? Did you hear him speak to the German government? In contrast, did you read Boko Haram’s statement – the temerity, effrontery and confidence with which they address your... sorry, our president? They boasted to consume our president in 3 months. Isn't that the climax of an affront on the global stature of Nigeria? Please forget about the government and let us beg for our lives.
If you think I am a prophet of doom or I am throwing in the towel and trading my patriotic sense, let me remind you that officially, Boko Haram insurgence claimed more than 500 lives in 2011; and with just less than four months into this year, 2012, they have consumed about over 600 lives. Can you connect the dotted lines or you need me to help you?
Also, the sect boasted last year that it had trained 100 suicide bombers and till date, my count showed that Boko Haram has expended just about ten of these messengers of death. This means that aside the casualties of gun dwells, there are 90 potential hits this year and beyond – and we all know that no one can stop them – not even Mr. President. Shall we then not beg for our lives?
My stand is simple, if Boko Haram killed 500 people in 365days and it has killed another 600 in the first 90days of another 365days; and you are not ready to let us go and beg, then I’m headed for the nearest border. Don’t ask me which; you don’t expect me to blow my cover.
What I am saying is that government has failed us again: They failed in electricity and we resulted to the jarring noise of generators; they failed us in education, and we all head for Ghana and South Africa; they failed us on infrastructure and the few rich now steal money to buy jeeps; they failed us in water and we resulted to pure water; they failed us in sports and we all fans of Chelsea, Man U, etc. Now they have failed us in security. I would have suggested we buy guns but we, like the government, don’t know Boko Haram. So shall we not send some ‘I beg you sir’ to them?
At another level, since this monster called Boko Haram crept into our national live, how many big men have been victims? How many? It all boils down to the fact that the masses can die on and on and they can use our common wealth to buy bullet proof cars.
The president has told the truth but we refused to listen to what he didn’t say. He said “Boko Haram is what we have to live with” and recently, he said he will deal with Boko Haram in three months - the boys have replied anyway. Let me help you with what the president meant but didn’t say; ‘I have analysed the situation. This Boko Haram, seriously, I’m helpless. These guys are serious and ruthless and I am sure they will have bombed me too, but for God and Aso Rock. For those of you who know God, call him, and those of you whose houses are not built with rocks or has bomb detectors like the one is the Senate President’s chamber, I’m sorry, you will have to live with dying’. So do you hear him better now? So if you are not at the nearest border like me; let us masses beg Boko Haram.
If you think the replacement of Ringim will make a difference; you’d better find your way toward Seme border. I will say it again, Ringim is just a sacrificial lamb, Boko Haram is bigger than the whole police. Please note that out of the total population of our police officers, including the ones on unofficial duties as messengers to politicians, Boko Haram has claimed about 620. So how many more police officers do we have and we have complained over the years that we are under-policed.
If you have not start begging, maybe because you don’t stay in the north or you are not directly affected. But remember; “the death that kills ones peer is only being proverbial”.
Let me say that we seem not to give attention to the fact that our security apparatus (Police stations, Military Formation, etc) are the major hits of Boko Haram. Have we asked why? You still think Boko Haram is fighting the government? I don’t think so. I see a strategy of mischief makers to emasculate security so that the people become more vulnerable. When Boko Haram conquers the security of this nation – shall I say God forbid? – We will be like dry grass before fire in harmattan. You see why I am headed for Gha... oh, I promised not to blow my cover.
With the current security in the nation, how many more police or soldiers want to die? I am telling you, they are as disillusioned as all of us. I’m sure they are looking for the nearest border too. If you listened to what they didn’t say during the Occupy Nigeria Protest, they solidarised in a way, they stood laughing and taking pictures of the remains of their father land.
Finally, before I cross this border, I must say that the Muslim-Christian dichotomy to the crisis is another pawn movement on the chess board of the mischief makers. It is a hoax! Boko Haram is not Islam, it is evil.
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