We ignored education to our peril and kept pumping money into defence. Now defence cannot defend us.We even spent fortune on peace keeping forces all over Africa and now they cannot help us.The west African sub-region which consumed our human and material resources in no small measure is harbouring our enemies. The huge portion of revenue accruing to the Northern part of Nigeria were embezzled and education came to the lowest ebb year in year out. We have successfully produced too many illiterates that know nothing called terrorism. The huge uneducated northerners have grown to provide easy cover and source of recruitment for Abubakar Shekau.
Development across various part of the nation is lopsided. There are countless regions in Nigeria that are far too developed in term of infrastructure and other benefits. So many component regions in Nigeria have not seen government presence for decades. Most of these communities will willingly follow whoever promises them salvation. Abubakar Shekau knows this fact and he is using it very well.
Nigeria unemployment rate keep soaring from year to year. Unemployment rate is about 54% though government says it is about 24%. We have failed to open up key sectors of the economy and more youth are becoming more idle. Idle hands are now in Abubakar Shakau's workshop.
The devilish product of lopsided development across the nation and unemployment is extreme poverty. Few are extremely rich while majority are extremely poor. When a people are this poor, their power of choice is limited. Such people will follow any person that promises them regular meals and protection. When the tummy rumbles the brain is effortlessly controlled.
It is on record that we have innumerable borders in this country and consequently it has become herculean task to man them.The nation's borders are so porous that there is no record of people who move through the borders. Arms and war armament come in through these borders. Last year, many arm cache were discovered in many parts of the North. Some were even found at the Port; thanks to eagle eye of those agencies at the Port. There are many Shekaus passing through our borders on daily basis.
Politics of what to eat has reduced us as a nation. The nation has been polarized along party lines. Every party believes they are the best. Those having control at state level believe they are better than those at the centre and vice- versa. We have so much politics of hate. Patriotism has been sold on altar of selfish interest. All politicians are after feathering their nests. Criticism is no longer based on nationalistic fervour but on pecuniary interests. Shekau knows when he began to decimate the nation, no one will pay attention until colossal damage is done because blames will be shifted to and fro among those in authorities.
The fact that the Nigerian security agencies are not well equipped and motivated is an open secret. I had wondered what could be the problem since state of emergency declaration in Borno state and the reckless abandon boko haram still operates.I discovered that many of those soldiers are not well motivated.We have ignored the need to adequately take care of those assigned to protect us.We ignored their welfare and that of their families. Families of police officers mowed down in Alakiyo, Nassarawa state last year recently came out crying at the way police hierarchy had ignored them in the last one year. Assuming there is a crisis situation again like this year, I bet many police officers will abdicate their duties. Apart from motivation, our security agencies are not well trained in new development in crime fighting and art of terrorism.There is also the problem of ammunition. We have money to buy superior firearms but what are we doing with all billions of Naira budgeted over the years? Defence takes lion share of our annual budget. Shekau knows all these monies are not being used appropriately.
In the life of any nation,there are critical moments which will expose both leadership and followership. Many great leaders were not great for just being there in position of authority but acted by taking wise actions flowing from good decisions. A leader may be made or defamed by those actions but they still did something. In this part of our world, we are not that blessed with good leadership qualities.The type of leaders we have are those surrounding themselves with boot lickers and apologists.This is unfortunate and Shekau studied this fact very well.He knows he would have gone far with his evil plots before our leaders wake up.
Corruption has finished eating the flesh of our collective patrimony and has set it's teeth on the bones. Corruption is having a field day to my chagrin. The bones of any nation that court corruption is soft to eat. Every where you go, it is corruption that reigns supreme. I thought corruption is among those in authority alone but alas, you have it at the lowest level you can think of. It is in public sector and it is present at the private sector of our economy. The slogan is "with money, you will get anything done." Everyone wants something extra to take care of what his inadequate income cannot take care of.Some with more than adequate income wants something to secure the uncertain future.That is the reason why those at border posts allow just any human being pass through borders oblivious of inherent dangers.That explain why boko haram are among our security apparatus.That is why money meant for police and the army is diverted.Shekau understands how we have succumbed to corruption and he is using it to his advantage.
The last and the strongest weapon of Shekau is extreme attachment to religion.All you need to get favour is to tell people around you that you belong to their faith. Nigerians love their religions and faith based affiliations. Islam is the religion of most part of Northern Nigeria. In the North,where majority are uneducated,anyone who shows up as a leader will surely get some followers. The more you show that your agitation or persecution is based on your faith, the more followers you will get. This was how Abubakar Shekau's master started and passed on to him. Many prominent people in the north who did not believe in boko haram cause had sympathy for them. They even said the terrorists are no different from Niger Delta militants. Ah! Surprisingly with elements of regret, many are now dissociating themselves from the group when they discovered that after all,this group is not for Islam. The group had already gained ground and membership. This is the situation you face when you fail as people to look at issues dispassionately. The whole of Northern Nigeria is being turn to rubble by boko haram and it would have been better if the leaders have nip it in the bud by not relying on religious sentiments.
We built boko haram and Shekau unwittingly as a people. The monster is here and the only way to end this is for all to come together to find a solution.
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