With the recent unfortunate attacks made by the radical Islamist group popularly known as “Boko Haram” and the unending Muslim-Christian clashes in Jos, Plateau State, I find it very necessary to write this short piece in order to make a clarion call to my fellow great Nigerian Youths to avoid sentiment and bigotry, and stand focused and united, so that together we can take our beloved country, Nigeria, to a greater level.
But before I go any further, as a Muslim, I would like to put it categorically clear here that the ongoing acts of the Extremist Group known as “Boko Haram” are unislamic. Islam does not condone violence. The Arabic word “Islam” was derived from the root word “Salaam” which means “Peace and Safety”. As such, committing suicide by a Muslim or killing other innocent people (by him) without due cause, is prohibited and, of course, one of the greatest sins in Islam.
However, being a regular reader of some of the Nigerian Newspapers, particularly Vanguard Newspaper (online version), I must say that I am not encouraged by the way some unenlightened Nigerian Youths are blindly reacting to the issue of “Boko Haram”, which will not in any way solve the “Boko Haram” problem, but rather create another problem for Nigeria, which would be much bigger than the “Boko Haram” problem itself. No one is disputing the fact that the “Boko Haram” problem is a critical one which has to be addressed as a matter of urgency. But still we must be very careful in addressing it, because the problem is a complex one and there is more in it than we can superficially see. As a student and also a development worker, I find time and conducted a wider research on the ideology behind “Boko Haram”, including its origin and root causes, as well as its membership and activities. My research paid more attention on the root causes, because I strongly believe that the “Boko Haram” problem can only be solved if some of its root causes are identified and addressed. And after my research, I jumped into the conclusion that it is bad leadership and social injustices of our corrupt leaders that give birth to “Boko Haram”. It is indeed the same bad leadership that gives birth to all other evils and menaces, such as the Niger Delta Militancy and the ongoing Jos Crisis, which are always pulling our nation backward.
Similarly, it is also sad how our corrupt politicians, who are responsible for the emergence of “Boko Haram” are at the same time capitalizing on it to create confusion and bring disunity among Nigerians in order to achieve their personal political aims. These corrupt politicians have the fear that once poor Nigerians are enlightened and united, then the next thing they would do is to challenge them (politicians) and go against their long standing injustices. In order to prevent this challenge, these politicians continue to use their “Divide and Rule” system, by usually formulating and fuelling ethnic and religious crises which usually resulted into disharmony and disunity among the poor Nigerians.
At this juncture therefore, I would like to call on my fellow Nigerian Youths, who constitute more than 70% of the country’s population to kindly put aside our ethnic and religious differences and come together on one platform so as to rebuild our great country Nigeria. Sentiment, emotion and bigotry will not take us anywhere. It will only give our exploiters the chance to continue exploiting us and looting our national treasury. We must stop killing each other and destroying each other’s homes and properties all in the name of religion. Rather, we must come together and fight corruption. We must fight the present neo-liberal economic policies of our government, which have further impoverished our people, immensely increased youth unemployment and increased astronomically the cost of living for the ordinary citizens. We must start projecting towards rebuilding Another Nigeria, which is quite possible. Another Nigeria where there will be total rule of law, equity, justice and fairness for all. Another Nigeria where there will be good educational system, effective medical care, constant power supply, portable drinking water, employment opportunities for all and other infrastructural facilities for the betterment of the ordinary citizens. Another Nigeria where government will be answerable, accountable and responsive to its people.
Finally, for us to get this Another Nigeria of our dream, we must start the movement today and right now. We can start today from our community levels, by educating and enlightening those our friends, brothers and sisters on how they can actively participate towards achieving this other Nigeria, especially by using their votes wisely during elections. And we must always put it at the back of our mind that unless and until positive, responsive and effective leadership is obtained in Nigeria, we can never see an end to these epidemics, like “Boko Haram” and the rest. Let me close with the following words to my great Nigerian Youths, please, DO NOT ANTAGONISE, BUT RATHER ORGANISE!
Long Live Nigeria!
Long Live Nigerian Youths!
Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo
Faculty of Law,
Bayero University, Kano
08033477704
08055558250
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