One mid-morning early in December last year, I stood in the balcony of my house and watched as aircraft, as usual, lazily came in to land. I live along the very busy international plane route leading to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. But this morning, there was something unusual about the incoming flights. Within the space of 45 minutes, I was able to count thirteen Nigerian Air Force Hercules transporters. I immediately knew Nigeria's war against Boko Haram was going to take a turn for the better.
There was no other possible explanation. These military cargo hackneys were coming in to haul away an enormous armada of arms and ammunition to the theatre of war in the Nigerian Northeast. It was obvious to me that, at last, the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan, had woken up to the need to act decisively. From day one when terrorists started exploding bombs in churches and government buildings in Abuja and environs, I called for total military action; a decisive burnout of this threat, ensuring that their sponsors were made to pay the grim price prescribed by law.
The President chose, instead, to dance to the tune of politicians and blackmailers from the North and their collaborators in so-called civil society who are funded from Europe and America. Boko Haram was allowed to metamorphose from a band of rag-tag Islamist outlaws to a fierce multinational military force that abducted 219 girls from their boarding school and established a separatist enclave that consisted of no fewer than sixteen local government areas in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.
Our once mighty military became a laughing stock, as Boko Haram, aided by saboteurs, staged deadly ambushes, killing our men and capturing our military equipment. Our soldiers reportedly ran from their insolent bravado, and this midget called Nasir el Rufai jubilantly made fun of our president and armed forces on his Facebook and Twitter forums. Some Northern leaders seemed overjoyed at the bloody "exploits" of Boko Haram though their own homeland and kinsmen were being decimated. There were fears in the North that it was only a matter of time before Boko Haram swept away the Sokoto Caliphate and took over.
But today, the story is different. Everybody is now highly expectant that Boko Haram is on the verge of painful extermination. Our once mighty army has resumed its proper stature. The backbone of terror has effectively been broken. Yes, they are still exploding suicide bombs here and there. This is something we may have to live with for some time; something we can completely overcome only with collective vigilance. I am of the firm belief that come March 28th 2015, we will hold the presidential election in all polling units in Nigeria. That would be victory, not just for our president but also for all Nigerians.
In his recent interview with THISDAY Newspaper, President Jonathan admitted, in his usual candid manner, that he had under-estimated Boko Haram at first. Well, I did not. On this forum, I shouted myself hoarse that we should not be drawn to any dialogue with Boko Haram because you cannot dialogue with revolutionaries. You either overwhelm them or they overcome you and take over. I warned the federal government not to listen to those who wanted to make Boko Haram seem like the Northern version of the Niger Delta militants who accepted amnesty and post-amnesty packages in exchange for peace. I advised that those in the media, civil society and political platforms calling for "dialogue" wanted to buy time for the terrorists.
Rather than listen to people like us, President Jonathan chose to listen to them. Before long, the Chibok girls were abducted in April last year. He even fell for a fluke offer by Boko Haram to release the girls in August last year. The terrorists seized that opportunity to sweep out of Sambisa Forest into Southern Borno and Northern Adamawa. They dealt the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh the ignominy of overrunning his hometown, Vimtim, and burning his country home.
I congratulate the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and the generality of the people of Nigeria, in advance of our impending victory. The joy belongs to all of us, though many of us misbehaved terribly and even mortgaged our consciences to the devil and enemy of our nation at one point or the other.
Let the President and the rest of us learn the lessons. We should never shy away from confronting a challenge no matter how sensitive it appears. Niccolo Machiavelli says if you inflict pain on people and solve a problem, the injury, no matter how deep, is soon forgotten when the problem is solved. If Jonathan had swooped on Boko Haram and their collaborators way back in 2012, nobody would be talking about any egg broken in making that omelette by now. In fact, it would be counted as part of the president's achievements.
Secondly, I agree with President Jonathan: we must rebuild the North East. The fact that Nigeria never rebuilt Igboland after it was flattened during the Biafra war will not make me to suggest we neglect the North East. But it must not be a precipitate action. It must be carefully worked out, ensuring that the youth that played roles on both sides are properly rehabilitated into civilised society.
I vehemently disagree with the President that "Abubakar Shekau", the putative Boko Haram leader, should be captured alive. He must be terminated as the United States destroyed Osama Bin Laden, and hid away his body at sea. 'Shekau" in detention, prison or identified grave will be a cancer on the body of Nigeria. Jihadists from all over the world will have their eyes on him, and you know what that means!
Don't play with fire. NEVER CAPTURE "SHEKAU" ALIVE!
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