Our nation is in turmoil today, as a result of violence at its climax, insecurity of lives and properties, inept leadership and unprecedented rate of poverty. Countless lives were lost to the militancy in the South-south and South-east regionsin the bid of the militants to force their demands on resource control and improved treat from the Federal Government. The militants unleashed mayhem on their regionsand terror on the nation in a condemnable manner, but were eventually granted amnesty by the government after monetary settlements of the warlords on individual empowerment level, but the situation of the common people of the regions remain worrisome till date, which cast doubt on the sincerity of purpose on the part of the militants.
Since the truce between government and the militants, the sectarian crises in the North has come to fore, causing the greatest havoc on the nation, as manifested by the operations of terror organizations, with pseudonym Boko Haram or Fulani herdsmen, that has maimed countless Nigerians in a terrifying manner. The fact that these terror groups are faceless but succeeded in launching a rare rate of attacks, in spite of the strength and might of our security agencies bringgreat suspicions on the intents and purpose of these terror groups and to whose advantage are they really operating.
The Federal Government equipped with the necessary intelligence report has often declared Boko Haram has faceless group while the United Nations has blacklisted the group as a terrorist group that has to be eliminated, but the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the oppositionAll Progressives Congress (APC) have been trading blames on issues surrounding the activities of the sect, while the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) are at loggerheads on salient issues relating to the group.
It is really sad to observe that both the political and religious leaders across the divides are playing pranks with the lives of Nigerians going by the manner in which these horrible events are politicized at different levels. It is very clear that the operations of these terrorist affect all Nigerians irrespective of races, tribes or religions but we failed to agree with this glaring reality because of religious sentiments.
NSCIA has asserted that the whole activities of these sects generally negates Islamic tenets and ideals, hence the sects does not represents Islam in any manner. CAN is not equally oblivious of the truth of NSCIA assertions but instead of collaborating to properly sensitize both Muslims and Christians on reasons to have unity of purpose as one people of this great nation, the chasm between Muslims and Christians are becoming widened as a result of unnecessary rivalry and assaults at many fronts.The rules of engagement in Islam are succinct as it condemn affront by Muslims in any manner and forbids an offensive Jihad.
Without fear of contradiction, both Islam and Christianity preach peace and fidelity among the people as commanded by both the Quran and the Bible. The two books equally contain verses that could incite violence to an ill-educated believer as no believer with vast knowledge of the Quran or Bible will involve himself or encourage violence, hatred, misrepresentation and blackmail, especially when the onus of responsibility to invoke any discipline or negotiations is vested in the constituted authority of the religious leaders.
At the political front, the agents of PDP in sustaining their reign at the federal level against all odds have continuously alleged the opposition leaders of sponsoring the sect which negate common sense and the opposition has not spared the PDP of same allegations. Is it not an indictment on the ruling party to allege a group of sabotage without applying appropriate sanctions against them, suffice to say that the Federal Government is responsible for the woes of insecurity in Nigeria and President Goodluck Jonathan should accept full responsibility for the failure of his administration and rise to the demands of the masses for a secured nation.
The freedom of association and rights to religion enshrined in the nations Constitution does not give liberty to anyone to divide the nation on either tribal or religion lines, but the political class are polarizing the system along this lines and the masses refuse to reconcile their differences by allowing themselves as tools in the hands of wicked politicians misleading the affairs of our nation.
It will be in the best interest of the nation, if the masses realize that all Muslims and Christians are creation of Almighty God and equally accept the fact that you can’t claim to serve God, when you hate or hold animosity against God’s Creature, as many people are Muslims and Christians by accident of birth and just a few hold on to their faiths by convictions and proper understanding of the Will of God.
The good people of this nation should stop the act of misjudging people across the divides and strongly unite to tackle the general spate of insecurity, whether in the North or South, as injury to one Nigerian should be seen as injury to all Nigerians.
Comrade AbdulRahman is National Coordinator, Mass Action for Good Governance and Grassroots Development
