The Northern Elders Forum recently gave ultimatum to President Goodluck Jonathan to rescue the Chibok girls before October 2014 or forget re-election in 2015. This is not the way to go.
On the other hand, it is important to appreciate the effort the Northern Elders Council (NEC), for their understanding and approval of the efforts of the Federal Government to bring to an end the insurgency which the country has suffered from for more than three years now. The security agents also deserve our gratitude for their efforts and sacrifice to end the senseless killings of citizens.
Since the Chibok girls’ abduction, the president has assured that their rescue and safe return to their families is a top priority of his administration and success of the security agents in the actualisation of this dream is gradually becoming a reality after the ransacking of a major hideout of the insurgents. Insurgency does not recognise sectional, ethnic, logistic or cultural interest as clearly highlighted by NEC. The earlier Nigerians appreciate that fact, the easier it will be to end insurgency. The moral obligation of every well meaning Nigerian whether old or young, man or woman regardless of ethnic, religious or political background should be to condemn insurgency instead of making insinuations capable of disintegrating the country and bringing more chaos.
Collective effort of Nigerians is an essential method to which the insurgency situation troubling the North Eastern part of Nigeria can become history. Politicising the security situation which is already bad is a wrong approach, especially by people who are elders and whose priority should be to proffer solution and bring ideas to end terrorism as demonstrated by the NEF. Nigerians should to put the interest of Nigeria at heart ahead of any personal interest. If the country does not exist, there will be no politics to play anymore. We should be united at this time of crisis and put heads together to save our dear country from this alien challenge. NEC should keep up the good work of working with the government in achieving their goal of having a peaceful Nigeria.
Their cooperation will give hope to Nigerians that despite ethnic, religious and other differences, unity is key to defeating the security challenge facing the country today.
Fatima Musa,
Youth Support and Development Initiative
