RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: SPECIAL REPORT: NORTH-EAST NIGERIA ON THE BRINK

When I was in Nigeria recently, I had the opportunity to visit the house of one serving Minister and member of cabinet. I saw a huge gathering in his  house and I carefully observed the conservations when we were eating. It was a kind of participant observation. My friend got me audience with the minister because the minister is from his village and I knew him when we were undergraduates. 

I am sorry to say that in Abuja it is business and usual. Frankly, I am sorry to say but for many in Abuja, they would not mind losing Borno and  Yobe if it will not affect them continuing to make money by accessing the treasury corruptly.  The moral ignominy of innocent Nigerians, and young girls and women abducted and for months, the government of their country ignores them is to say the least irresponsible. In ancient Greek myths, wars fought just for the honor of a woman that was abducted. Let us go beyond honor and think of the dignity of the people involved. What is the meaning of the postcolonial state and its promises in this respect? In Abuja people are taking their "latte" and thinking about 2015. It is truly painful to think about this. It is not about the women as such, it is about us as human beings and the kind of society that we want.

And for those who expect religion will save Nigeria, I am sorry to say that if you really and honestly look at the facts, there is no basis for such a hope if the expansion and penetration of religion in the society in the past fifty years is to be taken seriously. The only hope is if there is a new kind of religion that is going to emerge in the near future to transform the country. There is need to discuss what kind of religion that will be.

 It is one thing for ordinary people to do terrible things but it is worse when people use the name of God, or their religious position and authority to dupe people or mislead them. To put people in sub-human conditions and tell them that God ordained that is cruel. I remember in Sokoto when this issue came up, Professor Falola said, such people use religion or God to end the conversation. Properly practiced, religion is an important source of rejuvenation of one's morality and ethic and respect for other human beings. But it can also be misused. 

When presumably increased relationship with the DIVINE is not translating in observable desirable change in character, worldview, values and aspiration individuals, let along social interaction and impact on culture, forget it. Such religion will impact our institutions negatively.

In Abuja, it is business as usual for many of the 2015 aspirants. When and where is the generation that will make Nigeria "a just and egalitarian society" -- one of the goals of our elders in the past as stated in the Second National Development Plan. We are moving far away from the idea of a land of bountiful opportunities. The potential is there though. My lamentation.

Samuel

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Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2014 16:33:04 -0700
From: corneliushamelberg@gmail.com
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Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: SPECIAL REPORT: NORTH-EAST NIGERIA ON THE BRINK

God first and then country?

Does the annual budget for heavily subsidised religious pilgrimages (standing on the banks of the River Jordan etc) compete with the budget for running an efficient education programme? In the early 1980s Governor Ambrose Ali of the then Bendel State devoted 50% of the state budget to education; even if Northerners who were heads of state in Nigeria did not address the imbalance between the North and other parts of the country with regard to implementing universal primary school education, whoever – no matter the tribe -  is president of Nigeria (all of Nigeria) must address the issue now!

There’s always room for alternate viewpoints: How much space did the delegates at the national conference give to the Boko Haram Insurgency and what were their recommendations?  

Since Nigeria is already a member of the OIC, I wonder whether the fear of the Islamic Caliphate is as strong in the North, as it is in the South. The resurrection/transformation of Northern Nigeria into a Caliphate is a constitutional process (the peaceful dissolution of the bonds that bind – by dialogue, negotiation, and referendum) that could take a couple of years.  Could it be made constitutionally viable for the Caliphate to remain within the Federation or have a special relationship with (perish the thought) with what remains of Nigeria?  

Would the African regions of the world-wide Caliphate belong to the African Union? The United Nations?

Al-Qaradhawi: Islamic Caliphate Should Look Like the EU

On Wednesday, 3 September 2014 21:38:35 UTC+2, Yona Maro wrote:

Nigeria on the verge of losing Borno state

Nigeria stands on the verge of being split in two as Boko Haram makes lightning territorial gains in the north-east of the country, we warn in a special report, North-East Nigeria on the brink. 

The report warns that Boko Haram is preparing to take over Borno’s state capital, Maiduguri, following an attack on Bama to the south-east.

“If Maiduguri falls, it will be a symbolic and strategic victory unparalleled so far in the conflict,” the report says.

A successful attack could be followed by a take over of the whole of Borno state and possibly parts of Adamawa, Yobe, and neighbouring Cameroon.

The report says, “Unless swift action is taken, Nigeria could be facing a rapid takeover of a large area of its territory reminiscent of ISIS’s lightning advances in Iraq.”

We call on the Nigerian government to urgently reinforce Maiduguri to prevent it falling into enemy hands and re-gain control over Borno’s network of roads to stem the insurgency’s advance.

Low morale and inadequate equipment in the army is causing soldiers to refuse to counter-attack and flee from battle. They must be provided with adequate equipment and ammunition to confidently stand against Boko Haram in battle.

Unless drastic action is taken, Nigeria stands to lose a large portion of its territory with an accompanying humanitarian crisis.

For more information, read the full report.

https://nigeriasecuritynetwork.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/ne-on-the-brink-special-report.pdf

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