Terrorism, Amnesty And Peace For Development In Nigeria.

PRESIDENT Barack Obama, the 2009 Nobel Peace Laureate in his address to African Union Leaders in Ethiopia on 28^th July 2015, praised Africa’s rapid economic growth in recent years and to sustain this development in the face of threat and insecurity that plague the continent he said, “Africa’s Progress will depend on security and peace, and our fight against terrorist groups will never be won, if we fail to address the grievances that terrorists exploit.”

This is a timely and wise words of truth to our leaders in Africa, the continent where terrorism and its associated deadly operations has today spread to almost all regions of the continent, of which many have died, millions have been displaced and living in abject poverty.

By 2017, when President Obama relinquish office as the first and best president America and indeed the world ever had, history will remember him in the words of the Indian Legend and philosopher, late M.K. Ghandi who said: “I have nothing new to teach the world. Truth and Non-Violence are as old as the hills.”

Though the zero ground in America has been rebuilt and is today wearing a new look. The memory of the sad effect of the twin tower Al-Qaeda terrorist attack by late Osama bin Laden that killed about three thousand people in America on 11^th September, 2001 will remain for a long time in the minds of surviving victims, affected families and friends around the world.

Obama’s administration as the 44^th American president instilled courage and hope into many Americans by his fight and victory over the al-queada leader, Osama Bin Laden who master minded the terrorist attack and whose death in 2011, many saw as a brutal end to a sadist. Obama laid a good foundation for world peace and his fight against al-Qaeda and all forms of terrorism around the world particularly in Africa, will for a long time be remembered. His love for Middle East peace, efforts made to end nuclear arms proliferation by rich nations for war and his quick disengagement of American troops from Iraq and Afghanistan are examples of his many achievements.

In the new millennium economic and technological race, democracy by its definition and concept is considered as the best form of government for peace and development, which will create jobs and business opportunities for the people and the youths, who are considered as future leaders of tomorrow the world over.

In as much as democracy creates freedom and opportunity for people to air their views or criticize leaders and how they govern, the militancy nature of many of these activists or human rights groups do not respect or follow laid down rules or principles of democracy to enhance peace and security of the community or society.

Any mob protest, action or human right activity that involves militancy by any individual or group of persons puting pressure on government for solution to social ills or bad governance will lead us nowhere and will not enhance a viable democracy in any nation.

President Muhammadu Buhari, highlighted the problems facing the country and in his inaugural speech after taken the oath of office on 29^th May, 2015 noted that, “Daunting as the task of leadership may be, the problems facing Nigeria are by no means insurmountable. The most immediate and urgent task is the fight against Boko Haram insurgency in the country. The Armed Forces will be fully charged with prosecuting the fight against Boko Haram until they are subdued”

Just a few days to his first hundred days in office and in line with his campaign promises, President Buhari to address the insecurity issue facing the country, has relocated the Armed Forces Command and Control Centre formerly in Abuja to Maiduguri in Borno state. He has appointed new Armed Forces Service Chiefs. His visits to the United States of America and Federal Republic of Cameroun and his meetings and discussions with Presidents Obama and Paul Biya respectively are also connected with the intention of his administration to dismantle and defeat terrorist activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria and the West African sub region.

Boko Haram as an Islamic Terrorist group took its roots in Maiduguri in Borno State about thirteen years ago under the leadership of late Mohammed Yusuf and has since spread its operation and activities to other states in the North East region of the country.

The post Independence regional setting and ethnic diversity of the country had little impact in uniting the people for peace to enhance growth. However, the division of the regions into thirty six states which started with the military administration of Retired Major General Yakubu Gowon in 1967 and successive military regimes in the country in 1976, 1987, 1991 and 1996 respectively prevented disintegration of the country.

At the end of the civil war in 1970. General Gowon’s no victor no vanquish declaration of the war, urgent reconstruction and rehabilitation of war turn areas that followed, state pardon given, freedom and compassionate hands of brotherhood with which war displaced persons and victims were received into the community and back to their homes, families and properties they abandoned during the war, has today made the country more united and indivisible, irrespective of tribe, language, political or religious differences that exist between the people.

Late President Musa Yar’Adua, now of blessed memory experienced a bit of the Boko Haram crisis. It was during their uprising in 2009, that the leader Mohammed Yusuf was killed during a police military clamp down on members of the group in Maiduguri. President Yar’Adua will however be remembered for the part he played in the amicable settlement of the Niger Delta militant crisis he faced during his regime in 2007, with the amnesty he granted the leaders and members of the group which enhanced dialogue and peaceful solution to the crisis that almost turned the country upside-down in 2009.

Government to meet the demand for development and growth of the people in the Niger Delta area increased their oil revenue allocation from 13 % to 25%. In the fight of Ogoni youths against the exploitation of their land by rich multinational oil companies, after a long standing court case in their favor, Royal Dutch Shell Company paid them huge sums of money as compensation. The money was used for infrastructural development of Ogoniland which today is a pride to all the sons and daughters of the land. Government efforts and support also brought great development to the area, created employment, training and business opportunities for the people, particularly youths of the land.

During Late General Sani Abacha’s military regime between 1993 and 1998, Mr. kenule Saro- Wiwa, a writer, television producer and environmental activist and leader of Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and eight other leaders of the group were killed by hanging in 1995, when tried by law and were found guilty of the gruesome killing of Ogoni chiefs at a community meeting.

After President Yar’Adua’s sudden death in 2010, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as the Vice President was sworn in as President. Though he completed the first term of Yar’Aduas admistration and served a second term by the weight of the ballot box. All his administration’s laudable efforts for economic reforms in the country were however marred by great insecurity of kidnapping, bombing and murder by Boko Haram terrorist group under the new leadership of Abubakar Shekau.

As a result of the insecurity threat imposed on the citizenry by Boko Haram, many local trades and businesses suffered home and international partnership and patronage.

If the cause or motive of the Boko Haram militant group is based on politics or religion, the head of the group, Abubakar Shekau is strongly advised at home and abroad to follow peace path and use the opportunity of government amnesty pardon to dialogue for the amicable and peaceful end to the long standing crisis before the brutal intervention of the military, who are now well equipped, prepared and supported by outside forces.

President Muhammadu Buhari is a devout Muslim from the Northern geo-political zone of the country. His All Progressive Congress Party (APC) lead government spread across the states in Nigeria and he won the mandates of the people to be president through the ballot box in the recently concluded April 2015 peaceful Presidential election.

Abubakar Shekau and his members must eschew faith and hope in the new government and administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in meeting their needs and demand for peace, security and stability of the country.

As a matter of urgency early in his assumption of office, President Buhari is all out to combat, defeat, dismantle and end activities of Boko Haram, that has branded Nigerians negatively, dented the image of the country and has strained her bilateral relations with the outside world.

The positive move of the head and members of the Boko haram group in stretching the hands of fellowship with the government will be seen as a light at the end of the tunnel for Nigerians and many of her friends in Africa and around the world.

When all about Boko Haram is eventually settled by the government, Nigerians at home and in the diasporas must be ready to forgive the rebels involved, stretch the hand of compassion, fellowship and brotherhood to the victims and all Nigerians must be ready to support and or complement government effort for reconstruction/rebuilding work in affected states and to rehabilitate victims and displaced people. Government must compensate families and children of dead victims. To keep Nigeria one is not only a task that must be done, but a task that concerns each and every Nigerian any where they are around the globe.