PRESIDENTIAL DERADICALISATION AND INTEGRATION OF SO-CALLED REPENTANT BOKO HARAM FIGHTERS – AN AFFRONT ON MURDERED NIGERIAN CITIZENS.
In the history of Nigeria's nationhood, there have been series of challenges confronting her citizens with regards to insecurity, stemming from fractured security architecture. A secular state like Nigeria comprising people of different ethnic orientation, with diverse cultural heritage, beliefs and ideologies must surely witness conflicting opinions on matters concerning the nation, but a proactive leadership quality of a good President will in no small measure, serve as bedrock to secure a united and prosperous Nigeria.
In the build up to the 2015 Presidential election, the then opposition candidate-General Muhammadu Buhari (a former military dictator (1983-1985) of All Progressive Congress (APC), painted a deceitful security scenario of the nation to the populace as political propaganda. He bluntly promised to lead the war from the front in taming the menace of Boko haram and Fulani herdsmen, if elected. It is worthy of note that then President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan who in his understanding and respect for the federal character principle had true representation of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria in the military, confronted the activities of these terrorists and brought them to a visible standstill.
The Nigerian nation and her citizens started witnessing unprecedented series of attacks and killings as General Muhammadu Buhari deceitfully rode to power in May, 2015. Boko haram and Fulani herdsmen, who are the kinsmen of the President, became vicious and lawless, resorting to unimaginable level of killings of Christians in the southern, middle belt and northern regions of the country. The straw that breaks the camel's back is the glaring soft touch exhibited on daily basis by the President on these Boko haram terrorists (4th world deadliest terrorist group), by his continuous silence in the face of these brutal killings.
Nigerians have continued to demand decisive actions from the President to stop the killings and review the failed security architecture of the state by dismissing the non-performing military service chiefs and replacing them with men of great integrity to secure Nigerians. Rather than doing these, he has resorted to the deradicalisation and integration of these terrorists into the society – such a terrible decision. The Nigerian Senate, who are supposed to enact laws aimed at lifting Nigeria from being the poverty capital of the world and providing jobs for her teeming unemployed youths, had on Thursday, 20th February, 2020, decided to bring disgrace to the hallowed chamber by passing first reading of a bill to establish an agency for rehabilitation, deradicalisation and integration of so-called “repentant” Boko haram fighters into the society- such a misplaced priority.
There have been series of information of the Nigerian military absorbing so-called repentant Boko haram fighters into the its armed forces. It should be noted that this poses great danger to peace, survival, existence and security of Nigerians. President Muhammadu Buhari must understand that his Islamic fanatism and glaring absolute soft touch for the Fulani herdsmen and Boko haram, who are continuously slaughtering Nigerian citizens must be called into account in no distant time.
The atrocities of some past leaders like Idi Amin of Uganda never left unchecked. It is time for the International Community, United Nations, European Union, United States and other world bodies to call President Buhari to order. The Nigerian Senate must, as a matter of urgency and necessity, drop this terrible bill and face the business of the people by enacting laws for the good of the Nigerian people.
President Muhammadu Buhari Aisha Muhammadu Buhari Professor Yemi Osinbajo Ahmed Lawan Femi Gbajabiamila Senator Enyi Abaribe Nigerian Senate House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria National Assembly, Abuja Omoyele Sowore Civil society organisation ARISE NIGERIA GROUP Arise News247 Adeyanju Deji Senator Shehu Sani Sultan of Sokoto Emir's Palace Kano AREWA24 Afenifere Ohanaeze NDI IGBO Oodua Voice The Nation Newspaper Vanguard News Nigerian Presidency Goodluck Jonathan Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation TY Danjuma Foundation Atiku Abubakar
