This is a supposed rejoinder to an article published in the Daily Trust last week. In the August 13, 2019, edition, Gambo Dori, author of the Tuesday Column asks “When Shall We Vanquish Boko Haram?” Sad for him, it is a question which has no answer. No one knows. In the stead of an answer, Dori elicits a million more questions.
It is the second piece on Boko Haram he wrote in two weeks and I run to the conclusion that true, he has a firsthand account and a bitter experience since the insurgency, and overburdened by its consequences, he now wants a true, honest end to the craze. Poor us.
The insurgency has made a million stories; most of them remain untold, and may not be ever told. And that determines whether or not the insurgency can end. But then it has to end on its own. No one can end it, unfortunately, even if someone started it.
In a narrow account of a daylong personal experience at the beginning of the insurgency the week before, Dori showed how his own family has survived the decade-long debacle. It is only reasonable that this week he wants an end to it in a followup to that unreadable must-read. Gambo was right. But his conclusion was just as predictable as our cliché thoughts through the decade. Usual. Normal.
There are millions of needs for the insurgency – not Boko Haram, or not only Boko Haram again – to end. Everyone, every reasonable human – no one needs to be directly affected to be reasonable – should want an end to it. Of course it is, it should be everyone’s wish. I read quite a number of pieces wanting it to end. Many survived it and many want its end.
I have asked this question severally for the time the crisis lasted but I was ignored on every occasion. We are now coming back to it. The question, not answer, will remain important until we pinch our minds for rethinks.
Is the call to ending the insurgency all about crossing a river? Do we just want to put it behind us and continue to live, like we did with the Maitasine case, only for it to resurge decades later? Can, will the insurgency end?
Is it still Boko Haram? Are we still seeing every bit of attack as coming from the same concept that started it? How exact can we be? And does that indicate justice to them? And can the misconception – the tag of every bit of attack as coming from Boko Haram fair to them. Is that not a reckless disrespect to the Group? I believe Mr. President that the actual Boko Haram was no more.
So will this heap of blame on Boko Haram make sense to anyone of us, or do any good? If we want an end by negotiation (because the military tactic will not make it end for reasons of our own attitudes and behaviours), will this careless mislabels go any length to appease the Boko Haram to change heart?
Will it appease them to see reason and to give justice inspite of the calls for reconciliation, and in respect to the great sitting President of Nigeria and the new governments under those gentle amiable governors – Zulum and Buni – who are the primary concerned?
Does it occur to us how much of our bad habits have undermined intelligence and military efforts and we returned it all back on the Governor, the President and the security agents as having failed?
Will the insurgency end even when you know that fact and refuse to agree to it? Do you know how much of our denials of the issues about the insurgency have helped it to last this long and may not let it end?
Do we really mean an end to the insurgency – a generic but safer word to use to refer to the stray attacks happening these days? What of the now multiplied-than-ever attitudes, behaviours and characters that pushed us up to issues to the founding of the insurgency?
What of the harmful, archaic social bad practices which have only worsened instead of corrected, making us far from the lessons we are expected to learn, and our distance from God has widened as much, instead?
But do we really want an end to the insurgency? Why do we want it end? Who are interested in the end to the attacks? How many of yours sincerely, Gambo Dori and HE Governor Zulum, do sincerely want it to end? But why should it end?
What are the objectives of the wants to end it? How can it end just like that? What has it served? Did it serve the purpose, the reason it started? What have we learnt from the experience?
Who are those of us who want the attacks to end? What are we? Where do we come from in Borno or the North east, and where do we belong on the platform of society? What do we do for a living before and during the insurgency? How did we survive it and why? Where have we been since the displacements and the killings started? How did we escape the mayhem?
What have been our socioeconomic statui since the attacks began? What are our social, cultural affiliations now? Have we changed occupation/profession since then, or have we changed as persons and how? What was the reason for the change of occupation/profession? What are our political ideologies and leanings before and now?
Do we really want a break or a change from an insurgent society to one that is free, equal, equitable, peaceful, just and economically viable society where everyone will be free and not prey to anyone, to anything? Are we really serious about that? Do we really want it end or we just pay lip service?
Are we ready for the consequences of its end? Do you believe that just like the beginning and the experience, the ending of the insurgency also has grave consequences we must negotiate to face? Are we ready to face them? Are we ready really in all fronts: economically, politically, socially and culturally to handle society and live in it thereafter, in peace and harmony?
Have we changed? What about us that has changed? Has changed began with us, more than those from other states? Do you know that if we really want to end the insurgency for all of us, we cannot continue to keep the me and my family only culture, and that we can only live for each other, thereafter?
Will you stop the remote causes that actually developed us towards the insurgency such as blackgossip, miserable endeavours, envy, hatred, racism, stoneheartedness, cruelty, greed, intolerance, threat and fights?
Will you stop the divisive tendencies that see others as the ‘other’ enemy who comes to compete with you to take your place outshine you and overshadow your achievements/records at school/work?
What happens to the settled and resettled new life ways and lifestyles that some of us now enjoy as a result, if the attacks stop? What happens if the security votes that flow without accounts to service the socioeconomic statui of some big heads; to sponsor some education abroad; and to help run the businesses of many who lost so much all over stop flowing?
What happens to the homeless who lost homes they can never recover again and are now finding solace in the meagre housing, food and clothing from donations in the IDP camps all over? What can you do as an individual to help restore the values and good norms we lost to the destruction and the devaluation of the society we used to know?
Can we as a government and as individuals provide the adequate means of trade, farming and other skills to the thousands in the camps when they eventually move, even when we failed to allow all the donations go direct to them as IDPs?
Are we ready to forgive and embrace the insurgent elements who will have to reintegrate and live within us; be kind to them and support them to restart life on their own? Are you asking me still about what governments can do for them or are you thinking that only government alone can handle those aspects?
Are you the one that will live with them? Can the government be all round available to check, monitor, account and handle all issues emanating therefrom at all places at once, including your contempt, badwording, vengeance, hatred, and all local fights?
Can you share food and shelter with relations and others just to help reduce the number of the desperate on governments and non-government organisations? Can you volunteer to be the ambassador – the eye and ear of the government in your area so things will be done on dues?
Will you be true to yourself and to others – family, friends, colleagues, relations and strangers? Will you hold everyone in fair comment and judgment until proven otherwise; judge them by their good minds, good hearts and by merit and good service, care, kindness and sincerity only? Will you discipline your family and influence those under you to do same?
Will you advise, consult, and share norms and values of good humanity, encourage goodness, giving, courage, hardwork, commitment, patience and endurance in service to others? Will you pray in sincerity to self, to others, to country, to leaders and to humanity for peace, progress and development to happen and enroot?
Will you help change the mindset that government must do everything all at once to a mindset that will encourage voluntary services in your areas and organisations for human service? Will you be proactive in your domain to influence and encourage good habits, good work and good practices to ensure the peace lasts thereafter?
Will your change as a person in mind and at heart inform your perception about other individuals, groups, institutions, government, public officers, politicians across the parties/ideologies, NGOs and every other organ so that you can judge them by their level, degree and commitment to accountability only as a public service value?
Will you judge them by their responsibility and delivery of service with commensurate results and value for their votes and budgets; for their quick, selfless actions or inactions to solving public problems and provide service results only?
Will you be selfless to support the new government in ways that can build up to new lives, without submitting over-quoted claims for your services and purchases? Will you do anything to stop abuse, waste and mismanagement of public resources and facilities to help manage public spending maximise value for public procurements so governments can meet demands before them?
Will you change your perception of public office; be a good example of a public officer; discipline yourself and others under you to look after, respect and protect public property to ensure its durability and maximum efficiency?
Will you cherish, honour and respect office ethics and etiquettes, respect office hours and use every of the eight hours every day to ensure prompt flow and smooth running of public affairs as they come before you, without any unnecessary jam of files and without delaying the fates of those who bear the burden of waiting for your comments on their files?
Will you now as a public officer stop shortchanging government in anyway, respect and protect public money so that votes meant for developments and provisions of services, facilities meet their objectives, and even fight anyone who will try to induce you to do otherwise?
Will you as a public officer or figure or a relation to one or a privileged person now stop collecting and hoarding foods and medicine meant for the resettled? Will you mobilise for community action against such practises so that erring members can be socially sanctioned even?
If the insurgency ends, will you now volunteer and organise voluntary groups for community policing, and the sanctions of every habit or practice that will risk security? Will you do more, including anything that will help society to true and lasting change after the insurgency for life to be more meaningful to everyone who lives within?
Will you be a leader in your own unit, domain and community, will you provide true selfless leadership at any level whenever your services are needed?
Can you imagine that how much and what type of answers are in your mind for all the questions above actually determine whether or not we actually want the insurgency to end, we are not in any need for that and whether or not the insurgency will end?
Can you imagine if we are not sure of our answers then we are not ready for the end to the attacks, and should stop henceforth calling for their end? Now you tell me: will, can the insurgency end?
Hassan Alhaji Hassan can be contacted on 08032829772/08050551220 (text only with full names and address)a[email protected]
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect WikkiTimes’ editorial stance.
