Why it is Difficult for Peace to Reign in Nigeria

Nigerians have a couple of attitudinal issues that are making peaceful co-existence and unity very impossible. We can blame the government and every other institution for our woe but one thing is certain even when we have a perfect government without addressing these issues any hope of peace can as well be signed off as a daydream. Peace and development have eloped most Nigerian states because the government and the people lack political and social will to face issues squarely. There have been so many violent crises in Nigeria. Since the dawn of the fourth republic alone the country has suffered over 345 socio-political crises; the number is outrageous for ethno-religious crises...it’s something near uncountable. Painfully, no matter how bad these events turn out, little is done to prevent a reoccurrence and this is why we should discard all thoughts of peace in the nearest future. Until we brace up to factors and element that are robbing us of peace, we don’t deserve to live in peace.

The peace process in Nigeria can be described as political, inept, superficial and weak. This is better exposed in the lip-serving attitude the government and the people have towards peace. Almost every Nigerian will profess peace as the panacea to development and better life; and even yet, almost every leader will assure you that his leadership will give up its mandate for peace. There has been far more government programmes and policies on peace, than there has been to address corruption. Nigerians talk more of peace and unity than any other black nation but it’s all a façade. Yet we are not as peaceful or peace-loving as we claim. I have seen common people lose their patience with the slightest provocation – even if it was a rumour.

Firstly, we find it hard to tolerate one another...we disregard people’s beliefs easily and we don’t respect the ways of life of others. You see it playing out in how easily we make caricature of the culture and religion of others. We are good at calling people from other tribe disrespectful names and describing them with awkward phrases. For instance, the Ibos call Yorubas “Ofe Mmanu”, which means “soup full of oil”; the Hausa’s call the Ibos “Yammiri” coined from the Ibo phrase “N’yem imiri”, which means “Give me water – a phrase that originated during the civil wars when Ibos were believed to beg for water to survive”; and Hausa’s a known with different derogatory names including Aboki-slave boy, Malo-thoughtless, “Mmu Ewu-goat’s kids”. These names have become entrenched in our vocabulary, yet they are the most obvious signs that we don’t respect people from other ethnic or religious group. From the religious angle Muslims call Christians “arhner (not sure of the spelling) – one without faith” and the Christians call the Muslims many names that somehow relates to the phrase “one whose head is always on the ground”.

Another problem we have as a country is that we are too religious. Our search for God and a relationship with Him strives on fanaticism. We have not even made our way right with our creator, but we want to show others how to make their way right with their creator. Every issue relating to religion is taken completely out of context. We pretend so much to love God but we don’t even know him. How can one truly love someone they don’t know? How is it possible to say you love God who is far from your sight and grasp when you are irritated at the neighbour you see every day of your life? We read our scriptures alright, but we interpret the holy message in several unholy ways to suit our unholy and carnal desires, and aspirations. We claim to be the torchbearers but we live each day in darkness – with a heart full of hate, and a mind soaked in pretentious evil.

Also our politics is too dirty and too childish. Politics is designed to help players compete for the interest of the people they represent and not to promote the interest of the player exclusively. What we play as politics is deception – a type that is too strong that the players even deceive themselves. The game in Nigeria is so dirty and it is played with little or no dignity or regard for sportsmanship. Competing teams never mind staking the values they hold so high to score or even the scores. This is why it is very hard to differentiate a religious leader in Nigeria from a politician, and even more difficult to tell what our Holy Scriptures say from what the manifestoes of our political parties says.   

Nigerians are also a bunch of insecure groups of people. We are always looking over our shoulders. We are scared of what will happen if someone from the other side takes over power, or is placed above us. Even when they are below us we throw-up at the thought of a take-over. Yet this warped sense of comradeship or brotherhood is discarded as soon as everything falls into position. There are actually very few leaders who used their position of power to effect any meaningful change for the people they supposedly represented. When the chips are down, it becomes an issue of “just for my family and friends”. Even yet, we still clamour to have our person at the herm of affairs if not for anything, to tame our insecurity and endemic inferiority complex.

I will like to stop here for now...

ok...I don’t like being a problem rooster; it can be more fun providing solutions. I will just list what I think should be done to help Nigerians address attitudinal issues that are robbing us of the chance to live in peace

1. We need to start being Nigerians and not Ibos or Muslims. People should not be made to identify their place of origin when they seek jobs or pursue contracts. Also, the national ID card should only contain the Name, state of residence, and a unique social number. Every religious festival should become a serious public holiday and vernacular should be thoroughly discouraged in public places.

2. Let us dissociate every institution that is a twine of religion, culture and politics. Steps to take here is to amend the electoral act to give more power to votes coming from regions or areas of people from different religion, or tribe. Only political parties that don’t have religious or tribal undertone should be registered. Each party must prove its acceptance nationally before it is registered. Any party that is perceived to promote a religious or ethnic group should be abolished.

3. Christian students should be forced to take Islamic subjects like Islamic religious Studies and Arabic while in school and also Muslim students should do same. Inter-ethnic (and maybe religious) marriages should be encouraged – if possible people should be rewarded for such relationships. Laws need to be enacted against verbal insults or speeches against other religions and tribes. Any disrespect or abuse of religion and religious structures should be treated as a crime against the nation.

Now am truly done with the subject....

A Fool’s Solution to Boko Haram Crisis

I understand that this article is worthless – at best it will be taken as the topic reads. But who cares, after all – even if it was written by the biblical King Solomon, decision makers in Nigeria will ignored or pretend not to see it. Just as they’ve done with other foolish ideas that has been shared about curbing Boko Haram (BK) a menace, which is gradually turning Nigerians into a neck-high frustrated people.

For a fool, Nigeria can rid herself of Boko Haram by making and taking two major decisions. Before I discuss the foolish tips let us remind ourselves of why this whole mess started in the first place.

For starters...Boko Haram is not the child of Islamic radicalism as is purported in the conventional media...now, that is a dumb way to look at it – may be you can say that about Al-Qaeda, or the Taliban but definitely not BK. BK has come to stay because it is a dreaming child whose parents have disowned or refused to identify with it. When a stubborn child goes on rampage it is up to the parent to force it back in line. What happens when they are gone? It continuous on its rampage until the society catches up with it. Somebody started something without a backup plan and that same plan has backfired! It’s like we see in Hollywood, a creature is built to serve only to be hunted for so many unanticipated reasons. If the spiritual head of Muslims in Nigeria can dissociate himself with BK, how can you now say it is a Muslim-thing?

Rather, this bad child is the seed of every northern leader who had the opportunity to make things right but didn’t. I say this at the risk of sounding biased – I wish I am a northerner, I would still say so. But what else could I be? I was born in the north, I schooled in the north, and I still work in the north. All my friends and even my girl friend is a northerner! I have stuck with the north because something in me has refused to reject it as a home. When I’m across the Niger, the dry winds still whisper me home. Well back to my foolish point: the parents of Boko Haram are unrepresentative northern leadership. If those who represented the north did their assignments; the area would have been one of the most peaceful and fruitful places in Africa. Northerners are by nature very contented people, but contentment counts only when you have something at the least – if only they had something to be grateful for this country’s unity, a mafia like Boko Haram would at worst die in the thoughts of bad men. You can only use frustrated people to pull the stunts Bokoharamians are pulling.

The level of illiteracy in the north is scary. You can’t walk the full length of a street without meeting one or two persons who cannot read or write. The worst is that the desire for education is either not there or its relevance is not seen. When you hear people saying “western education is a sin” you wonder. The world today spins and strives on western education – I don’t beg to differ! When you want to kick against a kingdom or concept like the west, you don’t start in the north and you definitely don’t start at sunset! The west has through centuries of machining, wisdom, focus, and sacrifice made west of everything – the west is the standard. Nobody can help it – even the west itself cannot help it! Today we read that the English are torn against one of their creatures – Democracy. The essence of the English crown is questioned today by some republicans who think power should actually belong to the people – a concept of their own creation.

Back to the north. Boko Haram’s victim is not Nigerians or Christians; the victim here is a dream. You know like there is the American Dream? Yeah, the Nigerian Dream. For those of us who don’t know what the Nigerian Dream is let me help you: the Nigerian Dream is the desire (often uncontrollable) to belong...to be heard...to be feared or respected...to be seen to run things. Its sounds like every body’s dream right?  What Boko Haram is fighting for is to rob all Nigerians off the ability to dream like Nigerians! We didn’t realise how free we were until BK came in – actually BK has helped us remember how free we were. There were times when we didn’t have to walk on the street with our hairs standing on the back of our necks, our police officers didn’t have to dock at any leather bag thrown at them, we only had need for military (robbers) road blocks far outside town, and nobody had to ask you to keep your bags outside before being searched into your place of worship.

One of the reasons why Nigeria has not been able to curtail BK is because Nigerians have refused to see through the cloak of religion, sectarianism, ethnicity and tribalism. All our approaches to addressing the situation has been through a myopic perspective. It was easier to handle the Niger Delta militancy because there were no religious or sectarian undertones to the phenomena. When the government decided to get over with the mess, no foul was decried – though a Muslim was on power, he wasn’t seen to be dealing with the Christians! The worst way to reinforce a social vice is to root it on a strong social value – whether it’s a mere etiquette, or a doctrine. What we had succeeded in doing is to make Boko Haram seem like a religious issue when in fact it is a political issue.

Now let me share my two foolish ways out of the situation

First, the north needs to come out plain and with all its strength to tell Boko Haram that “we appreciate your concerns for our welfare but we don’t need you to be a watchdog”. Spiritual and political figure heads in the region needs to redefine their commitment to Nigeria and let enemies of this country understand their position. Then we can single out, BK as a true public enemy and work across religion, tribe and geopolitics to deal with the menace. One thing that motivates BK is that they still believe they are fighting a just course. I wonder what they will be fighting for when the north certifies that the north is ok with the laws governing them already.

Secondly and probably most importantly is for everybody to ignore Boko Haram, especially the media. We need to report their activities in such a way that they wouldn’t enjoy the glory. BK has gotten this strong because we pay too much attention to their mayhem. It’s time to ignore what they do. The press needs to make conscious effort in refusing to report their activities. Let us stop mentioning their names on our tabloids and dailies. Boko Haram actually feeds on our fears and the more dreaded we make them feel, the more violent they become. The point is to drive enough fear into Nigerians and our government that we are forced to concede to their demands (if they even have any). If we can stop all the banter on Boko Haram and focus on something else; they will soon realise that they are no longer an issue. They can only pass their threat across when they see we get the message – ignoring their activities is one way to show that we don't realise that they are passing any.

If you notice all the havoc they’ve done was to amplify their voice and remind people that it counts – same with many other terrorists groups. Boko Haram is northern Nigeria’s version of the coastal Italy’s Sicilian mafia. They are a taskforce and they want business in their region (perhaps the country) to be run in their favour. But they only exist because we recognise them.

Well we are done here...

Reprisal Attacks Against Boko Haram Bombing: A Bad Road

We take what we have for-granted...we Nigerians...we are in a position to become anything we want to be but we have millions of reasons why wouldn't dare...corruption had done all is toil, bad governance is heading a mob, gentlemen are walking the streets without a source of living, thousands are dying for poor health care...so many things are going wrong...all these are heartbreaking no doubt, but none will compare to the doom that awaits this country if we spark off a civil war...a country like Nigeria is not designed to survive from things like that...am not talking of the brafia-civil war kind...am talking of one that will divide us so badly no glue can make sense out of Nigeria...

People are shouting and calling for war, fight, for violence...try to visit war-town Syria, then Somalia,...if you cant, read about their experience...not even your religion is worth staking against peace...when thing go really gaga, you would wish for one more opportunity to walk the same street with that your supposed enemy...resist being pushed to take a life or strike a fellow...

Boko Haram has survived so far because we are yet to see it as a national enemy---we keep thinking we are our enemies.
But what they are doing today...is not new. They are Bombing churches today, not because they are Muslims but because they want Christians to think Muslims are responsible...the only hope here is to protect ourselves, our homes and places of worship...then to stick together in dealing with this mad people...not to raise arms against ourselves...

If Islam was the enemy, why would Boko Haram be the weapon...Are Muslims scared of attacking Christians directly? What's the worst...if they are ready for the result of Boko Haram's madness, why wont they be ready for the result of their own actions? I say this again, Islam is not the enemy...we had our rough times as followers of two different religions, but this Boko Haram is not one of them...at least so I think! Think twice before you use your device...you dont want to see blood dropping from your eyes!

Let us disappoint doom-sayers...let us continue to manage ourselves...it's ok that way...when its really time to defend yourself do so, but don't attack the innocent; if you cant take revenge on the person that has hurt you directly, live vengeance for God, if you believe in him. Only God is Omnipresence and omnipotent, he can deal with Boko Haram, stop trying to do God's work. if he needs your help, he will tell you...

Sovereign National Congress: The next buzz after subsidy?

Experts are beginning to debate on the necessity of a National Congress currently promoted by activists and union leaders all across the country. As I suspect, this might be the next big debate after fuel subsidy; it is therefore pertinent to table the issue and seek the opinion of all. The idea is for us to enlighten ourselves, so that we respond to it when it becomes the buzz with adequate information of what we are going into or frowning at.

A congress is called so that people of the same community, state or nation can air their views about an issue which they feel needs urgent attention but is not being addressed with the befitting attention by their leaders or institutions responsible for such. The dark cloud (for the government) around any call for a people’s congress is that it normally signifies a loss of confidence in the leaders or whoever is in charge of the system.
Just within 48hrs two youthful leaders of change in Nigeria have called for Sovereign National Congress. The first being Alh. Asari Dokubo and the second leader of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alh. Yerima Shettima. They both believe that it is the only way to avert the possible collusion the Nigerian train is headed for. But honest as their intentions are, it is easy to doubt if the government will perceive such gathering of people politically save especially after the recent single-minded protests that erupted around the country.

There are concerns in various quarters that opposing politicians, who didn’t pop champagne after the 2011 General Elections, are bent on pulling down the present administration. It is natural to avoid any call that might be perceived as a protest against recent day happening and the government even when such calls might have been sincere and timely.

The following questions arise thus:
1. Is a National (peoples) Congress timely?
2. Can anything positive be achieved through it?
3. How would the idea be sold to the government?
4. Where would it be held? Is over the internet an option?
5. Who would be responsible for its organisation?

AN APPEAL TO NIGERIANS

Friends, i have published the exact content of Rev. Kukah's carol night message for your perusal on something that might as well spell the difference between our living peacefully together as Nigerians and becoming a state turn apart by hatred and violence. irrespective of our religious inclinations.
The message is an eye-opener and i urge you to encourage others to read...


BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I  AM GOD
(Ps 46:10)
AN APPEAL TO NIGERIANS
by
Matthew Hassah KUKAH*


On the occasion of the Carol of Nine Lessons organized by NTA and Radio Nigeria on December 10th last year, I was invited to deliver the message. I chose to speak on the theme, Do Not Be Afraid as a means of encouraging our people against the backdrop of fear and frustration that was mounting at the time. Since then, it would seem that things have gotten progressively worse in our country. 

In the course of my reflections, I sought to encourage my fellow citizens not to be frightened by the events of the time. I insisted that despite these tragic and sad events and the situation of our country, we needed to conquer fear. I argued that the message of Christmas was a message about the good news of the birth of the Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, (God-with us) and the Saviour of the world. Against the backdrop of other developments in the country at that time, I concluded by calling on the federal government not to carry through its plans for the removal of fuel subsidy.

Since then, things have gradually snowballed well beyond what one had either feared or hoped. On Christmas day, a bomb exploded at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, in Niger State, killing over thirty people and wounding a significant number of other innocent citizens who had come to worship their God as the first part of their Christmas celebrations. Barely two days later, we heard of the tragic and mindless killings within a community in Ebonyi State in which over sixty people lost their lives with properties worth millions of naira destroyed and hundreds of families displaced. In the midst of all this, on New Year’s Day, the President announced the withdrawal of fuel subsidy and threw an already angry and frustrated nation into convulsion.

Right now, I feel that perhaps like the friends of Job (Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar), who came to visit their sick friend and found the burden beyond comprehension, we find ourselves in the same situation.  For, as we know, when they came and found Job in his condition, they spent seven days and seven nights, and uttered not a word (Job 2:13). Right now, no one can claim a full understanding of the state we are in. However, even if we cannot understand the issues of the moment, our faith compels us to understand that God’s hand is in all this. The challenge is for us to have the patience to let His will be done.
The tragedy in Madalla was seen as a direct attack on Christians. When Boko Haram claimed responsibility, this line of argument seemed persuasive to those who believed that these merchants of death could be linked to the religion of Islam. Happily, prominent Muslims rose in unison to condemn this evil act and denounced both the perpetrators and their acts as being un-Islamic. All of this should cause us to pause and ponder about the nature of the force of evil that is in our midst and to appreciate the fact that contrary to popular thinking, we are not faced with a crisis or conflict between Christians and Muslims. Rather, like the friends of Job, we need to humbly appreciate the limits of our human understanding. 
In the last few years, with the deepening crises in parts of Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, and Plateau states, thanks to the international and national media, it has become fanciful to argue that we have crises between Christians and Muslims. Sadly, the kneejerk reaction of some very uninformed religious leaders has lent credence to this false belief. To complicate matters, some of these religious leaders have continued to rally their members to defend themselves in a religious war. This has fed the propaganda of the notorious Boko Haram and hides the fact that this evil has crossed religious barriers. Let us take a few examples which, though still under investigation across the country, should call for restraint on our part. 
Some time last year, a Christian woman went to her own parish Church in Bauchi and tried to set it ablaze.  Again, recently, a man alleged to be a Christian, dressed as a Muslim, went to burn down a Church in Bayelsa. In Plateau State, a man purported to be a Christian was arrested while trying to bomb a Church. Armed men gunned down a group of Christians meeting in a Church and now it turned out that those who have been arrested and are under interrogation are in fact not Muslims and that the story is more of an internal crisis. In Zamfara State, 19 Muslims were killed. After investigation it was discovered that those who killed them were not Christians. Other similar incidents have occurred across the country.  

Clearly, these are very troubled times for our country. But they are also very promising times. I say so because amidst this confusing debris of hate, anger and frustration, we have had some very interesting dimensions. Nigeria is changing because Nigerians are taking back their country from the grip of marauders. These stories, few as they may be, are the beginning of our song of freedom. Christians are now publicly crossing the artificial lines created by falsehood and bigotry.


Let us take a few examples of events in the last week alone: 
In Kano, amidst fears and threats of further attacks on Christians, a group of Muslims gathered round to protect Christians as they worshipped. In Minna and recently, in Lagos, the same thing repeated itself as Christians joined hands to protect Muslims as they prayed. In the last week,  Christians and Muslims together in solidarity are protesting against bad governance and corruption beyond the falsehood of religion. Once freed from the grip of these dark forces, religion will be able to play its role as a force for harmony, truth and the common good.
Clearly, drawing from our experiences as Christians, we must note that God has a message for us in all this. To elicit what I consider to be the message, I will make reference to three lessons and I know there are far more.
First, these times call for prayer. At the height of our confusion during the Abacha years, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria composed two sets of prayers; one, Against Bribery and Corruption and second, for Nigeria in Distress.  Millions of Catholics have continued to recite these prayers and we must remain relentless in the belief that God hears our prayers and that God’s ways are not our ways. We know that our Muslim brethren and millions of other non-Christians feel the same and are also praying in a similar way for our country. 

Two, these times call for solidarity of all people of faith. We are a nation of very strong believers and despite what anyone else may say, millions of our Christians and Muslims do take their religion very seriously. However, you might ask, if that is true, why do we have so many killings in the name of God and of religion? My answer is that we have such killings because we live in an environment of a severely weak architecture of state which allows evil to triumph. It is this poverty that produces jealousy and hatred which leads to violence.
We live in a state of ineffective law enforcement and tragic social conditions. Corruption has destroyed the fabric of our society. Its corrosive effect can be seen in the ruination of our lives and the decay in our society. The inability of the state to punish criminals as criminals has created the illusion that there is a conflict between Christians and Muslims. In fact, it would seem that many elements today are going to great extremes to pitch Christians against Muslims, and vice versa, so that our attention is taken away from the true source of our woes: corruption. As Nigerians, Christians and Muslims, we must stand together to ensure that our resources are well utilized for the common good. This is why, despite the hardships we must endure as a result of the strike, the Fuel Subsidy debate must be seen as the real dividend of democracy.

Three, religious leaders across the faiths must indeed stand up together and face the challenge of the times by offering a leadership that focuses on our common humanity and common good rather than the  insignificant issues that divide us. We therefore condemn in very strong terms the tendency by some religious leaders to play politics with the issues of our collective survival. Rather than rallying our people, some of our religious leaders have resorted to divisive utterances, wild allegations and insinuations against fellow adherents of other religions.  In the last five or so days, text messages have been circulating across the country appealing to some of our worst demons. We are told that many senior clerics either believed or encouraged the circulation of these divisive and false text messages. We must condemn this for what it is; a grand design by enemies within our folds who are determined to destroy our country. Whatever they may call themselves, they are neither true Christians nor Muslims. 

For those Christians who have reacted in fear, they require conversion. If we wait for these evil men or women to decide when we shall stand for Christ, then we have surrendered our soul to the devil. If we fear to stand up for Christ now, let us remember that He has already said: Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my father in Heaven, Whoever denies me before others, I will deny him before my father in Heaven(Mt 10: 32). Again, Jesus warns that rather than fear at times of uncertainty, adversity or upheavals, we should be confident. He said: When these things begin to take place, stand erect; hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand(Lk. 21: 28). Furthermore,  St Paul has assured us that; If we die with Him, we shall live with Him. If we endure with Him, we shall reign with him( 2 Tim 2: 11-12). Surely, those who are asking us to go under our beds, to flee in the face of persecution must be reading a different Bible. 
These are difficult times but they are also times of promise. Our country has turned its back on all forms of dictatorships. Our hands are on the plough and we are resolutely committed to democracy. Like a Catholic marriage, we may not be happy but we cannot contemplate a divorce. God does not make mistakes. 
Although the freedom and growth promised by democracy are not here yet, we must remind ourselves that a better tomorrow is possible, a more united and peaceful Nigeria is possible. The challenges of the last few days have shown the resilience of our people and their commitment to democracy and a better life. We believe this is possible. The government must strive to earn the trust of our people. All sides must take lessons from the demonstrations and resolve to build a better and stronger nation. Let us hold on to the words of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI when he told the President, religious, traditional rulers and people of the Republic of Benin in the Presidential Palace on the 19th of November: Do not cut off your peoples from their future by mutilating their present....There are too many scandals and injustices, too much corruption and greed, too many errors and lies, too much violence. All peoples desire to understand the political and economic choices which are made in their name; they wish to participate in good governance. No economic regime is ideal and no economic choice is neutral. But these must always serve the common good. 

* Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese