#Bring Back Our Girls
"Terrorism is a psychological warfare. Terrorists try to manipulate us and change our behaviour by creating fear, uncertainty, and division in society"...Patrick J. Kennedy
An
international flash light has recently beamed upon the most populous black
nation in the world, Nigeria, inciting an occurrence which presently persists
therein to make it to the top trending topics in the world, unfortunately, it
is terrorism.
Apparently, it
is interesting that the cloud’s silver lining becomes conspicuous, as a ray of
hope shines because the whole world has used the kidnapping of over two hundred
(200) girls that took place in a boarding school in northern Nigeria by a
dreaded terrorist group, as a unifying factor, creating a bond that allows us
to jointly campaign for their safe and quickened release.
However,
there is a lot we need to consider first, in order for the world not to make a
mockery of this, and so that we do not unwittingly surrender our destinies to
be altered forever.
The Background (About Nigeria)
"We first fought...in the name of religion, then Communism, and now in the name of drugs and terrorism. Our excuses for global domination always change"...Serj Tankian
Of course
you will most probably get a lot more information about Nigeria on Google and
encyclopedias. They’ll tell you she’s the most populous black nation, with
about 170 million people, gained independence in 1960, was colonized by the British,
she’s one of the top ten crude oil exporters, she greatly explores Agriculture,
she has a vibrant economy and not to
make little.
All these
are basically stereotyped cosmetic approach to beef up a lean resume. The truth
is that Nigeria is a group of good and strong people that work very hard to
make a positive impact and earn a great living, but unfortunately, they are
constantly downtrodden by a handful of short-sighted and corrupt opportunists
claiming justification on the premise of politics and religion, crippling the
very fabric of worth of mankind.
CORRUPTION
"If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, i strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher"...A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Corruption
is basically the will to act dishonestly in return for money or other reward, in the light of this, corruption is everywhere, but those with the knowledge and understanding of the principles that govern the earth try as much as possible to reduce it to the barest minimum through the effective use of the law.
The corruption in Nigeria is rather unique, it cuts deeply across so much that even when foreigners step on the Nigerian soil to do any transaction, they are very liable to become victims of corruption.
Corruption in Nigeria is so daring and seemingly indispensable so much that it apparently looks like it has come to stay.
Corruption has remained unchecked for a very long time that it seems like the norm in the eyes of old and new generation.
Imagine a place where an employee earns peanuts as salary, yet he drives a brand new car that he purchased with full cash payment, without having an extra job or patented intellectual property and therefore no legitimate records of how he came by the money. People aspire to be politicians for the sole purpose of acquiring unbelievable wealth at the expense of the poor populace. Having a reputation of public holders misappropriating public funds, administering it in questionable ways such that there isn't adequate checks put in place to prevent fraud. Even when frauds are detected, and projects are not well executed or done at all, they are just swept underneath the carpet in exchange for money. And guess what, they are role models to the young and upcoming ones that aggressively aspire to emulate them.
Altering The Eco-System
"There is a deep interconnectedness of all life on earth, from the tiniest organisms, to the largest ecosystems, and absolutely between each person"...Bryant McGill
Whichever way you choose to look at it, there is a lot of salt added to injury from the corruption perspective. After enormous money belonging to the state is illegally exchanged while the people suffer, the money is then wasted on luxurious vanities. Nigerians have a reputation around the world of being mega spenders, acquiring material things that would make even the Arab guys mope, sadly we fail to realize that we're being laughed at due to our very conspicuous lack of financial intelligence. This is a country that has unstable power supply so much that big companies in the likes of Dunlop relocated to a neighbouring nation to survive. This is a country with inadequate hospitals, high unemployment rate, poor education, minimum security, restive youths and worst of all, terrorism.
There is no hiding it and there is no shame in admitting our weakness, perhaps we could find help if we are ready to help ourselves.
Bring Back Our Family
"I was amazed as people must be who are seized and kidnapped, and who realize that in the strange world of their captors they have a value absolutely unconnected with anything they know about themselves"...Alice Munro
Nigeria is a nation where most of the population there in hardly take risks without seeing someone take the dive first of all, meaning to say even if they did have their idea in the first place, they still need a guinea pig to take the leap in order to see if it will fail, but if it doesn't fail, they're open for business.
Then there is a very large tendency that they'll probably do it better or more aggressively because it becomes a meal ticket. Although this could change if there were shock regulators like government participation.
My point is kidnapping started in Nigeria during the Niger-Delta uprising where youths demanded adequate compensation and privileges from the Federal Government and foreign oil explorers. Even after the Niger-Delta tension was doused, some copy cats picked up the trade and spread to other parts of the country.
The Government's Response
"Everyone is worried about stopping terrorism. Well, there is really an easy way: Stop participating in it"...Naom Chomsky
The Nigerian citizenry have constantly criticized government for being grossly irresponsible, sighting propaganda, conspiracies and bureaucracies. There have been evidences of the government officials being corrupt and nothing worthwhile done to allow justice prevail so that it doesn't repeat itself and give the citizens a sense of belonging,confidence and hope for a hitch free future of justice and predictable life trajectory.
The leaders fail to realize that if they get the best people to do the job without sentiments, politics or religious extremism, things will fall into the right places and virtually everyone will greatly benefit. Rather they have devised means of unworthy favoritism to downplay intelligence and shamelessly celebrate mediocrity, naturally home growing the rage of the oppressed and brainwashed ones into a full blown you know what.
Constantly, prices of goods and materials and even petrol are hiked, projects are over-priced, there are no thorough checks of consumables for the citizens, making everyone see Nigerian manufactured items as inferior, while the so called leaders import foreign items for their consumption, indirectly killing our industries and causing unemployment.
They say the boarders are porous, but we all know that the officials put in charge are only interested in the money they'll make over there.
Yes Nigerian citizenry can appear overzealous in the quest to bring back sanity in the quest to do what is right and justified, this because we are in the jet age where information flies at the speed of light. People have much more awareness about their environment, what is attainable and most of all, their rights. As education makes people easy to lead, but difficult to enslave.
So what are we saying, really?
If the over 200 girls that were kidnapped are finally found and returned to their parents, what next? What is going to happen to those that have died as result of terrorist bombings, Are the rest of us that are all still liable to kidnap free,are we going to be safe and secure, is corruption going to reduce, are our borders going to be secure, will fraudsters that wrecked the economy be brought to book, will there be employment, are the hospitals going to be well equipped and is there going to be constant power supply in a show that we are all important and precious to the government?
I salute and respect the advocates of #BBOG from all over the world, i know you also have your own problems, i'd just like to plead with government that while bringing back our girls, please also remember to bring back our hope, our sense of belonging, our dreams, our freedom and our future.
Thank you,
Akin Abimbola (akinzogee@gmail.com)
SOURCES: Google
Brainy Quote
Goodreads
Voice of Reason
Oxford Dictionary
Lives Of Girls & Women
