As ridiculous as this may sound, the Boko Haram menace was founded on genuine love and can also be resolved with love. One universal trait every being (even the devil) respond to in kind is love. If you show Satan some love, he would love you back and bless you – his own way. Money ritual folks would totally agree with me.
Love is “ultimately” about giving – giving your time, material resources, skill, advice etc. If it’s not shown to the person(s) whom we claim to love in the form of giving, it is not love. True love is active, not passive.
If we would put emotions aside and critically examine the rationale on which Boko Haram was founded, we would see some sense in it. The founders claim western civilization came, promised them better living conditions, but what they get is poverty and diseases. So western education or civilization should go. Let’s break it down.
Now, let’s travel back in history. The people of this region had natural access to major production resources like land, labour, and raw materials. Then the government came, told them to hand off these resources Nature has given them as inheritance in order to receive better living conditions – via the provision of portable water, good roads, good health facilities, EDUCATION (emphasis added), etc. Going by my earlier definition of true love, it is noteworthy that Nature loves them and freely gave them resources without going to the hill top to scream “I love you!!!” Conversely, the government came, went into the sky and screamed “I love you. I will give my life for you!!!” but did little or nothing after taking away their inheritance.
That love the government deny them is what the common man (a potential terrorist) finds in an extremist. The extremist (in whichever persona he presents himself), having been influenced by the enviable Islamic doctrine of giving, provides the potential terrorist these “better living condition” in the form of food and other basic needs; but more importantly, in the form of EDUCATION – which we call “brainwashing.” Trust me, it’s simply education. Nature abhors vacuum; someone or something will definitely fill the minds of the “uneducated.”
An (Islamic) extremist does not kill people and or martyr himself because he hates non-muslems, no. He does because of the “love he has for ‘his religion or god’” (the way he understands it), since that is how he believes he can “give” love to his god. Hatred does not have this much force, only love does. Seems untrue but very true. Take this scenario for example: As a young man driving on the street of Lagos with your brother, you get into an argument with another motorist. Assuming this stranger slaps you, you may detest or hate him but still manage to keep your calm. But should this guy slap your brother?… that’s right, you may not be so patient this time. The hatred you have for him is not as strong as the love you have for your brother. Therefore, you would go after him with all the strength you have. An Islamic extremist loves and respects his god and you, the government or whoever “will not stop” him. Whether we Christians want to accept it or not, Islam is a religion of “practical love.” A true Muslim is always ready to “practically” help his brother or sister in need. An extremist shows love to people – sometimes by practically saving their lives from starvation – and they reciprocate by supporting his vision. It’s simple logic.
Perhaps you are saying “Are they the only people robbed by the government? The government robbed us in the south too.” You are right. But the difference is, they found new love in their leaders (traditional, religious, and political) – some of whom are extremist. The people of the south, on the other hand, had to look after themselves “individually.” Unfortunately, this anti-communal practice southerners were forced into resulted in, or perhaps promoted the culture of self-centredness in the region.
Now, what is the way forward? The solution will come both from the government and from us citizens. From the government, the solution is in giving the love promised them from the onset – especially the provision of basic needs and EDUCATION. It’s not going to be easy, but will-power is all it takes to get started. Spending the chunk of our time and money on capturing and “bringing Boko Haram members to justice to serve as a deterrent to others” will not win this war. Honesty, in the north, is a pivotal societal value. The lack of honesty on the part of the government is the reason security operatives don’t get enough cooperation from the locals. The locals don’t want to be killed too, but they just don’t trust the government with their lives either – since they (the government) have not lived up to their fundamental promise ever the years.
On our own part as citizens, and this is more important, we need to get individuals with the will-power and sincere passion to serve into government. The cliché that “our vote will not count” is “their” propaganda; don’t buy it! Secondly, we need to show love to our northern friends. Most of us southerners assume that every Hausa-spoken person we see is Hausa, Muslim and, therefore, a (potential) terrorist. THAT’S NOT TRUE. Even if our permutation were true, the facts are, a lot of northerners are not Hausas, not Muslims, and therefore not terrorists. As Islamic as the name “Katsina” may sound to some of us, there are a good number of Christians in that state. It may also interest you to know that there are well over 100 tribes in the north. Most of the people (including Muslims) who are supposed to provide intel to security operatives don’t feel protected by the government; and to add salt to injury, we citizens deride and condemn them as though they were some “bunch” of cows. I know a number of people who are very much against Boko Haram but who have been discriminated against, derided, talked down, mocked, ridiculed, and tongue-lashed by southerners just because they are northerners.
But if only we would show some love to our own, we would undoubtedly win more soldiers to our side. In a war like this, terrorists will only fare well when they have places to hide. Religious doctrines and propagandas are propagated by solving people’s problems in the society. Even Jesus had to heal the sick in order to get the gospel across to the people. Conversely, when there are only few societal problems non-governmental entities need to solve, religion, especially extremism, loses its grip on the people – as we can see in many developed countries today. I’m not supporting atheism. I’m a strong believer in Christ myself; but I want us to see the positive in such situation – the extreme of which I don’t see Nigeria getting to anyway. So, for this menace to be dealt with, love must be shown by the government, but more importantly, by us; because we are the ones to either elect the government or force the hands of the government to show them the love – just as we are showing the love ourselves.
Korede Oludiran is a professional project manager and an entrepreneur. He is a visionary young man who is passionate about Nigeria. He blogs from koredeoludiran.wordpress.com
You can interact with him on Twitter @KoredeOludiran
The views expressed above are solely that of the author and not of Omojuwa.com or its associates.
