Boko Haram: Which Way Nigeria? —Godday Odidi

I want to use this medium to call on President Goodluck Jonathan to take a concrete action on the so-called Boko Haram members which have brutally killed over 2000 innocent Nigerians with for just cause. Properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed while the government keeps on promising Nigerian victims with no effective action. The security challenge has reached a stage where every none Northerner needs to leave the region in order to avert another civil war. The kano bombing is an indication that there is a serious security challenge even as churches are now targets of this sect.

It is sad that just as Nigerians were recovering from the sudden removal of fuel subsidy,n multiple attacks were unleashed on Kano residents and Channels TV reporter, Enenche Akogwu, who died in last Friday’s blasts. What is really happening in Nigeria? Suicide bombers and callous elements have shattered the peace of Nigeria. Is it a crime for someone from a minority tribe to rule Ngeria? Jonathan actually means well for Nigerians if not some political elements who are only interested in dastardly acts and nothing else.

The country is reeling under ASUU strike. SSANU is also threatening to join the strike while the Minister of Education Prof Rukayyatu Rufai is still negotiating for settlement. The killings on daily basis in the Northern region need to be of serious concern to all governors of the region and political leaders and elders. They have to expedite action on these criminal elements not to cause anarchy in this country which our forefathers tirelessly fought for.

Those who are vigorously campaigning for the removal of Jonathan and other ministers of his cabinet must rethink because the country is being governed by some influential cabal who felt their names would be exposed.

Jonathan needs to restructure the security agencies, not by sacking any police officer but to bring the perpetrators to face the wrath of the law as regards his promise when he visited Kano to compensate the victims of the bombings.The political leaders who are setting this country on fire and turning it into a terrorist nation must desist from this act and allow God to fix the land.Nigeria needs good roads, electricity, water, education and many other infrastructure, not violence. The militants of Niger-Delta never bombed innocent people rather fought for the emancipation from the federal government likewise MASSOB and OPC.It is high time Jonathan took a presidential action on these Boko Haram members now because there no time to waste anymore.

•Odidi is a public affairs analyst, Lagos.