Boko Haram: The Fate Of Jonathan And The  Nigerian People! (2)

By Jonathan Ekene Ifeanyi

Who are the brains behind Boko Haram? Is it really Jonathan, as northern Muslims say? Jonathan himself has hardly responded to this question and to his accusers until just recently. Jonathan on Thursday, January 29, said those accusing him of backing Boko Haram were insane. He stated this during his campaign rally in Yola, the Adamawa State capital. Jonathan said that he had no reason to sponsor the killing of children, women and the aged as he had nothing to benefit from such action. “In 2011, I had two times the number of votes I had in Bayelsa State. Why should I want to reduce that number of votes?” Jonathan quipped. “Only a mad person can insinuate that the president is supporting Boko Haram.”

Indeed, I agree. Only a mad person can insinuate that. Former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, has said that governors and not Jonathan should be held responsible for Boko Haram menace. Maku told newsmen in Awka, the Anambra State capital, that as chief security officers of their respective states who are “unaccountable to the Presidency, the governors are autonomous and closer to the people and as such, should know better than the Presidency what goes wrong in their domains.” According to Maku, Jonathan should not be held responsible for the insecurity in the country, rather the governors should be in charge as chief executives of their various states and take responsibility for any problem there. Maku particularly urged those behind the political violence in the country to desist from it as such was no longer fashionable, adding that superior argument and ideas should rather be their greatest political campaign weapons. Maku condemned the recent attacks on Jonathan in Bauchi and Katsina states when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate and his team went to the areas to campaign for votes, describing the attacks as “unruly and unfortunate.”

“The president was not supposed to be attacked in any part of the country because he has demonstrated quality leadership which every geo-political zone would attest to. Therefore, no right thinking person would have carried out any form of attack on him. His humility and liberal mindedness has come to bear by his condoning the attack with calmness,” he said.

It is certain, and reasonably so, that the brains behind Boko Haram are the powerful northern Muslims. But who exactly are they? Mystery!

In April 2014 a popular clairvoyant in Adamawa State, Alhaji Alhassan Mohammed Goni, a.k.a. AMG, threatened to expose the sponsors of Boko Haram terrorism if the group did not suspend their bloodletting and hostilities in the country within two weeks. Goni expressed sympathy for Jonathan, saying the president is a good man and that those that are targeting his administration would fail woefully. He said having been disturbed by the bloodletting and seemingly inexorable hostilities by the group, he deemed it fit to come forward, and warned that if those behind Boko Haram fail to change their ways, he would soon expose them. Goni added that among those sponsoring Boko Haram activities are top politicians and traditional rulers with the sole aim of causing confusion in the country.

He said he was aware of the various nocturnal meetings held by the sect before launching attacks but was not able to curtail their attacks as he had not been permitted to do so. “My vision always tells me whenever the Boko Haram are about to launch attacks but I was always incapacitated to stop them because I was not given express permission by the authorities to do so; but through my intervention, the intensity of the attacks is minimal,” he said. Goni said though the present administration is facing security challenges, the president will weather the storm because he means well for the country. He condemned the bombing in Abuja and urged government to take more security measures like mounting of CCTV cameras. He called for the probe of the Chinese company handling the installation of CCTV cameras in Abuja, adding that the contract should be revoked and handed over to a more competent company.

Similarly, according to Tell magazine, “it was revealed that many of the Borno politicians shouting at the Federal Government for not solving the insurgency problem are paying monthly retainership ranging from N2 million to N4 million each to Boko Haram.” (Tell, May 26, 2014, pp. 25, 27). Thus Muslim politicians in the north pay their monthly “fees” to these terrorists to continue carrying out Jihad on Christians and the security personnel.

Whether we know these merchants of death or not is not a problem, because we are aware of Muslims’ belief that “unbelievers” like Christians must be converted by the sword is not a myth. We read the following in the Quran (Sura 47 verse 4):

“…Thus (you are ordered by Allah to continue in carrying out Jihad against the disbelievers till they embrace Islam and are saved from the punishment in the Hell-fire or at least come under your protection), but if it had been Allah’s will, he himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight) in order to test some of you with others. But those who are killed in the way of Allah, he will never let their will be lost.”

Again we read (Sura 9 verse 123): “O you who believe! Fight those of disbelievers who are close to you, and let them find hardness in you; and know that Allah is with those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious).”

Again, in Sura (2:193; 2: 244) we read: “And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah). And fight in the way of Allah and know that Allah is All-Hearer, All-knower.”

Again, in part of the verse quoted above (Sura 47 verse 4), we read: “So, when you meet (in fight—Jihad in Allah’s Cause) those who disbelieve, smite (their) necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them…”

Gullible Nigerians blame Goodluck for what they call “insurgency.” They also believe that all we need to win this war is simply a good leader who, unlike Jonathan, will properly equip the soldiers to fight the war. It is amazing, however, that nobody has been courageous enough to comment on the religious dimension of Boko Haram, let alone criticise it.  The greater number of the Nigerian soldiers are the Hausa Muslims. Yet, nobody has ever reasoned that these soldiers may, after all, have sympathy for their brothers fighting a “holy war”, let alone call to mind the unwritten belief in Islamic circles that an Islamic soldier should not shoot at a Muslim jihadist.

Finally, I think Jonathan himself has accepted his fate. But Nigerians—and particularly non-Muslims—must also get ready to accept their own fate—that is, to be treated at anytime and anywhere even in their own “fatherland”, as creatures even of less value than domestic animals such as Fulani cattle, sheep or goats whose throats can be slit at any given time — and anywhere — by their self-chosen shepherds and lords.

Concluded.

•Ifeanyi writes from Victoria Island, Lagos. He could be reached via [email protected].