NIGERIA; THE PROBLEMS AND THE WAY OUT (An Online Discussion on SRAF)

INTRODUCTION

Soul'e Rhymez: Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight we will be discussing on a topic: NIGERIA; THE PROBLEMS AND THE WAY OUT. However, out of many problems we are facing, today, we will deal with INSURGENTS.

Lest I forget, my name is Eneji Stephen Toluwalase, popularly known as Soul'e Rhymez and I am your coordinator and moderator tonight. With me here is Princess Shirley from Jordan, who is the correspondent.

Now, let’s define insurgent.

Insurgent: Rebellious, opposing authority.

Daisy: Insurgents- people fighting against government

Okeke John: Insurgency is a rebellious act

Soul'e Rhymez: Daisy, Good one.

Insurgence: An uprising or rebellion; an insurrection.

We have many insurgents in Nigeria Namely: Book Haram, Fulani, Niger Delta Militants and so on.

Going by the definition of insurgence, all of the above mentioned are insurgents.

Now, why did they come into existence and what do you think is the way out?

Over to you, my able and attentive readers, what do you think is the cause of insurgents in Nigeria?

ANALYSIS AND SUGGESTED CAUSES

Okeke John: Now let me start by first introducing myself, I'm Jhonieblaze,

Nigeria is a land blessed with milk and honey, both human and natural resources, but the masses lives like peasant farmers, a country as rich as Nigeria the poorest person should live on an income of nothing less than 5 $ per day, but the reverse is the case here, where an average Nigerian lives on 1$ per day.

Now we have issues ranging from freedom fighting, fighting for human rights, boundaries dispute, oil spillage of the rivers in the Niger Delta, Religious crisis, favoritism, nepotism and what the Igbo's call I.M(Imammadu) who you know, divide and rule issue, the siphoning and mismanagement of funds by some few unscrupulous elements, and kleptomaniacs, all these years. This started like a little gathering of likeminded individuals fighting for their rights

The rise of insurgency: Ranging from freedom fighting in the Southeast where they are fighting for Biafra, Militancy, bribery and corruption, which is the hen that gave birth to these insurgencies, Our past and present rulers, (because we haven't had a leader) and representatives are without conscience, just few days ago, Nigeria was described by Cameron as fantastically corrupt which is nothing but d truth, Corruption, sectarianism, and senselessness gave rise to the insurgency which is now difficult for the government to curb. With these being, said I believe that I've been able to tell you the causes of the insurgency in Nigeria.

John SRAF: Well, Speaking from obvious reasons. The people are going to the extreme to get their positive changes. They have tried the general way of getting change, but it’s not in their favor, so they want to get their change not minding if it’s to the detriment of a neighbor. But speaking of the Boko Haram and Terrorism in Nigeria generally, what’s the cause of this uprising?

is it religious?

is it political?

We can't say, but to find out the cause, ask yourself this question, who finances them?

When we know that, then we can ask “why you are financing terrorism”, the motive is the cause for terrorism in Nigeria.

Soul'e Rhymez: Now, John SRAF from group two asked some salient questions, that I think will help us. One of which is, do you think religion is the cause of insurgence?

Dolapo: In my opinion, the insurgents are made up mostly of people who in a misplaced sense of priority, say they fight for rights thereby terrorizing the peace of the territory (Nigeria in this instance) they go from agitation for right to violation of humanity. But In response to John’s question, I think to decipher and combat this issue; we don't have to ask WHO, HOW but WHY. Nigeria isn't the only nation experiencing the torrent of insurgency!

I think saying RELIGION is the cause of insurgency won't be too appropriate, because we know that of these numerous insurgency counts that have been had from Afghanistan to Nigeria majorly, and all over the world! We still have some set of people in this same religion as the insurgents, who do not disrupt the peace of the people.

I think the issue we are dealing with now is solely based on personal conviction. Though it happens through the fanatic and 'so called' RELIGIOUS people, but I think it's within, as I said initially PEOPLE WITH A MISPLACED PRIORITY AND SENSE OF JUDGMENT!

John SRAF: People would blame their counter political opponents for causing the uprising so as to disrupt a political term. The exact same claim PDP made against Buhari. What if they're right? There's a glint of truth in every rumor? Why is the Senate keeping mute about this? Since 2012, how many bills have been made towards the fight against terrorism? Take a look at it, Buhari hasn't fulfilled his promise of stopping them. Now when Jonathan gets out of seat, The Niger Delta boys start theirs in full speed.

What if this is all a dramatic cascade made by the political goons to take advantage of us and exploit us? And what if the political cascade has gotten out of their hands?

Buhari confidently promised us a stop after few months, why do we have a reoccurrence?

Terry: Islam is the cause of insurgency.

Dolapo: No no!

Wealthlad: Tribe difference is the cause of insurgency in Nigeria

Dolapo: I think the issue on ground has something to do to a reasonably extent with HISTORY! Wrongly understood history!

                                

John SRAF: History?

Have we forgotten the fact that serious issues like kidnapping; we heard of Soka didn't we know they are being swept under the rug? How is that History?

May I tell you officially that Nigeria is running a monarchical system of government?

And that is why insurgences and kidnappings, Extortion and corruption will continue because we are being ruled by the same family that led us 10-15 years ago. They pass down the same values.

Children learn from their fathers, even Rehoboam promised to do worse than Solomon.

I think the problem at hand is we will cut off these families and let young people who have experienced to pain lead us.

Saraki claimed that the only time he suffered was when he was coming from the airport and he had a flat tire and he had to wait about 30minutes for another car to pick him up. Is that the senate president that wants to lead people in Lagos, who have to trek long distances to eat, or people in Oyo, who have to do extra hard labor to eat? But what can we say?

Have you not heard what Saraki Snr, did to the people of Ilorin before his Son?

When are we going to realize that out votes don't count? They already know who’s going to win the next election. We claim Democracy by Heading and Monarchy by content.

Maryam: I guess you are right, Penz. Our colonial masters got a lot to do with this too... They divided country into 3 unequal parts, with one (north) larger than the other two joined together.

Dolapo: Should I analyze the part and role of misunderstood history in the insurgency today?  

Let me begin by sharing a post talking first about penetration of Nigeria even before the colonial masters!

Shaikh Usman Ibn Fodio born 1754 in Gobir and died In Sokoto in 1817....he came into territory having the inhabitants inviting him warmly with smiling faces and hospitality!

This man through a hostile takeover, took over Sokoto and intended extending his wicked tentacle over other territories, but was fought off by them...it is in a quest to be domineering and dominating he went around the territory now called Nigeria to dominate it, but was only able to fully have in his grasp the Northern part!...He had a quest of BEING SOVEREIGN AND CONSIDERED AS AN OVERLORD!....this trait as passed down to generations that through violence and intent of hostile takeovers be heard all over the territory! This was made known in most of his preaching and violent indictment of the indigenes of the then Northerners now passed through the bloodline!

Maryam: I really don't like the idea of an ex head of a state ruling the country. They do take drastic decisions. I guess that was the case with Buhari about the issue of fuel subsidy.

Abigail: Judging insurgency from the political aspect can traced down to unequal distribution of the country's federal assets, the dependency of a state on the federal as source or means of surviving without being creative enough to generate a means of revenue.

Okeke John: Insurgency is like a time bomb ticking for a long time and since nothing is done by the anti-bomb squad it exploded, and now affecting innocent people.

The issue of the Fulani Herdsmen, I would say is an improvised system of the Boko Haram sect or the shi’ites, these people is not the Herdsmen we know. Herdsmen don't handle guns, how come these guys have AK 47 in their possession, killing indiscriminately? I must say it is a wing of the Boko Haram sect; the idea is to distract the Military.

SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS

John SRAF: I don't believe we have a cure.

I believe we have to exterminate the whole body of government, and then grow new once, or better still lets run a Socialist system of Government for 5yrs and let’s start over democracy and see how good it gets.

John Okeke: If the government can retrace it steps and imbibe to the common sense idea of my mentor (Sen. Ben Murray Bruce) the government would then be said to have taken one step in the right direction for the first time.

The cure; Insurgency could be curbed by the following ways:

1. We all are Nigerians, when God created us; He created us as Nigerians and not Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa when we see each other as one.

2. Corrupt leaders must be properly prosecuted.

3. The present ruler, should consider the plight of those in the Niger Delta, the highest allocation should go to them.

4. Divide and Rule system should be stopped.

5. Nigeria as a country shouldn't be a federal state, but rather confederation should be introduced, where the whole 6 geopolitical zones will have their own representative and the Federal Government will be flexible. If confederal can't be considered, division is the best option for peace to reign.

Maryam: 2. the corrupt leaders should be probed and prosecuted...Sure yes... But is that even feasible in a country like Nigeria? I support number 4, the system is exploitative.

                            

Dolapo: The divide and rule system was introduced by the colonial masters for easy administration has really failed and was heavily faulted!

Maryam: I won't agree to a confederate state to a country like Nigeria. Secession will be easy for the Biafrans and before you know what’s happening, the country will be falling apart.

Dolapo: No no! Confederalism cannot and will never work for Nigeria. Now if we operated a confederal system, it would have been very easy for the Igbos to secede during and at the aftermath of the civil war!

John SRAF: With all due respect -Bad Idea, remember a Confedration has a weak centre...you indirectly asking for Civil war and then we all divide.

Okeke John: @ John, talking about civil war, the incident occurring currently with the incessant and senseless killings of Nigerians, is it not worse Dan civil war? Last week the so called Fulani Herdsmen killed scores of people in Enugu.

However, we used to have d Senegambia, the Congo Kinshasa and Brazzaville, they split with no civil war; confederacy is the best option for Nigeria this moment.

Oswald: talking about civil war, I strongly believe this is a season Nigeria needs to pass through if we must come back and become a strong Nation, then this season is nothing but a stepping stone.

Okeke John: The Hausas have vast lands they use it for farming which they will use as means of exchange, while the Yorubas are blessed with tourist centers and sight of attraction. These three major divisions will therefore depend on one another as a means of survival; separation does not call for any civil war. It takes understanding. When the USSR divided after the cold war, was there anything like civil war between Russia and Uzbekistan or other former Soviet Union countries. It takes common sense and understanding for this to be done.

Lyzie: Emeka, if the country be divided, what can westerners, southerners and Easterners provide totally by themselves and how will the resources they have serve them?  We seem to forget that virtually all our food items are grown in the North. the Southeast for example can never go broke when you talk about resources, we already have made in Nigerian cars from there, clothes, shoes etc for exports, the oil  we are fighting for is from the Niger Delta(southeast and South-south).

Jeomen: Before crude oil, Nigeria and Nigerians feed themselves. We need individual attitudinal change.

Abigail: Too much dependence on a particular mineral from a certain region can also cause insurgence. Niger Delta is a typical example of this, so I will advise diversification in terms of generating revenue either states or at d federal level

Teggist Mikky: A trusted leader should be appointed to rule the country till death just as we have kings.

Dolapo: No, no! That will call for anarchy and misuse and abuse of power! The monarchical system of government can never work!

Jotham G: Well despite our ethnicity, we need to change the false belief system “Nigeria is too corrupt" and let’s work on ourselves first.

LuckySon: God is the only Solution to Nigeria insurgencies.  Because God is too faithful to fail in any situation of life. Let us go back to our creator in prayers.

      

Dolapo: Finally! Nigeria has many problems...ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, SOCIAL....There should be conscious attempt to battle these issues WITH PURITY OF INTENTIONS OF COURSE and purity is what is lacking! NIGERIA HAS BEEN LONG DEAD AND BURIED! We’re only just realizing that!

Okeke John: Prayer is also the major key to peace in Nigeria. Thank you.

           

MODERATOR'S VERDICT

Soul'e Rhymez: Wow! We have successfully come to the end of this discussion, Good contributions we have had tonight. We have made great points. “NIGERIA; PROBLEMS AND THE WAY OUT”.

What a wonderful time we've had discussing this night. However, let it be known that this topic will continue next week and we will take CORRUPTION, THE CAUSES AND HOW TO CURB IT.

Tonight under the problems Nigeria is facing, we took insurgence and a lot has been said.

Different factors just as you all have mentioned contributed to the rise insurgents in the country.

Unequal distribution of wealth, tribalism, and religion are the major causes of insurgents in the country, but how do we go about it?

One, we need a government that has vision and not ambition, to distribute the wealth of nation equally. We need to see each other as one NIGERIA, regardless of tribal differences in order to curb insurgents that arise as a result of tribal differences.

Religion is a tough one to deal with. I would have advised religious is scrapped, but is that possible?

How do you tell a man who believe he must kill the unbelievers to make heaven to stop?

How do you change a man who believes your religion is evil?

But there is always a way out. Since religion is man's way back to God, and the country's constitution was not written based on any religion's law, the state should deal with any insurgence that cut short the life of her citizen as terrorists. They should be dealt with according to the law.

On our own, we should try to see from the other end, let us not be politically, religiously or regionally biased in our judgments. Let us do the best we can to be sincere in our dealings. Let us pray for our government. Negative comments are bad and should not thrive among us.

Americans wake up and say "God bless America" but a Nigerian wakes up and say "Nigeria can never get better". That's bad.

Let us positively too and fulfill our civic duties. Let us report to the government, any sign of insurgence around us, let us support the government in their works. It is not easy. Let us get the real details of how the government is been run before we comment on any trending happening. Change is not easy; it takes some process, that's why a lot of people resist it. The problems have been in existence for more than fifty years, how do you expect it to be solved in four years? Let us be patient and pray for our government. This is our home; you are a first class citizen regardless of your tribe. But in other countries, regardless of what you have, you are still a second class citizen. Why not support your own country?

This is also applicable to the non-Nigerians among us. Support your country. Be the change you want.

Until we meet again next week, my name remains Soul'e Rhymez and I say good night to you all.

Compiled and Edited by Soul’e Rhymez

Corresponded by Princess Shirley