FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
NIGERIANS UNITE AGAINST INSECURITY AND TERRORISM (NUAIT)
ABUJA, NIGERIA. 15/07/2013

Purported Ceasefire With Boko Haram Crumbles Once Again.

Shortly before the commencement of the Ramadan fasting, the Minister of Special Duties and the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, one Mr. Kabiru Turaki swaggered around with pageantry and enjoined Nigerians that his Committee has reached an ‘understanding’ for a ceasefire with the Boko Haram Sect. He opined that the ceasefire agreement will soon be signed publicly with the Sect. This is not the first time Nigerian authorities will be claiming that BH has accepted to negotiate or enter into a ceasefire with them.

We have consistently expressed doubts over this ceasefire, negotiation and so-called amnesty deals. Contrary to Mr. Turaki’s assertion, information reaching us from Premium Times indicates the YouTube trendy leader of Boko Haram-Abubarka Shekau issued a Video Release denying a ceasefire deal with the Nigerian government. The Sect leader reportedly said in Hausa language, ‘’we will not enter into any agreement with non-believers or the Nigerian government’’. The Sect threatens to burn more schools. Must the Nigerian authorities force-feed BH with negotiation, ceasefire and amnesty? If indeed the Committee reached an ‘understanding’ with BH, it would have been savvy, wise of the Committee to ask BH to announce the ceasefire themselves. Now Mr. Turaki has embarrassed himself and his Committee. It is interesting to note that the Nigerian government has since proscribed BH. It beggars believe that this same government is still bent on negotiating, attaining ceasefire deals with a group it outlawed. Does this depict inconsistency, policy summersault or is this Nigeria’s adaptation of a carrot and stick approach?

Love him or hate him, Mr. Abubarka Shekau has been consistent. So who is lying, Mr. Turaki or the Sect leader? Since Abubarka Shekau is the bona fide leader of the virulent faction of Boko Haram, who did Mr. Turaki and his group reach this ‘understanding’ for a ceasefire with? The BH miasma has attracted international dimension and attention. The UK government recently proscribed the group. With a bounty on his head by the United States government, it will take a lot of brainwashing by Nigerian authorities for Shekau to abandon his vocation.

Recall that President Jonathan named a 26-member ‘’Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North’’ on April 17, 2013. The Committee was given a 60-day time frame to submit its report. There is no gainsaying the fact that this Committee is not fit for purpose and has overstayed its welcome. We implore President Jonathan not to heed any call for an extension of time for the Committee to finish its work. This Boko Haram miasma is fast becoming a money-spinner for some people. If public fund is appropriated to the Committee, then it’s high time it was reined in before it metamorphoses into another gala affair.

Nigeria has become synonymous with leadership by jumbled unnecessary Committees. We must do away with this penchant for setting up paper-tiger Committees/Panels each time an incident happens in Nigeria. The Committee goes to work, submits it report and it is business as usual again. Sooner than later, the report of the Panel/Committee join their ancestors in ‘’Nigeria’s burgeoning National Archive of Committee Reports’’ and it is business as usual again.
Rather than chit-chat committees, let us have a template in place that stipulates how incidents should be handled. We reiterate that it is high time Nigeria articulated a ‘’Coherent and Comprehensive Terrorism, Counter-terrorism Policy/Strategy’’. We deduce it has become a fad for terrorists and insurgents to target schools, churches and other public institutions. In its latest Video, the de facto leader of Boko Haram threatened to sustain its attacks on schools. It goes without saying that security-conscious establishments, schools etc in Nigeria must be proactive, carry out sporadic ‘’Extensive Vulnerability/Resilience Analysis and Security Audit’’ of their domain and take appropriate steps to nip this recurring decimal in the bud. We also advocate that more efforts and resources be geared towards intelligence gathering. Let us do away with our fire-brigade approach and mentality. Every thoughtful and security-minded country or individual, hopes for the best but prepares for the worst. A wise saying goes, after a battle, sharpen your sword.

Please let us give peace a chance. Peace is a sine qua non for development. No country or individual will actualize its/his potentials in a haze of insecurity and unpredictability. Nigerians Unite Against Insecurity and Terrorism. See it, hear it, say it, stop it!!!

God bless Nigeria and Nigerians!

[b]Signed
Don Okereke

www.donokereke..com
Email: donnuait(at)yahoo.com
Twitter: @donokereke



Attention:
1. President Goodluck Jonathan
2. Alhaji Sambo Dasuki (National Security Adviser)
3. Chief of Defence Staff
4. Chief of Army Staff
5. Mr. Mohammed Abubarka (Inspector General of Police)
6. Ekpeyong E. Ita (DG, State Security Service (SSS)