"It is utterly foolish for you to be insulting,
abusing and attacking each other on social media
when you have a very deadly common enemy
(Boko Haram) to fight."
Dear Christian and Muslim youths in the North
East of Nigeria,
Let me begin by saying clearly that I share in your
pains and agonies. I understand the untold and
excruciating sufferings that you are experiencing
in these harrowing season of ferocious and
heartless attacks against you, your properties and
loved ones. Even the most beastly and heartless
human being should sympathise with you.
However, I am very displeased with the way and
manner you are responding to the unabated
bombings, slaughtering and killings that is being
perpetuated against you by the Boko Haram sect.
You seem not to appreciate the urgency of now
and the historical significance of what is going on
in our/your land. This is what precipitates my
letter in the hope that you will retrace your steps
and change for the better.
It is utterly foolish for you to be insulting, abusing
and attacking each other on social media when
you have a very deadly common enemy (Boko
Haram) to fight. How can you be dissipating your
energies and resources accusing one another of
sponsoring Boko Haram when the same Boko
Haram is killing both Christians and Muslims, and
targeting both Mosques and Churches? Isn't that
illogical, shameful and self-destructive?
What we expect from you now is to close ranks,
come together, and form a formidable alliance and
resistance army against the monstrous Boko
Haramites. Do not get me wrong, I know you are
unarmed "bloody civilians". But I also know that
no guns, bombs or other weapons of war can
conquer a united people.
Have you thought about those unarmed protesters
in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Ukraine who despite
the threat of being gunned down by military tanks,
continued to march forward until they brought
down dictatorial regimes? Presently in Syria, Iraq,
Pakistan and other nations afflicted by violent
sectarianism and terrorism, there are youths like
you that have risen strongly in defence of their
fatherland.
So what stops you from doing the same?
I am very aware that you have an established
command of leadership. Therefore, I expect the
Emirs of Kano, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and other
affected states to urgently enter into dialogue with
the Chairmen of the Christian Association of
Nigeria in those states and work out practical
modalities for self defence against Boko Haram.
I expect the Muslim youths to form a protective
barricade in Churches during the Christian Sunday
services and Christian youths to do the same in
the Mosques during Fridays' Muslim Jumat
prayers. It is possible. We did it during the
Occupy Nigeria Movement; we can do it again.
Mere talks without actions will not solve the
problem. You must develop security
consciousness and strategies that will enable you
to identify the members of Boko Haram. If these
senseless criminals actually live with you and you
grew up with them, then it is incumbent on you to
bring them out. Eternal vigilance is the price of
liberty. This is a war against all Nigerians;
Christians and Muslims alike. It is now about
humanity.
Sadly, I have also observed that politicians from
the two leading political parties, the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives
Congress (APC) have exploited the ongoing crisis
and have divided your ranks. Again, it is
foolishness for you to allow them set you against
one another.
You need to realise that if Boko Haram kills you in
their next attack, the way they have killed
countless others, you will not live to see 2015
and both the PDP and APC will continue to be in
existence without you. It is time for you to
relegate political partisanship and save the future
of your unborn generations.
For other Nigerians who by their actions are
frustrating the unity of purpose of the Christian
and Muslim youths in the North East, posterity will
judge you. It is very naive to think that because
the bombs are not falling at your door-post,
therefore it is not your concern whether the North
East is reduced to arches. We know where and
how this attacks started, but who can tell where
or how it will end?. Let us advert our minds to
the fact that Injury to one is injury to all.
Do we still have a government in Nigeria? When
will the President and Commander-in-Chief of the
armed forces of this country rise up to his
constitutional duty? When will he desist from
staying idle while those he took oath to protect
are being roasted like worthless animals by a
demonic and senseless group? When will this
appalling blood bath end?
North East Muslim and Christian youths, history
will not forgive you if you do not rise up today
and say enough is enough. Will you come
together now and fight Boko Haram or will you
remain antagonistic to one another?
The choice is yours.
Inibehe Effiong
inibehe.effiong@gmail.com
+2348065142135


http://pulse.ng/student/boko-haram-attacks-open-letter-to-north-east-christian-and-muslim-youths-id3317702.html

thanks. previously most Christians assumed boko was religious since Christians were the targets and it resulted in a skirmish in Kaduna. but people are now realizing their folly.