It is appropriate and socially discreet to summit that the State or Government by its commitment to the social contract that exist between it and the citizens accepted to take responsibility for the protection of the lives and properties of not only that of the citizens but also its’. The existence of this contract presupposes the fact that the citizens naturally submitted their ‘Powers or Mights’ to the state. Hence, Government through legitimates means carry out actions aimed at protecting the lives and properties of the citizens. These functions are performed by governments all over the world, including the Nigeria Government.

Even supposing, in this present modern world, the business of security of lives and properties are perceived in clear terms as a collective responsibility, which by implication involves not only the Government but also the corporate and non corporate citizens. By some further expounding, just as the Government has the responsibility of protection of the polity, the citizens are not expected to stand aloof and fold their hands as on lookers. The citizens have got roles to perform. The saying, which goes that ‘for every right you have there is a corresponding responsibility’, is pertinent in this circumstance.

The citizens in this situation ought to perform certain duties especially vigilance to compliment efforts of government or the state for the contract to be effectively implemented. Citizens’ vigilance plays vital role in preventing terrorism and other criminal activity. Vigilance does not mean spying. It means noticing what is around you and recognizing when it is out of the ordinary and reporting such to the authorities either in possibly anonymous style.

In no instance is this responsibility of the citizens expected to be performed more than now that we are at war against the unwanton destruction of lives of innocent citizens in the guise of Boko Haram, a wicked militant sect, who are intimidating law abiding citizens to submit to their threat.

Without any proclivity to appropriating the facts of the role of citizens in times of terror in a State, it is arguably apt to tender that primarily, Government, Security agencies, and the Military has the task of fighting terrorism. But there are practical roles or things ordinary citizens can do to make a significant difference in defeating terrorism. Therefore, it would be socially circumspect to state distinctly that; the security of a nation is a joint task of government, citizens and to some extent corporate organizations.

This assertion is not idle given the existence of classic paradigms in the United States, Pakistan, Iraq etc. In these countries, the citizens didn’t play the role of whistle blowing alone; some citizens went as far as working with the security agents. Their communities did not provide cover for these miscreants. Statesmen came together to proffer solution to the problem. A far more suiting example is that of the United States, where we clearly understand the huge penchant for opposition between the Democrats and the Republican. Yet, during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, both parties closed ranks and dealt with the threatening issue of terror as patriotic political organizations. Also, in the UK, both the Conservatives and the Labour Party worked together to solve problems particularly on National security.

Frustratingly, in the Nigeria circumstance, as it is on our hands now, we see the reverse as the case. Most persons who claim to be patriots and statesmen, though, self acclaimed, hardly can exhibit attributes that noticeably promotes the public good and show any high degree of probity and leadership; or show qualities necessary to govern properly our society.

This clearly brings to mind and cast aspersions on the sort of statements, the APC, National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, made in a communiqué published on May 20th 2014, edition of The Punch Newspapers, that President Jonathan was insincere with the fighting of terrorism in Nigeria. This statement was insensitive of a leader of a political party in Nigeria at this trying moment. This is a time when great leaders show great profundity in character and not relapse into morbid ponderings and subsequent heaping of coarse invectives on their Presidents. Are the APC by the Lai Mohammed’s statement implying that the Boko Haram are close to them such that if the APC were in power as the PDP or they win Presidency position in 2015 elections, there would have been no terror in Nigeria? It would be erroneous to hold such thought, because Boko Haram is a terror group who wants to control by dishing out coercion and bullying to instill fears into us as citizen of Nigeria.

Notwithstanding, available information proves that invitations of the President which was extended to Rtd. General Mohammadu Buhari to discuss the issues of Boko Haram and possible solutions to it were rejected by the Rtd General Buhari and the APC group. By that action, the APC and General Buhari have not only shown paucity of patriotism and disrespect for the President, but also do not feel pained for the daily destruction of innocent lives and property through the dastardly evil act of bombings by the devilish Boko Haram sect. The APC and Buhari cannot be taken serious.

Conclusively, I would doubly state that the Boko Harm like any other terrorist group in the world wants us to submit to their threats so that they can control us. As very responsible citizens of Nigeria, we should continuously show more resolute resistance of the attempts of the Boko Haram to threaten us with incessant bombings by acting as whistle blowers at any suspicious actions of anybody around us and report such suspicion to the appropriate security agencies.

We enjoin all Nigerian citizens to work in concert with the Security agents and discard the very insensitive utterances aimed at discrediting the efforts Federal Government by some politician. As well, we urge Lai Mohammed, Armed Tinubu, and Gov. Nyako not to politicize the security situation in the country, just as we call on the Federal Government to resolutely show far more commitment and step up strategies in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.

www.activatenigeria.com