Terrorism: Nigeria, organize and stop the agony

At a time that the dare devil terrorists
detonated their diabolical article of trade-
BOMBS and unleashed deadly violence on over
forty youngsters in an all boys high school in
Yobe State, the least most Nigerians expect
from their political leadership is not a sign of
weakness but a resolution to be much more
combative and effective in crushing decisively
these terrorists.
Nigeria’s
ambassador to the United States of America,
Prof. Ade Adefuye who represents the nation in
a country reputed as the most important in
terms of international visibility and significance
just did the opposite by painting a graphic
picture of an administration that is frustrated to
such a level that it has no other way out but to
moan and cry like a child.
As a citizen I am aware also that President
Jonathan has indeed made the right response
by affirming his administration’s resolve to end
these vicious circles of violent terrorism
threatening to tear apart the beloved Nigerian
Nation. At his declaration of intent to run for a
second term under his political party- Peoples
Democratic Party [PDP] the President
fundamentally painted a picture of an
administration that will continue to work and
remained undeterred by the blood cuddling
antics of these murderous terrorists. The
administration also has laid out in broad terms
other practical measures to bring about a
permanent resolution of this debacle.
Even with these reassurances from President
Jonathan, the statement made by the Nigerian
Envoy to the United States in which he
criticised his host country for failing to sell
military hardware to Nigeria is indeed an
unnecessary agony which should not be
entertained at these trying periods of our
nation’s history particularly given the fact that
millions of Nigerians are looking up to the
political leadership to show the light for others
to follow towards providing effective panacea to
these mindless attacks on Nigerians by these
terrorists.
The Nigerian Envoy to the United States
reportedly chided the United States of America
for refusing to sell weapons to Nigeria to
effectively contain the Islamic insurgency in
Northern Nigeria.
The news report further indicated that he said
the war against the insurgency would have
been won long ago, had the US agreed to sell
weapons to Nigerian government. The litany of
interrogatories that immediately follow from
this agony of a Nigerian diplomatic official are
to find out if the United States is the only
producer of weapons and military hardware and
secondly has this official forgotten that even
from the name of one of the most fearsome
weapons AK47 there are other good
alternatives for arms supplies such as Russia
from where this calibre of weapon originated.
But this gentleman Mr Adefuye continued with
his song of lamentations when he delivered an
address at a meeting with U.S. Council on
Foreign Relations approximately twenty four
hours before the public declaration for second
term interest by President Jonathan, and said
America’s response to Nigeria’s request has
been so far surprising, as it is disappointing
given the cordial diplomatic relations that the
two countries have enjoyed.
His words:
“The
Nigerian
leadership:
Military
and
Political,
and even
the general
populace,
are not
satisfied
with the
scope,
nature and content of the United States’
support for us in our struggle against terrorists.
We find it difficult to understand how and why
in spite of the U.S. presence in Nigeria with
their sophisticated military technology, Boko
Haram should be expanding and becoming
more deadly,” Adefuye told the gathering in
Washington.
He explained that at first, Nigeria had problems
with the manner in which intelligence was
being shared and that the U.S. Government
claimed that the problem has been addressed,
but it is still there.
He said: “The U.S. Government has up till today
refused to grant Nigeria’s request to purchase
lethal equipment that would have brought
down the terrorists within a short time on the
basis of the allegations that Nigeria’s defence
forces have been violating human rights of
Boko Haram suspects when captured or
arrested.
He further affirmed that; “This is based largely
on reports submitted by human rights groups
and sections of the Nigerian media that have
sympathy for the opposition parties and are
prepared to use whatever means possible to
embarrass the government of President
Goodluck Jonathan.
“The Americans claim that lethal law forbids
the sale of lethal equipment to governments
that violate human rights.”
This ‘crying’ diplomat Mr Adefuye said: “We
implore the Council on Foreign Affairs to put
pressure on the State Department and the
Department of Defence to re-examine the basis
of their refusal to sell the equipment to Nigeria.
Our people are not very happy with the content
of America’s support in the struggle against
Boko Harm. The terrorists threaten our
corporate existence and territorial integrity.
There is no use giving us the type of support
that enables us to deliver light jabs to the
terrorists when what we need to give them is
the killer punch. A friend in need is a friend
indeed. The true test of friendship is in the
times of adversity.”
According to him, the United States has nothing
to lose if Nigeria is a secure nation, adding that
Nigeria has played prominent role in ensuring
sustenance of democracy in Africa and ensuring
stability which America will benefit immensely
from.
Come to think of it why is this diplomat openly
castigating the United States when it is clear
even to the most illiterate kindergarten that
there is no binding military cum defence pact
between Nigeria and the United States unlike
the same kind of partnership that exists
between all of our sub regional neighbours and
some World powers like France and the United
States? Does Ambassador Adefuye need further
elementary lessons in international diplomacy
to know that you don’t task the third party to
assist you do your fight when you have nothing
in common in terms of strict applicable and
binding military pact? Must we celebrate our
ignorance always in public? What is the most
primary duty of government? Please lets stop
this abysmal and disgraceful celebration of
ignorance in international arena and take
concrete measure to procure arms from
alternative sources other than the United States
to engage these terrorists and defeat them
once and for all.