The Boko Haram spirit in all of us
By Emmanuel Udom
Nigeria, the widely acclaimed giant of Africa is presently under heat generated by the activities of the Boko Haram sect. In the last couple of years, innocent persons have been maimed, killed and monumental destructions recorded. The figures may have reached an alarming rate of about 2000 persons in a country that is supposed to play the big brother role to the rest of African countries.
It is indeed pathetic, uncalled for and a distraction from the serious business of supporting the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration to deliver on democracy dividends promised Nigerians on assumption of office.
Terrorism is a global issue and our beloved country is just experiencing it fair share of the fallouts of the terrorist war. I pray for the repose of the souls of those who have so far perished in this menace called Boko Haram in Nigeria. I do not think they were destined to die this way. The good Lord knows better than we ordinary mortals.
Beyond these preambles however, let us face the facts here. Every person you see on the surface of this earth has a dual nature. Just as the day follows the night, the person has his or her good sides, as well as the coexisting bad sides.
Take it or leave it, we in most cases create the hell or heaven we find ourselves, through our thoughts, words or deeds. So, man and woman is therefore the creator of the negative as well as positive conditions that come to him or her.
Whatever condition we find in our country, we created it individually and collectively by our thoughts, words and deeds. Most of the problems of Nigeria were not created by Gooodluck Jonathan, but by our past leaders and followers like you and I. So, we are the ones to sort our own hell and create a heaven in Nigeria.
Truth is that in all the estimated 9 billion people in this world, there is a rebellious and a benevolent spirit in each man or woman. Though love, kindness, sympathetic behaviors and altruistic actions cannot be seen physically, we know when our environment is hash or pleasing.
The Boko Haram folks have every right under the sun to be angry, outspoken and demand for justice and equal rights. These faceless sect also have the right to dare the Nigerian government to deliver on democracy dividends, redress real or imaginary marginalization, exploitations etc.
But, I do not think they have the right, under whatever excuses or guises to kill, maim and destroy government and private properties in order to be noticed. Killing, maiming and destructions are negative ways of expressing our grievances.
As I said earlier, every man or woman has the Boko Haram spirit in him or her. It is natural and acceptable by God, Allah and humanity for us to strive at all times and all circumstances to control the rebellious spirits in us for the overall good of humanity.
A killer must face the consequences of his or her action either in this life or the next. No politics, at the local, national or international level can change this immutable law of life. It must come to past except we change from our evil ways.
Dialogue as far as I can see is the only solution to the Boko Haram menace. Nothing more, nothing less at this point in time for Nigeria. However, I also know deep down that even all these shall away.
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