This blog was set up to address issues
such as this. In the last few months, I have had recourse to ask myself so many
questions especially as regards the nature of what I would like to call “African
Life”. African life as used here is the totality of an African, the place of
Africa in the committee of nations and the sanctity of human life in African perspective.
Majorly, my worries about the neglect
of Africa stems from the wave of terrorism all over the world and the response
of the world to them. Some days ago, over 140 ‘innocent’ students were killed
in Garissa university in Kenya. The world was almost silent on this issue –
there was no worldwide outcry as was the case in France months ago, when there
was a terror attack in Charlie Hebdo.
I recall that on that day and
days following the Charlie Hebdo attack, world leaders and even African leaders
were swift to condemn the killings, and even converged in Paris for a
solidarity rally. It was swift, resounding response. Nobody blamed the France
government for not protecting the lives of those who were murdered in that attack,
no one blamed the security agencies for not securing the lives of those who
were lost on that day; rather, the world was in unison in condemning in strong
terms, such action. The response was
such that the culprits were apprehended days later, and those who abetted them
were apprehended.
In Africa, it is a different
thing all together. The book haram terrorists killed hundreds of people in baga
within the time of the Charlie Hebdo attack, but that was not given a
significant voice or appraisal. Then, talk about the Boston bombing and the
murder of a policeman in UK, all these received worldwide condemnation.
What, then,
is the problem? Does it mean that African lives are not as important as the
Western lives? Do we have separate creators or were we created by one and same
God?
I do not think I have all the
answers to this question. I have heard how important the life of an American is,
that the government can kill 1000 persons, just to save the life of an American
– funny? – but this is the reality of our time! The Americans developed their
drones with which they hunt down terrorists, but has it in any way reduced
terrorism? In fact, I do think that such actions even lead to the growth,
segmentation and spread of terrorism in the world.
TERRORISM: FROM WHERE?
It is quite interesting to note
that a religion has being the fundamental driving force of terrorism,
worldwide. Some persons may recourse to call it “religious fanatism” or “fundamentalism”.
In Nigeria for instance, the Boko Haram terrorists gave a clear description of
their mandate: stop western education, and Islamize Nigeria! I have a problem
with this. Why is it that one religion will keep the world at war and fear? The
explanation by some people that no religion preaches violence, for me is laughable!
If no religion preaches violence, then, why the “seeming” affiliation of most
terror groups with one religion?
BOKO HARAM AND OTHER AFRICAN TERRORIST GROUPS: Where From?
A friend recently asked me my
take on the cause of the book haram menace in Nigeria. I was quick to respond
that the northern elites, their governments, and religion can be termed the
primary cause (although some persons may ,like to argue that this is not the
case, especially with the emergence of Jihadi John, who is believed to be a British
citizen, born and raised in Britain, but later radicalized).
The northern governors who should have engaged in massive infrastructural and
intellectual development of the northern part of the country left the populace
to their means, in abject poverty, neglect and degradation, so when book haram
came knocking, the door was wide open.
Again, successive Nigerian
governments have neglected education, preferring propaganda to impacting
positively on the life of the citizens. The massive unemployment rate and the
failure to address the religious and ethnic problem in Nigeria is also a
factor.
Furthermore, the religion is
another serious factor. A situation where one man is allowed to marry as many
wives as he could and have as many kids as possible, portends a lot of danger. This
is so, as the means of giving these numerous children a befitting life is not
in place. In some cases, the children are sent to Arabic teachers at very
tender age, to learn the Quran and Arabic language. This is where I believe the
innocent minds of such children are corrupted by dubious teachers. These children,
while here, have no food, they survive by seeking alms from people – what degradation!
Some or rather most of these people do not know their parents or their
siblings, this it becomes easy for them to be conscripted into terror groups, and
after all, they have nothing to lose.
It is disheartening that some
persons in the northern part of Nigeria can only speak Hausa or Arabic; to
whose gain? In subsequent update, I’ll give my view on the Boko Haram crisis.
AFRICAN GOVERNMENTS AS MAJOR CAUSE OF THE PERCEPTION OF AFRICA AS A DO
– AWAY PEOPLE!
Most persons would agree with me,
that the African government is the major cause of our being perceived in bad
light. We follow these westerners as if they are gods, we are complacent with
playing second fiddle to them, and we tend to copy virtually ‘everything’ from
them!
In the just concluded
presidential election campaigns, we saw situations, where candidates who were supposed
to campaign for the Nigerian people, had to leave to foreign counties in order to
campaign – nonsense! Calls were made repeatedly to the international community
for assistance as if we are helpless individuals or brainless individuals. I am
not in any way at all advocating for the ending of mutual ties with the west,
rather, the mutuality should not be to our own detriment!
Again, the attitude of the government
towards the respect of human life and freedom in Africa is very low. In Nigeria
for instance, even the presence of police or army is not a reason enough for
one to sleep with both eyes closed! The police and Army have been drawn into
partisan politics, as such, it is not uncommon to find law enforcement agencies
harassing civilians whom they are supposed to be protecting.
WHICH WAY OUT?
Our governments must take a firm
stance when it comes to the respect of human life, we must look inwardly for
the solution to our problems and not just moving from one western country to
the other seeking for help. Any bilateral cooperation that is not to our best interest,
should be halted with alacrity. We must enlighten our populace, refine our
religious inclinations to peace, harmony and progress and restate in practical
terms, our unity, although in diversity! Above all, we MUST start a national
campaign on “THE SANCTITY OF AN AFRICAN LIFE’! May God help Us!
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