NIGERIA IS AT WAR

By Uchendu Precious Onuoha (Special Correspondent Spain)

NIGERIA IS AT WAR

Nigeria is at war, and there is blood flowing in the land unknown to many, because the societal watch dogs are not blowing the alarm as supposed. Some have a false notion that it involves only a segment of the country, a dangerous and myopic impression. The Government's approach has been in-active, a mockery to its pledge and responsibility to protect the lives, welfare and security of her citizens. My colleagues in pen (the press) has not fared better either, as they have resorted to a journalism of convenience and have refrained from giving adequate coverage and meaningful on the scene report of the war. But I quiet understand their plights. He who plays the piper dictates the tune.  How will they go except they are sent? As they are under the apron strings of their publishers and owners.  And are afraid to report stories that would cost them their jobs even lives.  

A colleague in Nigeria told me in response to my question, why is there no accurate report in the Nigerian media about the Nigeria-Boko Haram war? For any journalist to do that, he must have written his will because the forces that is, will not let you do that he said. Journalism profession stands on a threshold in Nigeria. But for me, knowing that death must come at best postponed,  I have  no property to will and write, my most precious property is my pen and paper which is for my daughter if I am killed or die in the cause of my job. Rather than writing a will, I have already bought my flight ticket to a destination unknown because I don’t know where I am going to after death. If it is heaven so be it, then I will fly in first class to take the front seat as to cover the event of the judgment day. Because for me to live is to write and to die is gain.

According to Lanre Idowu , Editor in chief of the Media review, talking about the Nigerian press reporting on the Boko Haram insurgents said, “No medium invests enough resources to report stories beyond the relative comforts of urban centers”. The media is indispensable in spreading information in a war situation; therefore the Nigerian press should arise to this challenge.

The Nigerian military like the Government seem to have something to hide as they have not shown enough seriousness to their avowed responsibility to protect the lives of all Nigerians and defend their territorial integrity from internal and external threats. Few Nigerians in low and high places have spoken out and expressed their reservations  on the way the Government is going about this war and are not happy the manner our military that is acclaimed to be the best in Africa is losing grounds to the Boko Haram insurgents on daily basis.

General Gowon, the former military head of state in his message to the soldiers during the armed forces remembrance day said, “the Government recently acquired a loan of $1 billion for fighting the insurgency, make demand for equipment from it… I have not lost confidence in our armed forces. I want you to restore your honor by reversing some of these lapses into success, losses into victories; negative opinions into positive opinions. I charge you to go all out to flush those insurgents out of our territories, all the way back to where they came from”.

To the rest of the world, irrespective of race, color country or continent, the war against terrorism is a war for all and goes beyond religious affiliations. It is a war against humanity; it’s a war against a peaceful existence of our world. If Europe, America and the rest of the world should react to the Boko Haram massacre of people in Nigeria on daily bases like they reacted to the terrorists killing of twelve people in France recently, Boko Haram would be put to rest. According to John Dunn, “any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee”. Nigeria, Africa, America, Europe and humanity the death of thousands of Nigerians that have been killed together with the Chibok girls that have been forgotten, tolls for you.

The war against Boko Haram is not just for the North, if truly we are one Nigeria, what affects the North affects the south, west and east. The children, women, youths and elderly ones that are been killed in thousands in the Northern region are our brothers and sisters and fellow Nigerians if truly we claim to be one nation. I believe that Nigeria has all it takes to deal with the Boko Haram insurgents if they really want to. If they could react to the Boko Haram challenge the way they reacted to Ebola, the insurgents would be flushed out. Nobody played politics with Ebola because it was a matter of life and death, and has no respect for the leaders and their followers, rich and poor it had no boundary. All government arms, functionaries became very active and functional because nobody wanted to die.

If the Chibok girls, who today have been forgotten and left to their own perils were the daughters of the President, Senators, Inspector general of police, Chief of army staff, Governors and Ministers, among others, Nigerian government would have found immediate solution overnight and win the victory over Boko Haram. Nigeria is at war, unless all and sundry show true commitment towards that, soon or later, the Boko Haram fire will engulf the whole nation, Africa and the world at large.