Thursday, 28 June 2012 00:00

Written by Wole Oladimeji, Abuja

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The spate of insecurity in the as country orchestrated by continuous bombing in the Northern parts by the Islamic fundamentalists group, Boko Haram is seriously challenging the unity of the nation if is not quickly addressed

“In the past few months, the activities of this faceless people have kept on spreading while the casualties also keep on increasing appearing as if nothing is being done by the security operatives and Federal Government to stem the menace.

 “Day by day, Nigerians continue to live in fear while many people are migrating in large number from certain parts of the country to resettle in other areas that are more peaceful, thereby impacting negatively on the economic viability of such war zones as those towns are going down because the destructive nature of the activities of the group.

“Several measures have been put in place to reduce the carnage by drafting military task force to the areas, but the situation seemed to be the same. Even recently, the President sacked all the service chiefs, yet the group is still threatening that no matter what the government does, it cannot deter them from carrying out their nefarious activities.

“Different groups have appealed to the Federal Government to dialogue with the Boko Haram group so as to be able to know what they want if that would stop the crisis but there have been divergent views that since the people are faceless, whom would the government relate with.

“It is in line with this that the leadership of the House of Representatives have been  making frantic efforts to ensure that this bloody activities are stopped by extending invitation to President Goodluck Jonathan to appear before the House and give the correct information to the lawmakers on the issue of insecurity in the country. 

“In a goodwill message delivered by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal at the 2012 Senate retreat in Uyo, last Monday, 25th June, 2012, he expressed concern over the rate of killings in the country due to the continuous bombing of churches, schools and market areas that are often times populated by innocent civilians.

“Tambuwal expressed worries that the country today is facing security challenges of monumental proportions never witnessed in the history of the country other than the civil war.

 “The spate of outbreak of violence has become so widespread and frequent that the security apparatus of both the national and state governments appear overwhelmed as the reactionary curfews have proved to be mear stop-gap measures.

“The damage to the Nigerian economy - especially to the dwindling fortunes of the North where most of these terrorism occur, is incalculable. This is even more worrisome against the backdrop of the vaulting poverty in the region, its industrial and infrastructural deficit.

At a period when the region should be trying to catch up, its future is further being circumscribed by a ruthless orgy of violence that has continued despite all efforts.

Ironically, the majority of the perpetrators of this unwarranted violence are northern elements and their immigrant collaborators.

“As representatives of the people, the National Assembly cannot afford to watch while the nation plunges further into the abyss. This retreat is therefore a critical forum to examine all the avenues available for parliamentarians to end this wanton, gratuitous violence.

“We need to re- examine our laws again, to see if there are loopholes we can plug, and if there are more creative ways we can liaise with the other arms of government to bring synergy into the efforts to stop the unending state of violence.

“Again as noted earlier, as legislators, our perspective on tackling the looming insecurity will essentially be in the areas of legislation and oversight. There appears to be a general consensus that among many other causes, poverty and unemployment are some of the principal reasons for youth vulnerability to violence.

In this regard, it means, we must examine whether budget crafting over the years has been efficient and also, whether budget implementation has been effective. If we notice and admit failings in this regard, then we must take a proactive and decisive action.

“Nigeria has great potentials and the future of this country is very bright indeed. We have a duty to protect that future and to help ensure that innocent Nigerians do not continue to meet with violent deaths in their homes, their places of worship or as they go about seeking their daily bread.

“Our laws are clear: that all citizens have the right to life, property and the pursuit of happiness. We must safeguard the fundamental principles of our democracy against groups bent on anarchy, by all means. This nation is bigger than any group and cannot succumb to blackmail by any cabal operating under whatever guise.

“Distinguished Senators, the path to economic and social development in a competing world is hard enough without the burden of unending violence. Our aspiration to become one of the top 20 economies in the world by 2020 will surely remain a mirage unless we can solve this most vital problem. No development initiative is worth the paper it is written on if the country cannot find peace. 

“I believe that our problems are not insurmountable. I believe that our differences, whatever they are, can be resolved without violence. And I believe that this retreat has the potential to further enhance our chances of gaining peace and securing our future for the desired development”, he stressed.