NEGOTIATING WITH TERRORIST: A SYMBOL OF WISDOM OR COWARDICE.
BY ROBERT ISRAEL.
CHADIAN leader Idriss Deby yesterday fueled the speculation that Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau is dead when he said the sect has a new leader who is ready to negotiate with the Federal Government.
Should the federal government negotiate with these terrorist? This is a question that bothers the minds of Nigerians. Given the mountainous havoc that has been inflicted on the Nigerian people by the boko Haram terrorist, would it not be a sign of cowardice for the Nigerian government to associate or belittle their self by negotiating.
As rightly warned by the Chadian Leader, He advised the Nigerian government not to succumb to pressure to hold talks with the militants. But will the government adhere to this warning? This is a question best answered by the Government.
I will like to define terrorism as any armed conflict that is illegal. The reaction of president Hollande and the swift response of the French troops, is what I call "Accurate Counter-Insurgent Mechanism".
In Nigeria, our beloved country, we assume the funniest response to insurgency and our supposed intellectuals, Political Analyst and the so-called Historians demonstrate their mediocrity when they continually applaud the decision of the Federal Government to negotiate with the Boko Haram Sect. We further demonstrate out illiteracy and cowardice when we take it a step further by saying " it is the only way to save our people"
A government's major responsibility is to safeguard its territorial integrity cum prove that its power ( real or perceived) is able to preserve, protect and provide for its people. So, our leaders who addresses the public saying " err... I don't know what is happening with the Boko Haram sect ooo", "America should know", "we are open to negotiation with the Boko Haram sect if they are ready", "we are all not safe even me" blah blah blah!, simply demonstrate their mediocrity and ignorance of the principles of Governance. Paris was attacked less than one week ago, and just yesterday, President Hollande declared that the invasion by the ISIS is an act of War that won't be taken lightly, and just this morning, the French Troops are bombing ISIS Headquarters. Now, that is how a responsible government handles Terrorism. The Nigerian government should take a cue from france's case and ensure to be responsible and responsive.
Terrorism anywhere, is a threat to peace everywhere.
No comments:
Post a Comment