BOKO HARAM 4

Alhaji Kashim Shettima,
Governor of Borno state is in
a dilemma. His attention is
torn between delivering upon
his promises to the people
and resolving the security
challenges facing his state.
The Federal Government has
waded in with full military
might, yet the situation looks
grim, and the citizenry is
being stretched to a point of
despair. Kashim Shettima has
opted for the carrot option as
he strives daily to win the
hearts of members of the
Yusuffiya or Boko Haram to a
roundtable. He has initiated
some other moves in the
hope that peace will be
restored in Borno, hitherto
acclaimed as the home of
peace.
From his pronouncements
and actions, the young
Governor has very good
programmes for the people
of Borno state, but the
security situation occasioned
by the activities of Boko
Haram has even made it
more imperative for him to
insist on his first line of duty,
which is the protection of
lives and property of citizens.
With the public apology
tendered to Boko Haram
members by the trio of
Danjuma Goje, Isa Yuguda
and Ali Modu Sheriff,
Nigerians expected the
situation to abate, but
contrary to that expectation,
Boko Haram seems to have
defied all logic and has
continued to grow in
sophistication, no thanks to
the political dimensions the
crisis seems to have
assumed. For sheer political
reasons, those who are
supposed to sympathize with
the governor by making
reasonable inputs towards
resolving the crisis have been
busy plotting further
mischief, if only to rubbish
the All Nigeria People’s Party
Government in the state.
It is true that Kashim
Shettima came in when the
citizenry is at a point of
despair, as killings and
bombings become the
orders of the day, even as
fear becomes a mode of
perception in the minds of
everyone. The challenges
seem to be growing by the
day to both Government and
the security agencies. To
most Nigerians, Boko Haram
seems to be winning the
war. What started like a
minor insurgence against the
Government of Borno state
has metamorphosed into a
national calamity, capable of
undermining the security of
the entire nation.
Perceived inmjustices
Six weeks in the saddle, not
many people are giving
Kashim Shettima a chance,
yet he looks determined to
redress all perceived
injustices and give a listening
ear to all aggrieved persons,
including adherents of the
Boko Haram. Shettima’s offer
of dialogue with leaders of
the Boko Haram, was a
departure from the
combative approach of the
past, and has attracted
commendation from a
variety of other leaders. In
the same vein, Sherrif’s
public apology was
considered a statesmanlike
response.
Kashim may have opened a
new chapter in the
management of the crisis by
not only offering to dialogue,
but going ahead to offer
amnesty to those willing to
lay down their arms. I do not
have any cause to doubt his
sincerity of purpose when he
first muted the idea, and he
has remained consistent in
his call for Boko Haram
members to give him the
benefits of doubt. Reports in
the media gave the
impression that Kashim’s
proposal is getting attention.
And as tough as the
conditions for dialogue as
given by the sect may be, it
is indicative that for the first
time there is the tendency for
parties in the conflict to
correspond.
Whether the Governor’s
overtures are acceptable or
not, and or whether his offer
of amnesty is the appropriate
thing to do or not, are issues
for another day. What is
paramount at this juncture is
the fact that there is a
significant change in
approach from the
authorities, and it should be
given a chance. Comments
from international and local
analysts indicate that the
option of dialogue has a wide
appeal, and it may be the
magic wand needed to
resolve the imbroglio. Recent
events point to the fact that
physical force may only give
a temporary respite. So far,
the incidents recorded show
that physical force is
becoming less fancied.
What appears more
worrisome to the Governor
is perhaps the fact that,
whether as members of the
sect or victims of their
strikes, those affected are his
citizens, whom he has the
primary duty to protect.
More than every citizen,
Governor Shettima is worried
by the growing sophistication
in the operations of Boko
Haram and the attendant
casualties, and he appears
prepared to do anything if
only for peace to return to his
state. What Governor Kashim
may not be prepared for is
perhaps a dialogue with
political marauders and
criminals who hide under
Boko Haram to perpetrate
atrocities in the state.
Political vendetta
The State Security Service
recently confirmed to the
world that Boko has elements
of political vendetta. The
disposition of opposition
political parties in the state,
coupled with the curious
finds where political party
insignia and posters of
politicians were found on the
vehicles of some suspected
bombers, nothing could be
more factual that the Boko
Haram menace has gone out
of the seeming religious
realm, and has assumed the
colour of political vendetta
war. To this end, one may be
right to attune that Governor
Kashim’s quest for peace
may be frustrated, unless
members of Boko Haram
clear the air on the perceived
politicization of their
struggles. As much as
Nigerians cherish a quick
resolution of the crisis, using
Governor Kashim’s
approach, the political
coloration to the conflict
seems to suggest that, any
peace achieved under the
circumstances is peace of the
graveyard.
For now, it is on record that
Governor Shettima of Borno
state is offering to negotiate
peace with real adherents of
Boko Haram amidst
competing threats from
politicians and criminals.
It is also on record that
members of the sect have
offered to negotiate on
conditions. It is unmistakable
that the Governor’s desire for
peace outweighs all other
plans for the development of
Borno state. What the world
is waiting to see is the day
Borno will return to take its
place as the citadel of peace.
How soon that comes is the
thing to worry about.