Nation
Beyond Partisan Opposition Of Boko Haram, Terror, National Security
When one of America’s most legendary civil rights advocates, Malcom X at the peak of his robust advocacy for good governance once said, ‘we owe our knowledge not to those who have agreed but to those who have deferred,” he was merely highlighting the import of alternative views and solutions to human problems and challenges.
Indeed, it also underscores the dictum, none is a reservoir of knowledge and looking further inwards, a rehash of a popular Okrika proverb which says, “Bu bilema Mingi gborianga ani-boke” meaning, the tide that eventually submerges the mangrove rages from not a single source. Therefore, for any people or nation-state to conquer its environment, unshackle itself from lack of knowledge and provide the best in human enterprise and ingenuity that humanity itself can offer, it requires men and women with rare vision, patience and a ‘never-say-die’, spirit. These are those who find no limits to what humanity can achieve.
It is to such people, human civilization today owes most accomplishments by way of inventions and myth breaking. It is to those rare human minds that society owes gratitude for finding answers to most of human needs that seemed impracticable.
These are the pacesetters, inventors and opposition voices who at one time or another preferred different approaches to getting things done and who at moments of seemingly impossible search for the hitherto unknown or little-known, tarry on as positive non-conformists or simply unusuals. But in their creative unusualness emerged most of the inventions society today do enjoy, in science, technology and even politics.
Thomas Edison, the man credited with the invention of the electric bulb among others was unrelenting in his resilience in search for workable clues and answers. That was at a time; many thought that electric bulb would not add any extra value to human life. He was mocked, derided and despised but the positive deviant in him urged him on and not even 250,000 failed attempts as success could sway his resolve. Today, the value of the electric bulb is for all to behold.
As in science and technology so it is in politics, social engineering and indeed governance. In fact, Malcolm X’s theory was meant to engineer in the main, positive opposition that at all times, offers alternative view to societal notions. It is not merely for opposition sake. The main expectation instead is for such opposition to provide alternative views to existing issues urgently demanding societal appraisal and reappraisal.
With such pedigree, the term opposition no longer becomes individualised or institutionalized but a pendulum that swings around quality alternatives to human endeavours on trial. This means, in a country like Nigeria, should there exist a potent opposition built on ideology, not individuals and clicks, nationalism not the familiar desperation for political power and selflessness not the familiar do-or-die posture of being driven to action not by intellect or reason but by desires and appetites, no single political party should govern uninterrupted approval for more than 13 year. It is either that the opposition is content being opposition endlessly or it does not have viable alternatives so can’t provide what it lacks in viable ideas. It is either that the opposition is ethno-religious in character or too regional to source such highly needed national alternatives or it simply lacks the pedigree, intellectual property or the political push to drive such alternative views for the proper understanding and indeed acceptance of the ordinary voter.
Or worst still, may be, the opposition does not meet the expectations of the electorate as a viable alternative, therefore, the voter simply feels safer sticking with the known than the unknown. One of these or all, sum-up the picture of Nigeria’s leading political opposition which rather than work hard to be seen as a viable bank of better alternatives, spends ample time in vain and uninspiring criticism, without providing any meaningful options for societal good.
Nigeria’s supposed leading opposition, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is one example that conjures this horrible picture and still content that it lacks the wherewithal, integrity and reach to provide a national alternative yet seems desperate to lose its opposition leadership to an even more unwieldy, desperate, power hungry, horribly ambitious and intellectually no better political drivers, hopeful to rest power from a single political party which it wants to make the electorate believe Nigerians do not deserve.
To achieve that tall dream, the ACN and its many disunited, uncoordinated and desperate merger partners have been busy badmouthing virtually any and every government policy, programme or action without sitting back to weigh the implications of their vituperations, the effectiveness of their criticisms and more importantly the measure of attitudinal change their views have effected among Nigerians towards actualising a displacement of the status quo.
Among others, its ever squinting views on Boko Haram, national security and war on terror appear to many, a mixed bundle of confused, directionless outburst, seemingly voiced without proper thinking or simply voiced for criticism sake not bothered about the national security implication of such view-points.
After the United nations (UN) House bombing, in Abuja, among many others last year; the ACN blamed the Federal government for a lack of tactical resolve, dependable intelligence gathering ingenuity and short supply of inspiring political leadership as responsible for the thriving profile of the Boko Haram. It did not suggest any which better way it would have handled the situation, were it in power.
Early this year, when Boko Haram terrorists attacked Christian places of worship, parks and markets with high Igbo ethnic nationality casualties, raising national concerns for likely reprisals, ACN merely criticised the attacks but refused to call it a terrorist siege. It did not suggest which better way it would have fought the war except blaming the ruling government of indecisiveness in tackling insecurity in the land.
Last month, when irked by the increasing spate of terror attacks in key Northern cities, including Kano, Jos and Maiduguru, in which several were killed and public and private property destroyed, Federal Government opted to consider the terror siege as a war on the Nigerian state, the ACN again criticised any likely military force, but did not say what alternative was left.
Curiously, at the peak hours of the merger talks with the Gen Muhammadu Buhari-owned Conference for Progressive Change (CPC) with just a state, in control against others’ with 12 as soon as Northern political elements started the clamour for amnesty for Boko Haram, apparently moved by same dubious political considerations, the ACN quickly jumped at it in support, without suggesting what government must do for victims of the protracted Boko Maram terrorist siege. It was merely in support of Boko Haram amnesty without tinkering where funds would be sourced to finance such unsolicited amnesty, from Boko Haram perspective.
And only last week, when, as many as between 70 and 100 police officers on official duty in search of an ethnic militia cult leaders in Nasarawa State were ambushed and killed, forcing President Goodluck Jonathan to cancel his planned trip to Namibia after cutting-short his working visit to South Africa to be briefed on the security situation, all, the ACN was quoted as saying was to warn the Federal government against plans to impose a state of emergency in many Northern states of Nigeria. No suggestions on what government should have done to stem the orgy of violence and senseless killings, except the known grandstanding to posture itself as a better lover of Northerners than the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government.
To its disappointment, President Jonathan, last Tuesday, evening declared state of emergency in the three states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno, but did not tamper with elected democratic structures as did former President Olusegun Obasanjo in similar circumstances, thus leaving ACN and others with little or nothing to feast on, in negative criticism.
But it seemed the ACN prepared its own opposition speech against the President’s expected broadcast long before the actual air-time when, it insinuated that the emergency rule was meant to dislocate democratic institutions, a suggestion that the nationwide broadcast later addressed to be untrue.
Even so, while, many well-meaning Nigerians; including governors of the affected states welcomed the Federal government’s decision as the most reasonable action to stem the reign of terror and reclaim Nigeria’s territory daily being annexed by foreign terrorists, with local connivance, the ACN stuck to its gun of unrestrained condemnation without offering alternative.
A week earlier, after spirited clashes between the terrorists and armed security men under the aegis of the Multinational Task Force on boarder surveillance in Baga, Borno State left several terrorists dead, the ACN in a statement had invited the International Criminal Court to charge the Nigeria defence institutions and of course, government with war crimes. There, again it made no viable suggestions on how to check the terrorists.
This is not the kind of opposition that can be seen as an alternative to the ruling party’s. It is instead one that makes the PDP, “the devil Nigerians know and are willing to stick to, than the self imposed angels Nigerians are still unsure to see. ACN and others in their emerging merger plans must present a better and more convincing manifesto that can make them national alternatives, not to shore-up as a band of shakeholders with shared political blocks to superintend and recoup such investments.
My Agony is that up till now, opposition politicians have not only failed to show character, drive and conviction as worthy alternative to the ruling government, they have made Nigeria the only thriving democracy where, government and opposition do not ever enjoy bi-partisanship even, on matters of national security, threatened by terrorists’ siege.
Some even say, many in their ranks could go the whole hug to sabotaging government efforts, if only to ensure their negative predictions not necessarily with a better opposite come true. That is not how politics should be played. National security should stand far above political sentiments and partisan adventurism. Period.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has announced that the mangrove wetlands in Ogoniland have been officially designated a Ramsar Site of International Importance by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
The designation, according to HYPREP, underscores the global ecological significance of Ogoniland’s mangrove wetlands and highlights ongoing restoration efforts aimed at addressing environmental degradation in the area.
In a press statement issued by the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, the recognition was described as a major milestone for the agency, the people of Ogoni and other stakeholders working towards environmental restoration in the region.
Zabbey explained that the mangrove wetlands, which cover more than 31,700 hectares, consist of islands, tidal creeks, mudflats and mangrove forests that support a wide range of biodiversity. The ecosystem provides habitat for several species including fin fish, shellfish, crustaceans, crocodiles, turtles and the endangered grey parrot.
He noted that beyond biodiversity conservation, the wetland also provides essential ecosystem services such as fisheries production, flood control, water purification and carbon storage. According to him, the international recognition will further support local livelihoods, promote ecotourism and bring global attention to the region.
The HYPREP coordinator disclosed that the designation followed a meticulous process that began in 2024 when the project submitted a memorandum to the National Council on Environment seeking support for the recognition of the Ogoni wetlands as a Ramsar site.
Following the council’s review and approval, the Honourable Minister of Environment and Chairman of HYPREP’s Governing Council, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, formally wrote to the Ramsar Convention Secretariat requesting international recognition of the wetlands.
After a comprehensive ecological assessment, the Ramsar Secretariat granted the designation, officially recognising the Ogoniland wetlands as one of the world’s sites of international importance.
Zabbey said the recognition would strengthen ongoing environmental restoration efforts in the area and encourage stronger conservation measures and sustainable management of the wetlands for the benefit of present and future generations.
He added that the designation also fulfils a key recommendation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, marking another significant step in the implementation of the report’s recommendations.
The HYPREP project coordinator reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to restoring the Ogoni environment through the remediation of oil-polluted land, shorelines and mangrove ecosystems.
He also called for collective responsibility and stakeholder support to sustain the progress of the Ogoni cleanup programme and facilitate the development of a comprehensive and sustainable management plan for the Ogoni mangrove wetlands.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs Lauretta Davies-Dimkpa, has attributed the successes of the 12-day programme organised for adolescent girls aimed at eliminating Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) in some parts of the State to the ability of the respective stakeholders to take ownership of the programme.
Mrs Davies-Dimkpa, who dropped the hint in an interview at the end of the programme in Elele-Alimini Community in Emohua Local Government Area on Saturday, said the event had a buy-in component, an ownership mentality, whereby facilitators, staff, and everyone involved took ownership of the project.
She explained that the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) had packaged a series of training sessions for adolescent girls aimed at ending the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in some communities across the State.
According to her, the initiative was designed to educate young girls on the harmful effects of the practice and empower them to become advocates against it within their communities.
She noted that the programme, which lasted for several weeks, targeted adolescent girls from different local government areas where the practice is still prevalent, stressing that
data collected by UNICEF and the Ministry revealed that Female Genital Mutilation is still practised in some parts of the State, prompting the need for intensified sensitisation and community engagement.
Mrs Davies-Dimkpa explained that the programme adopted a “train-the-trainer” approach where adolescent girls were educated on the dangers of the practice and encouraged to share the knowledge with their peers, families and communities.
“This is a programme by the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation with support from UNICEF and UNFPA to train adolescent girls towards ending Female Genital Mutilation, which is still practised in some local government areas,” she said.
She further explained that each participating local government area had a three-day training session, with the exercise running for a total of 12 days.
The local government areas, where the programme took place, she noted, included Ahoada West, Abua-Odual, and Emohua, adding that the initiative is part of broader efforts by the state government and development partners to eliminate harmful traditional practices and protect the rights and wellbeing of girls.
She revealed that prior to the training of the adolescent girls, the Ministry and its partners had also engaged community facilitators, including older women and men, to sensitise them on the dangers associated with Female Genital Mutilation.
According to her, the involvement of community leaders and adults is essential in addressing the cultural and social factors that sustain the practice.
Speaking on the response of the participants, the permanent secretary expressed satisfaction with the level of engagement and enthusiasm shown by the girls throughout the training sessions.
She noted that many of the participants said they were learning about the harmful effects of Female Genital Mutilation for the first time.
“The girls are between the ages of 12 and 17 and from the interactions we had with them, they were very excited. Some of them are hearing these things for the first time and never knew that the practice is harmful,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the knowledge gained from the training would enable the girls to serve as advocates for change within their communities.
She added that the Rivers State Government, alongside its partners, would continue to intensify efforts and expand community-based interventions aimed at ending the practice across the State.
Meanwhile, the participants for Emohua Local Government Area were drawn from Elele-Alimini, Egbeda, Rumuji, Ibaa, Rumuekpe, Rumuakunde, Eligbarada, and Ogbakiri Communities.
The participants,who spoke in separate interviews described the training as eye-opening, noting that it helped them better understand issues surrounding adolescent health, personal hygiene, reproductive health, and the harmful consequences of Female Genital Mutilation.
Favour Azukwu from Rumuekpe community, said the programme provided a deeper understanding of the dangers associated with the practice, particularly its impact on the health and wellbeing of girls and women.
She explained that the training sessions exposed participants to the medical, social and psychological effects of Female Genital Mutilation, including severe bleeding, infections and complications during childbirth.
She revealed that she personally experienced the practice at the age of 12 and suffered heavy bleeding afterwards, an experience that has strengthened her determination to advocate for its eradication.
According to her, many communities still practise Female Genital Mutilation because it is perceived as a cultural tradition, despite the dangers associated with it.
“I do not support Female Genital Mutilation because there are many dangers involved. I experienced severe bleeding when it was done to me as a child.
Another participant, Glory Ken, a 16-year-old secondary school student from Rumuji community, said the programme broadened her understanding of several important topics affecting adolescents.
She explained that beyond the discussion on Female Genital Mutilation, the training also focused on issues such as personal hygiene, reproductive health, peer education, and self-care.
According to her, the sessions helped participants understand the importance of making informed health decisions and supporting one another as peer educators.
“I learned about many things that affect young people in society and how to take care of myself. I also learned that Female Genital Mutilation is harmful to our health. The message I am taking back to my community is that this practice should stop,” she said.
Also speaking, Goodness Kenjika Nyeche described the programme as very impactful.
She noted that the training equipped participants with the skills and confidence to educate others about the harmful effects of Female Genital Mutilation.
She said she plans to organise sensitisation among adolescents in her community, particularly girls between the ages of 10 and 19, to ensure they understand the dangers associated with the practice.
“I learned many things from this programme and I feel very good about it. I will educate other young girls in my community and help them understand why Female Genital Mutilation should not continue,” she said.
For Queen Dike from Ibaa community, the programme helped clarify misconceptions surrounding the practice.
She explained that in some communities, the practice is still referred to as circumcision and is viewed as part of cultural identity.
She said the training helped participants understand that Female Genital Mutilation involves the cutting or removal of parts of the female genital organs and that it has serious health consequences.
She stressed that awareness and education are key to ending the practice, especially among communities that continue to uphold it as tradition.
“I think the programme is very helpful because many people still believe it is part of culture. More awareness is needed so people can understand why it should stop,” she said.
Another participant, MyJoy Echika Amadi, said the programme provided critical information about adolescent health and the dangers associated with Female Genital Mutilation.
She described the initiative as enlightening and said it encouraged young people to become advocates for change in their communities.
According to her, participants were encouraged to use various platforms such as churches, peer groups, schools and community gatherings to spread awareness about the harmful effects of the practice.
“This programme has enlightened us about the dangers of Female Genital Mutilation. I will do my best to create awareness in my community and encourage people to stop the practice,” she said.
Many of the participants emphasised that the knowledge gained during the programme has empowered them to challenge harmful traditions and promote healthier practices among young people.
They also called on the Rivers State Government, development partners and civil society organisations to sustain the sensitisation campaigns and extend the training to more communities across the State.
According to them, empowering young people with the right information will play a critical role in eliminating Female Genital Mutilation and protecting the rights, health and dignity of girls in Rivers State.
The participants expressed appreciation to the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, UNICEF and UNFPA for organising the programme and for investing in the wellbeing and future of adolescent girls in the State.
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