In recent weeks, the world has risen against campaign of terror in Northern Nigeria by outlawed terror group that has unequivocally demonstrated that they have the capacity to plan and successfully carryout violence against innocent Nigerians. Since 2009, Boko Haram has killed more than 2000 Nigerians is various States of northern Nigeria with thousands rendered homeless and billions of Naira worth of properties destroyed.
Though the aim of their mission is vague, it have been established that their activities are in total violation of human right. The recent Nyanya bombing in Abuja and abduction of about 300 Chibok schoolgirls in Borno State have once again put Boko Haram activities in pages of world newspapers. Everybody is now crying #BringBackOurGirls yet the government looks short of ideas and as days go, it is more likely that these girls will go same way others abducted by the group went.
Desperate situations deserve desperate actions. It is time government begin to correct those factors in Nigeria that fuel violence instead of crying and looking for assistance from the world when its actions over the years has encouraged desperation among its citizens.
Deprivation theory by Ted Gurr provides clear insight into reasons why people take up arms against their State. Relative deprivation is the discrepancy between what people think they deserve and what they actually think they can get. People can get used to a bad state of affairs, even one that offers so little access to life-sustaining resources that members of the group are starving or dying of remediable diseases or exposure. However, if there is a significant discrepancy between what they think they deserve and what they think they will get, there is a likelihood of rebellion. Gurr posits this to be the case because there is a feeling that their expectation cannot be met if the current statuesque is maintained.
A situation where government officials and or politicians use government fund to live in affluence at the expense of other Nigerians cannot just continue but measures must be activated to begin to bring high profile individuals to book. How can politicians be buying jets with government money every year when ordinary Nigerians do not even have means of livelihood? According to recent CIA report, more than 70% of Nigerians are living in less than $1.25 a day; yet billions of Naira disappear from government account everyday with no one charged to court or brought to book and the President is reported as saying that corruption in Nigeria is over rated. Is it when the country is completely sold that corruption in the country will be duly rated?
Government over the years have systematically planted what we are ripping at this time. My regret is that this Boko Haram violence is meted on the suffering masses. Nigerian economic growth has not been in line with the aspirations of the people and has not been driven by higher productivity. The public perception is that there has been little job creation; yet graduates are turned out every year in thousands to saturate the already over saturated labour market. Consequently, the country is producing army of idle hands that are cheap recruits for criminal activities against the State that have failed to give them meaningful means of livelihood.
It is time government declare State of Emergency on unemployment in the country. If energetic youths are engaged meaningfully, common sense posits that many will not be available to be recruited for crime. It is time people in government realize that the best way to fight crime is to give citizens meaning for living. Most Nigerians do not have means of livelihood due to economic hardship as a result of corruption and years of mis-management of resources by the government.
While Boko Haram activities and other criminal elements are being clamped down by the armed forces, it is expedient for the government to re-orientate itself and be more responsible and also fashion ways to improve living standard of Nigerians as the only way to restore lasting peace in the country.
Nigeria is the only country we can call our own. Let us give peace a chance.
Though the aim of their mission is vague, it have been established that their activities are in total violation of human right. The recent Nyanya bombing in Abuja and abduction of about 300 Chibok schoolgirls in Borno State have once again put Boko Haram activities in pages of world newspapers. Everybody is now crying #BringBackOurGirls yet the government looks short of ideas and as days go, it is more likely that these girls will go same way others abducted by the group went.
Desperate situations deserve desperate actions. It is time government begin to correct those factors in Nigeria that fuel violence instead of crying and looking for assistance from the world when its actions over the years has encouraged desperation among its citizens.
Deprivation theory by Ted Gurr provides clear insight into reasons why people take up arms against their State. Relative deprivation is the discrepancy between what people think they deserve and what they actually think they can get. People can get used to a bad state of affairs, even one that offers so little access to life-sustaining resources that members of the group are starving or dying of remediable diseases or exposure. However, if there is a significant discrepancy between what they think they deserve and what they think they will get, there is a likelihood of rebellion. Gurr posits this to be the case because there is a feeling that their expectation cannot be met if the current statuesque is maintained.
A situation where government officials and or politicians use government fund to live in affluence at the expense of other Nigerians cannot just continue but measures must be activated to begin to bring high profile individuals to book. How can politicians be buying jets with government money every year when ordinary Nigerians do not even have means of livelihood? According to recent CIA report, more than 70% of Nigerians are living in less than $1.25 a day; yet billions of Naira disappear from government account everyday with no one charged to court or brought to book and the President is reported as saying that corruption in Nigeria is over rated. Is it when the country is completely sold that corruption in the country will be duly rated?
Government over the years have systematically planted what we are ripping at this time. My regret is that this Boko Haram violence is meted on the suffering masses. Nigerian economic growth has not been in line with the aspirations of the people and has not been driven by higher productivity. The public perception is that there has been little job creation; yet graduates are turned out every year in thousands to saturate the already over saturated labour market. Consequently, the country is producing army of idle hands that are cheap recruits for criminal activities against the State that have failed to give them meaningful means of livelihood.
It is time government declare State of Emergency on unemployment in the country. If energetic youths are engaged meaningfully, common sense posits that many will not be available to be recruited for crime. It is time people in government realize that the best way to fight crime is to give citizens meaning for living. Most Nigerians do not have means of livelihood due to economic hardship as a result of corruption and years of mis-management of resources by the government.
While Boko Haram activities and other criminal elements are being clamped down by the armed forces, it is expedient for the government to re-orientate itself and be more responsible and also fashion ways to improve living standard of Nigerians as the only way to restore lasting peace in the country.
Nigeria is the only country we can call our own. Let us give peace a chance.
Okechukwu Ajaegbu
Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and
Advancement
Blog-
www.stateofthenationpolity.blogspot.com
Tweet- @okeyajax
