Our usual narrative of Boko Harams origin is that it arose in about 2002 and went violent in 2009. Basically that is true, but it is only a part of the truth. Boko Harams roots and antecedents go much deeper in Nigerias affairs. From some of the men who served in the Nigerian public and foreign services, we now know that, even from before independence, secret relations were already FORGED with the Islamic bosses of countries like Sudan and Libya, for the purpose of using state power to transform Nigeria into a radical Islamic state. The agenda matured rapidly in the decades that folliwed independence. As early as the time of Murtala Mohammed (1975-77), plans to use the authority of the Federal Government to make Nigeria officially a Muslim country in spite of its religious plurality, and to enroll Nigeria in Arab-dominated Organization of Islamic Conference without any consultation with the citizens of Nigeria, were already being pushed. By the 1980s, the very men who ruled Nigeria were encouraging radical Islamic gangs against Christians and other non-Muslims in the North, and even providing help for some youths to go abroad to train in terror tactics. In November 1989, a meeting of Islam in Africa Conference which was hosted on Abuja issued the communique that its objective was, TO ERADICATE IN ALL ITS FORMS AND RAMIFICATIONS ALL NON-MUSLIM RRLIGIONS IN MEMBER-NATIONS (SUCH RELIGION SHALL INCLUDE CHRISTIANITY, AHMADIYYA AND OTHER TRIBAL MODES OF WORSHIP UNACCEPTABLE TO MUSLIMS). The said meeting also resolved that the permanent headquarters of the Islam in Africa Organization would be in Abuja. Boko Haram is no more than the ultimate fruition of these steps. Though some of the men who planted Boko Harams seeds may now renounce it, Boko Haram flourishes in, at least, the confident knowledge that its real founding fathers control enormous influence over the affairs of Nigeria. No matter who the president of Nigeria may be, and no matter how capable the Nigerian military may be, as long as the making if Nigeria remains as it is, Nigeria will never be able to wage the kind of war that can elimibate Boko Haram. When President Jonathan said some years ago that Boko Haram and its supporters were entrenched in all areas of the Nigerian Federal Government, most of us could not understand. What I have tried to explain here is what he meant. Essentially, then, how far Boko Haram will go in pulverizing Nigeria depends on Boko Haram. We are seeing its full impact now in the North-East. Ee are also seeing its hands stretching at will into the Middle Belt as well as the North-West. Signs are growing that it is building capacity for action in the South, and Lagos has seen an opening salvo. A friend with considerable specialisation in the study of Islamic fundamentalist terrorism said to me recently, For you Nigerians, your travail under Boko Haram has only just started. You havent seen anything yet. As the Bible says, Let those who have wars hear. Written by Diran Apata. The above excerpts are ftpm the write-up with the same title from the Sunday Tribune of August 24, 2014. Pp.64
Posted on: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 22:24:37 +0000
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