Our appeal to the peace-loving people of the world

President Buhari made the struggle against Boko Haram in particular and terrorism in general a few focus of his address to the closing Executive Session of the 2015 Commonwealth Summit in Malta on Sunday. He said, ‘We are witnesses to the growing phenomenon of terrorism that is affecting us all, whether big or small. The reign of terror will only succeed if peace-loving people choose to remain idle. But I am confident that through our collective efforts, we will defeat this scourge and restore peace’.

 

We are glad to see the issue raised at such a high-profile international event. And we echo the president’s call for peace-loving people to act now. We would only add that this message applies on two levels. First, as we have long argued, ordinary Nigerians must be vigilant. We must look after each other by looking out for suspicious activity and reporting it to the authorities. But we must also remember that it is national unity that will finally defeat terrorism, so we must avoid division at all costs, and always remember to put Nigeria first.

The second level on which President Buhari’s message applies is on the international stage. The world must not remain idle in the face of the terrorist threat. And nor must it restrict its response to rhetoric and tokenism. Air strikes on Islamic State in Syria in response to the killings in Paris are all very well. But are they part of a joined up strategy both to defeat Islamic State and to stamp out its affiliates worldwide, not least Boko Haram?

We now know that Boko Haram killed more people in 2014 than the group towards which it has pledged allegiance, Islamic State. Any global counter-terrorism strategy that does not include taking on Boko Haram cannot be taken seriously as a strategy, and must be suspected of putting the appearance of action ahead of any meaningful attempt to act effectively.

NajatRochdi, the UN’s Resident Coordinator in Cameroon has warned that we only have limited time to act decisively against Boko Haram. And she made the very important point that it is in the interests not just of West Africans, but the whole world to do so, not least European nations, whose current refugee crisis is a direct result of Islamist terror in the Middle East and Africa.Rochdi said, ‘Investing in today and reversing the trend is investing in a better security and stability of Europe tomorrow. And tomorrow is really tomorrow, not 2030. It’s doable. But it’s really a very small window of opportunity. If you ask me the same question next year, the answer will be no.’

In raising the issue of investment, Rochdi reminds us of the broader context behind the terrorist menace. It will not enough to defeat Boko Haram militarily unless we also do something about the socio-economic conditions in which they have been able to recruit.

Again, this is well known. At the 25th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Johannesburg in June, President Buharispoke of, ‘The destructive effects of the inhuman and criminal campaigns of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria and neighbouring countries; the Al-Shabab attacks in East Africa, and the activities of the Al-Qaida in the Maghreb’. But he also added, ‘some of the greater challenges to our peoples within this Union still lie in the political, economic, as well as peace and security spheres. Our continent is currently bedevilled by the twin evils of terrorism and insecurity; poverty, youth unemployment, and underdevelopment.’

So let the peace-loving people of the world take heed. Defeating terrorism must mean taking on Boko Haram as well as Islamic State. And Boko Haram will only be defeated if Nigeria and our neighbours can be put back on the path to peaceful development, so that we can finally meet the potential of our great nation. Please lend a hand as we take up this great challenge, and #StandUpForNigeria!

#StandUpForNigeria is a non-partisan initiative with a single goal: to unite Nigerians of all ages, ethnicities, languages, religions and political affiliations in a patriotic front to overcome the challenges facing our country. Join us on facebook: www.facebook.com/standupfornigeria1