Insurgency in Nigeria has very deep political foundations, which is making dealing with it rather a complex, intricate and delicate matter. The connections are such that much of these political dimensions form an indirect funding for the Boko Haram insurgency. Those who provide these funds do not necessarily have to know or worry about what ends the insurgents apply them; so far the main intended political goals are accomplished.
Many inaccurately state that northern politicians formed Boko Haram. This claim is far from the truth, for no sane politician would contrive a force as deadly as Boko Haram, which is like ISIS, Al Qaeda or Al shubab, the three other international terrorist organizations that rank close in viciousness, network and interest as Boko Haram. The originators of Boko Haram unsurprisingly courted Politicians for the same political reasons. It is therefore a symbiotic relationship, which needs to be understood in the hope of dealing with it.
As said, the political dimension of Boko Haram provides substantial operational funding running into millions in local currency. Such funds can oil the Sect’s domestic needs such as purchase of foodstuff and sundry items. Like V.I. Lenin said, soldiers march on their stomach!
Boko Haram started out like any other dissident, deviant group. Their members were originally Sunnis, a respectable Islamic sect , which is known for its conventional but strict adherence to Islamic principles and have millions of adherents all over northern Nigeria and outside Nigeria. What led to the departure of some members led by Mohammed Yusuf is not quite clear, neither is it the object of this treatise. Save to state that when it started out as a sect deviating from its parent body the Sunnis, it was an open thing and Mohammed Yusuf also openly preached in Bauchi and Maiduguri, even after when hostilities between the sect and law enforcement had set in.
The final issue which is said drove the sect underground was the death of Yusuf in an extrajudicial circumstance in the hands of Nigeria Police who are yet to account for his death till date. Many have argued that if Mohammed Yusuf did not die in such questionable circumstance and law enforcement not overbearing, the violence being visited by the sect on Nigeria and Nigerians would not have been this severe. It is hard to concur with this proposition, as one cannot state categorically what the sect would have done if it was left to be and pursuing its happiness without hindrance.
Don’t forget, the name of the sect is Boko Haram (“Western education is forbidden”), officially called Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad (People Committed to the Prophet’s Teachings for Propagation and Jihad). It is a militant Islamist movement, though Islamic bodies in Nigeria have disowned it as non-Islamic for its extremism. The group was designated by the United States as a terrorist organization in November 2013, yet curiously, the same US do not want Nigerian Government to combat them with full force, refusing to sell arms to Nigeria and blocking Nigeria from buying arms legitimately from its allies. Nigeria was recently forced to buy arms in the black-market in South Africa, which led to much opprobrium.
From the name, it would be seen that it has always set its sight on Jihad (though many Muslims argue Jihad does not necessarily mean violence) and aims to correct what it considers corruption of life and Islamic religion by western culture. One therefore can fairly hold that there was no way the sect would have remained peaceful, even though this position is now only conjectural and hypothetical.
Truth is; Mohammed Yusuf was already in and out of detention for his implacable relationship with the law, and may have been killed in the said manner to put a stop to his antics since he had godfathers or sympathizers in the Police or in high places that ensured his prompt release as often as he was arrested. It would be recalled that newspaper reports had it that Mohammed Yusuf had boasted that he would be back when he was arrested by the Nigerian military and handed over to the Police that last time. At the risk of sounding like coming to the defence of notorious Nigeria Police Force, such boasting could have angered the Police operatives who killed him but they ought to pay if they are guilty.
Many are aware of the incestuous relationship the former Governor of Borno State, Modu Sherif, shared with the Boko Haram, who appointed a top notch of the Sect as commissioner. The erstwhile Governor fell out with the sect and since then, they have him high in their sight as part of those they are gunning for, though many believe he still maintains a cozy link with them.
Shekau II once said in his YouTube broadcast that killing Mohammed Yusuf was a terrible mistake on the part of the Federal Government, as his exit ensured the rising of a more deadly leader and his own exit would ensure even a deadlier successor. Shekau II’s prediction is generally correct because his own death in combat at Konduga, which gave way to Shekau III as we are told, has only led to deadlier escalation of the conflict. They are now raising many more girls, possibly some of the Chibok Girls, into suicide bombers, as more and more female bombers take the centre stage in the insurgency.
Fact is; when Sherif started out with the sect, there was nothing obviously wrong with them, and it was presumably normal for a politician to maintain links with all political forces that ensure one got to power and more so, staid there. Many may not know or believe, but many northern politicians list Boko Haram as one of the major Muslim groups to be mobilized or used for mobilization in the election. The sect had at some points served as an Islamic Police to some Governments in the north, notably Kano and Bauchi, forming part of agents of the enforcement of the Shariah laws also being implemented in some States in the north. They were therefore at some point on some Governments’ Payrolls.
The sect rapidly grew in ruthlessness; it is either Koran or the sword for whoever does not believe in its ways, Christians and Muslims alike. Politicians became morbidly afraid of the sect and most of them fled the areas and States where the sect has influence. To keep touch with their base, many of the Politicians are said to pay ‘protection money’, so as to keep the sect at bay when they visit home States, a clear political dimension. Many more quietly court the sect; the awe of lion guards the lion and nobody wants to be found in such black book. During Sallah, such politicians are known to send cash Sallah gifts to the sect to purchase rams. Of course the politician would care less if the sect decides to buy guns instead, yet another political dimension to the insurgency.
The sect broke out with some State Governments, which courted it before their love tango went awry and what they deemed betrayal formed part of the forces that forged the sect’s determination to go the whole hog of carving out a part of Nigeria for itself. This political desire has led to it naming areas it conquered as caliphates and appointing their own emirs and so on. Thus Gwoza was renamed Darul Hikma or “House of Wisdom” while Mubi became Nadinatul Islam, which means the City of Islam and peace. Nigeria military have since retaken those areas.
The main political dimension to the insurgency beyond the aforementioned is the fact a good number Muslims who are not necessarily members of Boko Haram are sympathetic to their course and silently want to help them, believing they have good reasons to do so. Because such Muslims are diverse, they could be in Government, Armed Forces and just about anywhere. This is what the President meant when he once alerted the nation that Boko Haram members are everywhere, even in the Government. Evidence of such shocking assistance some people unwittingly extend to the Sect and its collateral damages, can be seen in the scandalous level of sabotage the military operations against the insurgency has witnessed thus far. Some officers have refused to fight, some commanders have deserted, some were even said to have set armored tanks set for operations ablaze while some soldiers fled battlegrounds.
Dealing with such sympathizers will take quite a lot of education. It is not a simple task changing a man who sees fighting terrorists as fighting his own brothers for the simple reason that the sect members claim to be Muslims.
There is yet a bigger political dimension to insurgency in Nigeria. Those in a position to halt the insurgency at its incipient stages had kept quiet, ostensibly allowing the Government to stew in its own making. This was a gross error of judgment on the path of such politicians, as politics is never allowed in national security. In fact there were Governors who took out pages of newspaper to apologize to Boko Haram to remove their names from their black book. Also, other top northern leaders who would want to help were not encouraged by the public, since whoever claimed any knowledge of the sect is branded its member and labeled a pariah. This is another area where public education has failed in the fight and has to be remedied.
Perhaps the most potent is those who thought the insurgency would bring the Jonathan Government to its knees and force him to either resign or abdicate. This assumption has not worked out, as great swats of Nigeria remain governable and within them, a valid Presidential Elections can still hold, since the 1999 Constitution requires election to hold only in 24 States, provided a candidate secures 25% of the votes in all of them and a simple majority.
The way out is a change in paradigm and strategy. Nigerians must show better understanding with the affected politicians, and realize that they too would do the same if in the same position. Northern politicians should also rally round President Jonathan and Nigerian military so that the insurgents can be forced out and afterwards, the nation can declare a marshal plan to rebuild the north east as President Jonathan once promised. It is a fight for all Nigerians, not a fight for President Jonathan, the military or the north alone.
- Law Mefor, Forensic Psychologist and Journalist, is National Coordinator, Transform Nigeria Movement (TNM), Abuja. Email: lawmefor@mail.com; tel.: +234-803-787-2893
