Debate: This house believes that Boko Haram terrorism insurgency and other crimes or/and violence related issues in Nigeria are Politically Motivated

REPRESENTING THE SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT

Defending the Motion: Adeniyi  I. Rufai

In my own candid opinion, I strongly believe that Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria is politically motivated. This is because Boko Haram was funded by the then Governor of Borno State to witch-hunt his political enemies. In an attempt to exert his authority and control over the state, as well as preventing the ruling party (PDP) from wrestling away his power of authority of the state from him, he recruited the services of Boko Haram. Sometime around 2001 or 2002 if I might be correct, Alhaji Yusuf Muhammed founded Boko Haram somewhere in Borno State of Nigeria. Yusuf’s leadership was said to have opened the group to political influence and popularity.

In 2009, when Yusuf Muhammed alongside  his father-in-law Baba Fugu, together with some other members of the group were arrested by the Nigerian Army, headed by Col. Ben Ahanoto, the Nigeria Army Commander of Operation, who claimed he handed them over personally to the Commissioner of Police in Maiduguri. However, the event that preceded the arrest and handing-over of Yusuf to the police was controversial and inhuman.

The question is this, why were these people brutally murdered by the Nigerian policemen? If not for political reasons, what other reasons could have contributed to unlawful killing of the sect leader, his father-in-law and other members that were arrested alongside him, without charging them to court? Why the police extra-judicially and illegally killed this people if there was no political reason(s) behind it? All these are questions that Nigerians are demanding to find answers to. In my own opinion, these killings were done to conceal some truth from the society. Some Political bigwigs were of the opinion that if Yusuf were to spill out there secrets, it was going to be catastrophe to them, considering his political influence, sincerity and popularity amongst his followers.

Furthermore, how would you describe the payment of about N100M paid to the family of Boko Haram leader’s In-Law (Baba Fugu) by the Borno State Government. The implication of this is that the state government itself is indirectly funding terrorism in the country. Do you know how this sect could equip themselves on ammunition with this amount of money? Although, some people will argue that it was the court that ordered this payment as compensation to the said family. The question here is why did the state government not appeal the ruling, irrespective of the presence of both the court of appeal and the supreme court of justice in Nigeria?

 It is worthy to note that Boko Haram which is notorious and dangerous today was not a major threat to the stability of the country during the Obasanjo and the late Yar’Adua regime. The affairs and operations of the organization at this time were regional. However, the regime of President Goodluck Jonathan has been marred by the nefarious and notorious activities of the sect. The question that arises here is why did the notorious activity of the regime increase during the regime of Goodluck Jonathan? The answer is simple. Some elements in the northern region of the country who are unhappy with the regime of GEJ are the sponsors of this group. How would you explain the case of a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sen. Ndume) who has been exchanging messages with the sect members? How would you describe the report credited to the former NSA to the president Patrick Azazi, who claimed that Boko Haram was PDP? How would you describe the report credited to the president who claimed the security system of the country, the judiciary, the legislative and his own cabinet had been infiltrated by the sect? The implication of this is that some cabals within the government of Jonathan are behind the funding and operation of the sect.

How would you describe the violence that erupted after the 2011 general election, after President G. E. Jonathan was declared president of Nigeria?  It is evident that the president is unpopular in the northern region of the country, and some elements within the political axis in the north are hell bent on heating up the polity in the state. Another important factor to be considered is the forthcoming 2015 general election. Some politicians in the north who are hell bent on installing their stooge in power in 2015 are out to undermine the government of GEJ. They want him to be unpopular among electorate so that his candidacy would be a hard sell to the electorate. With incessant cases of bombings and insecurity in the northern part of the state, it would be hard for the president to gain the trust of the people, thereby leading to a total rejection of his candidacy in 2015.

At this juncture, it is imperative for the government of Dr. G. E Jonathan to embark on a total cleansing of the Judiciary, Legislative and Executive arms of government, with a view to purge out the moles in the system.  This is not an easy task, but it is achievable. Another way to get to the root of the menace of Boko Haram is for the government to compromise their operation by sending in espionage to infiltrate the organizations structure.  Also the nation’s security needs to be equipped with sophisticated and advanced intelligence gadgets. Also more well trained and equipped undercover security agents should be dispatched to the affected areas with a view to gather useful information about the sect and their structure. 

Against the Motion: Adebayo B. Alabi

The issue of Boko Haram insurgency and other related crimes in Nigeria, in my opinion is not politically related or motivated. Why? An historical overview of the emergence of Boko Haram as well as its nefarious activities in Nigeria would be best to support my argument.

The Jama’atu Al- Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad movement otherwise known as the Boko Haram was founded sometimes around 2002 by Mallam Mohammed Yusuf. From its emergence in 2002 to 2009, there was no reported activity of violence perpetrated by the sect. However, following the controversial death of its founder (Mallam Yusuf) in the hands of the Nigerian Police Force, the sect under the guidance of Imam Abubakar Shekau became notorious and nefarious.

Imam Shekau under the pretence of religion and retaliation brought terror to the country. He expanded the structure of the Boko Haram movement and linked up with other notorious terrorist group around the continent and the globe. He strengthened the organizations relationship with the North Africa’s Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which has its base in Algeria.

AQIM which officially merged with core Al-Qaeda in 2006 is energetically Africanizing. What does this mean?  The implication of this is that AQIM has been making frantic efforts to infiltrate African nations. According to the European Union’s counter-terrorism coordinator Gilles de Kerchove, AQIM has moved from its original patch in Algeria to Mali, Mauritania and Niger. It has been making frantic effort to get into Post Ghadafi Libya and is already strengthening its relationship with Boko Haram in Nigeria.

Kerchove claimed that AQIM tried to infiltrate the sect while Yusuf was alive, but was unsuccessful. However, following the death of Mallam Yusuf, AQIM re-ignited its quest to infiltrate the sect. The groups increasingly violent attacks and use of suicide bombings, suggest it has technical and material help from AQIM. This has been very terrible and calamitous for the Nigerian Government to deal with.

The government in its effort to bring an end to the nefarious activities of the sect instituted a peace parley spearheaded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and a member of the Fugu family (Babakura Fugu), who happens to be a brother-in-law to the late Mallam Yusuf. However, few hours after the departure of President Olusegun Obasanjo from the peace parley, Mallam Fugu was murdered by some unknown gunmen.

Boko Haram would later claim responsibility for his assassination. The sect labeled him a traitor for accepting to hold a dialogue with the government. The Government has made frantic efforts to rid the country of the ungodly act of Boko Haram. Several key members of the sect have been arrested, while some other members were killed during gun duel with security operatives. Most recently in an effort to sanitize the security system of the country, the President of the Federal Government of Nigeria sacked the National Security Adviser to the president and the Minister for Defense, as a result of their lackluster attitude towards the Boko Haram menace.

 A new defense minister in the person of Col. Dasuki (rtd) was appointed. The minister has opened up room for dialogue, with a view to reach a compromise with the leaders of the sect. Furthermore, with the suppression of the operation of the Al-Qaeda terrorist group by the Obama Administration, the onus is on African leaders to come together and unite to fight for a common course against the affiliates of Al-Qaeda in the continent. The structure and operations of AQIM (an Al-Qaeda affiliate in the continent) should be infiltrated and compromised.  This I believe would bring a lasting solution to the problem of Boko Haram in the country.