Publications
Partners
It is difficult to again comprehend reports of another senseless slaughter of more than 50 children allegedly at the hands of Boko Haram suicide bomber. It seems Religion is a weapon of choice of many villains to effect mass destruction and illusion.
To qualify for the villain status, one does not need to steal a nuclear device and threaten the existence of mankind. The two Religious sects which had become a weapon of choice for most villains are Christianity and Islam.
During the Cold War, the West produced movies portraying most villains as shadowy characters from the East obsessed with sending humankind back to Stone Age. The climax in the movie would portray a West “civilized” Agent and the Special Forces “kicking ass” to save mankind from extinction.
Today’s villain only needs some ridiculous and radical interpretation of the Bible, Koran and Torah to unleash the most barbaric violence mankind had ever witnessed.
CHRISTIANITY
Take Joseph Kony of the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda. That was the man who led an army of renegades which wiped out whole villages and survivors either became child soldiers or child wives of the men in the “army of god”. Child soldiers were also commanded to go back and attack, kill, rape and plunder in their own communities where mostly their own families had survived previous attacks.
Joseph Kony a Christian, also proclaimed have had a direct audience with God. The LRA tentacles reached far and wide from Uganda, to DRC, South Sudan, Central African Republic and Chad with dire consequences.
Today Joseph Kony is another most wanted man by the American Special Forces and is rumoured to be hiding in thick forests of North or South Sudan, Central African Republic and DRC.
Religion is also the weapon of choice in the Sectarian war sweeping Central African Republic (CAR) and which had led to alleged genocide.
The institutionalized hate crimes now being committed against Gays mostly in Uganda was as a result Religion. The now fashionable evangelical missionaries coming from mostly the United States, with their “hate preaching” had instigated “hate crimes” against Gays in Uganda.
The “US made” missionaries vile tentacles had reached most African countries thus the proliferation of so-called “Ministries” in most villages and townships. Their Religion had become a weapon of mass illusion for most communities in Africa.
The Evangelical Ministries in most African countries had become institutionalized with dire consequences in countries like Uganda and Nigeria.
ISLAM
To my knowledge Muslims would never mention the name of any religious figure or prophet, without preceding with the words: “Peace be upon His or Her name”.
During my adult life, I had come to the conclusion - Islam is way of life and as a symbol of Peace. And majority of Muslims to date do not denigrate but still recognize and respect the religious figures of others.
In fact Christians, Jews and Muslims must celebrate their “Unity in Diversity” because they mostly share the same religious figures.
But then we also have rogue individuals and groups within the Muslim community. A case in point is Boko Haram in Nigeria which had also re-written the meaning of Hell contrary to the explanation in the Religious books.
Boko Haram bandits had reinvented hell on earth after failing to instigate a Sectarian war in Nigeria. After their vile overtures were rebuffed by majority Nigerians, the bandits then unleashed their wrath mostly on Muslims residing in the North of Nigeria. Their victims had been mostly defenseless Muslim, women, children, disabled, the aged women and men.
The indiscriminate slaughter of Nigerians proves time and again - It is a fallacy that Boko Haram banditry in the name of Islam, is fighting against Western influenced education. Majority of their victims is Muslims at their homes, Mosques and the Market places.
The kidnap of 200 school going girl children more than 6 months ago, their subsequent subjugation and enslavement as sex slaves, that vile cannot be in the name Allah or Prophet Mohamed: “Peace be upon their name”.
Also the recent senseless slaughter of more than 50 learners at a school allegedly by a Boko Haram suicide bomber cannot be in the name of the most Merciful and Peaceful Allah.
Also the vile tentacles of Boko Haram had now reached other countries namely Cameroon and Central African Republic with dire consequences. The Nigeria bandits also had alliances with other Islamic fundamentalists operating in North Africa.
CONCLUSION
The Nigerian government had on numerous occasions attempted to reach a political settlement with Boko Haram but to no avail. So only a military solution is now left for the government.
Allegedly the Nigerian government had rebuffed military hardware and military personnel in form of advisors from the US, France and Britain. Those countries had gained experience in their so-called “war on terror” and only an ill in-formed government will rebuff the military support of the US, France and Britain.
And why the double standards when already most African countries are dependent on the West for financially, Nigeria included. I do not understand, why the Western phobia when it comes to military assistance and the possible defeat of Boko Haram and other radical groupings prolifering in the East, West and North Africa.
Any solution shall never lead to lasting “Peace” as long as the underlying issues namely socio-economic-political imbalances prevail in countries like Nigeria.
Institutionalized corruption had robbed Nigerians socio-economic-political liberation after the country got independence from its colonizer more than 50 years ago. Only a few corrupt ruling elite class benefit directly froth the riches mother earth had bequeathed unto Nigeria.
Africa needs pro-active civil society, intellectuals, leaders, revolutionaries, industrialists and visionaries who would help the continent discard the tyranny of institutionalized corruption and its beneficiaries. And help its People realize their full potential.
The tyranny of institutionalized corruption and the prevalence of post-Cold War dictators had helped the likes of Boko Haram flourish in marginalized communities.
The popular revolt in Burkina Faso must proceed in other African countries where some political leaders had also overstayed their visit. Nothing wrong when civil society deposes a dictator.
No need for the African Youth to lose their lives and limp on the high seas of the Mediterranean when Africa had been bequeathed with so many riches.
Africa needs socio-economic-political liberation post colonialism. And Peace would come the day true Democracy, brings socio-economic-political Justice and Equality to all countries of Africa.
