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The Beginning Of An Unwinnable War

The attack this week on Nigeria Police Headquarters in Abuja is the confirmation that act of terrorism has finally arrived in Nigeria and that all previous bomb incidents have been practice sessions.

The attack this week on Nigeria Police Headquarters in Abuja is the confirmation that act of terrorism has finally arrived in Nigeria and that all previous bomb incidents have been practice sessions.

That the new Al Qaeda leader can even comment on it, shows that a full scale war has been launched on Nigeria. Unfortunately, Nigeria has no capacity either human or financial to fight this war as the target of the attack shows lack of any shred of intelligence and sadly more with heavy casualties will still occur and it will occur with impunity. Sadly in a corrupt system this is now an avenue to spend without end and subject to no oversight and can never be subject to audit as it will be termed security vote. Sad to predict, the bankruptcy of the country is inevitable. Only God knows how much would have been spent since the attack.

The question is why Nigeria? What have we done to warrant or justify terrorism? Could it be political? Could it be religious? Could it be foreign policy? Before going further, genuine answers to these questions must be found. We cannot go down the road like US to start a war which we have no chance in this world to win. These are suicide terrorists and their life means nothing to them as they are prepared to die anytime based on conviction they will be dying as martyrs. That we will kill them wherever they exist is therefore not a threat and therefore not realistic. US has been on full scale war with them for the past ten years and success however is defined is elusive. The financial and human resources committed to this war by US will ruin Nigeria completely as rich and resourceful US is the strain on the economy is being felt. The loss in human resources is another one we cannot afford. Since September 11, 2011, US has lost additional men and women far more than were killed on that day and thousands of wounded soldiers can never recover or be normal again in life.

If it is political, whereby these people do not want a southerner as President, why don’t we begin the process of peaceful break-up. I have never been a supporter or an advocate of disunited Nigeria but if that will bring peace so let it be. The act of brazen corruption and complete neglect in absolute term of the populace cannot be tolerated or continue without reaction. Things are no longer the same in the restive Arab countries and ours is still waiting. The EFCC theatrical fight on corruption is a charade and the high court use of legal technicalities all combined to make fight on corruption a complete joke. It is dangerous for those in authority or power to continue to assume that they can get away with it forever. The high unemployment among the young graduates cannot be sustained forever and it will come to bite these people after all their police security cannot even defend themselves.

It is irony of fate is that the most clueless head of state in Nigeria are the two most educated. The current president is only good for photo ops smiling at camera and local fashion parade. Electricity has become a good source of waste of resources and yet no improvement. I have never heard nor seen any attempt at creating that enabling environment to attract direct foreign investment that will generate that employment opportunities for young ones. All that happen is one step forward and two back. Education is in back burner as it is only in Nigeria a man in charge of education will gladly say only 20% of eligible university candidates can get admission. In developed countries admission is all year round - Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. All of a sudden universities has become a lucrative business and every Dick and Harry can establish one to reap their own fruit of corruption as average Nigerian cannot afford the fees.

I will not like to go to area of infrastructure as that is a forgotten area that has been designated for the cooler. The states themselves under the camouflage of constitutional guise abandon their people as if it is federal citizen that drive on their state road. Security has been recklessly abandoned to ineffective Nigeria Police and allow robbers and miscreants to reign as they wish.

Back to subject matter, if the terrorists are known, negotiate find out what they want. It is no act of cowardice but for sure Nigeria cannot win. Otherwise let somebody out there show me which country in the world has won war on terrorism.

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Johnson Abimbola Atitebi
Loma Linda USA

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