Religious dominance has not been objectively ascertained in Nigeria notwithstanding the uneven spread of adherents of Christianity and Islam in specific geographical zones in the country. Analysts indicate that the two main religions could claim parity in terms of population strength of followers.
Often, reference would be made about predominant Muslim population in the North or preponderant Christians in the South. These ascriptions may not be dependable since the structure of population based on religion could be fluid.
Equally, secularism would not be acceptable as definition of the religious environment in Nigeria in view of the preference for the term ‘’multi-religious’’ utilized in states governed by the Sharia statute. Indeed sectarian violence intensified initially in some states in Nigeria where Sharia law has been enacted and enforced.
The origin of sectarianism in Nigeria could be traced to the obligation to enforce the basic principles of Sharia law and the sentiment of fundamentalist adherents that noncompliance would debase morality and decency in the society. At the early stage of the passage of the Sharia law, sectarian violence was experienced in Bauchi, Kaduna and Kano States. The riots in Jos, though unconnected to Sharia, acquired religious connotation in view of politico-religious rivalry in Plateau State. Though the first Boko Haram members were reprimanded in Bauchi, the activities of sect members shifted to Maiduguri in 2009 and further spread to Potiskum and Damaturu.
The initial activities of Boko Haram were linked to politics in Borno State but since the extra judicial murder of the leader Muhammed Yusuf, the group focused its activities on Islam, Sharia and the fervent desire to Islamize the entire country, Nigeria. The justification for the position hinged on the group’s interpretation of the Quaran. Boko Haram perpetrated attacks on Institutions of government, Agencies, the United Nations office in Abuja, Media Houses including mindless fatal onslaught on numerous churches, some mosques with deadly assaults of key Traditional Rulers. In some States in North East Zone, sect members of the group hoisted flags with the objective of replacing legitimate government with Boko Haram version of authority. In order to mitigate further erosion of legitimacy of government, President Goodluck Jonathan overhauled the Office of the National Security Adviser, declared State of Emergency in three North East States of Bornu, Yobe and Adamawa. Subsequently the President appointed the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North with mandate to engage Boko Haram sect members for purpose of conciliation and early return of peace to States affected by Emergency operations.
Understanding Jihad
In his exegesis, an eminent scholar, commentator of the Quaran and journalist, Maulana Abdul Majid Daryabadi succinctly clarified the concepts of emigration and ‘’jihad.’’ While the former word could translate into ‘’hijra,’’ the latter signifies ‘’strive.’’ It became inevitable for the Holy Prophet Muhammed (PBUH), his Companions and Muslim faithful to undertake the ‘’hijra’’ from Mecca to Medina. The Quaran enjoined the search for a place of refuge whenever contention with disapprobation became overbearing in the city of abode. ‘’Hijra’’ connotes relocation that must be based on religious motive but the term must not be strictly translated into ‘’emigration or fight.’’ However ‘’hijra’’ requires the ’’jihad’’ which represents an endeavor or strive for God’s cause by process of subordination of personal interest to Islam. The Muslim faithful would utilize his efforts and wealth to search for God with sincerity, fighting hard with words and arguments supplied by the Quaran. Indeed persuasion would be preferred instrument for preaching the truth contained in the holy book. Further explication affirmed that greater ‘’jihad’’ deals with personal and spiritual struggle while the lesser ‘’jihad’’ may encounter warfare in terms of defending the faith against attack by infidels defined mainly as polytheists. The Quaran enjoins that in ‘’jihad,’’ where the attacker is ‘’inclined to peace, make peace with them.’’
Terrorism
In many countries where population of Muslims predominates, insurgency sprouted from reaction to social inequality, unemployment, poverty, oppression and dictatorial government. Islamic fundamentalism was adopted by militant groups for purpose of reform and renewal of the religion, tenets of which are based on justice specifically enunciated in Sharia law. Early extremism evolved as revivalist organizations aimed at pressurizing government to implement reform measures from the perspective of refined moral and social standards. Secularism was equated to ‘’jabilliyah,’’ a term that connotes corruption and decadence. John L. Esposito (2010), in his book, Unholy War, Terror in the Name of Islam, indicated that Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jamaat-il-Islam in Pakistan and Osama bin Laden opposition to Saudi Arabia monarchy developed from the reformist tendencies but metamorphosed into public jihad and internationalized. It was further clarified that Hizbollah emerged following Israeli invasion of Lebanon; Hamas reacted to the occupation of Palestine, Chechen separatist movement required freedom from Russian rule while the Taliban struggled for independence of Afghanistan, also from communist Russia. All extremist groups adopted defensive jihad to fight causes, the long term result had been the export of militancy, extremism and fundamentalism.
Assuaging global terrorism
Localized Islamic radicalism was also influenced by the foreign policy emanating from advanced Western democracy. It was conceived that leadership in Western societies and the elite developed minimum understanding for Islam thereby compounding existing alienation of practitioners of the religion. In fact the genesis of hatred, radicalism, insurgency and terrorism was traced to multiple misinterpretations of the tenets of Islam.
J L Esposito (ibid) posited that Muhammed Khatami, Abdurrahaman Wahid and Anwar Ibrahim of Iran, Indonesia and Malaysia respectively have realized the significance of dialogue in multi religious societies. The awareness that pluralism and globalization compel dynamic interaction between civilizations makes it imperative to sustain inter cultural understanding. It was emphasized that the expectations of the leaders revolved on the increasing global perception of cosmopolitan Islam.
Significance of peace process in the context of Boko Haram
Hammid Taju, a former Executive Director in Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc, also served as Executive Director, Union Bank Plc.
Historical versions disclosed that on 28th June 1914, in Sajevo, Serb city, Bosnia, some teenage suicide bombers were lured into murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria and his beautiful wife, Sophie.
In spite of initial failed attempt by the bombers resulting from nervous calculation, the detour of the royal convoy from secured alternative route facilitated two shots from an automatic pistol fired at short range by one of the teenagers thereby causing the immediate death of Sophie followed within minutes by the demise of her husband, Franz Ferdinand
The assassination caused the First World War. Following the declaration of war on Serbia by Austria, alliances emerged. Germany supported Austria by mobilizing troops toward France and Belgium in preparation for the invasion of Serbia. Russia prepared to defend Serbia while Britain strategized to protect France and Belgium against German invasion. The First World War claimed millions of casualties. The Allied Powers consisting of Britain, France and United States of America won the war. It is significant to recognize that at the end of the atrocities, the Peace Conference was organized with the ultimate aim of institutionalizing accord amongst nations. The formation of the League of Nations was aimed as instrument for sustaining peace amongst nations.
By the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was compelled to accept the guilt of causing the war thereby suffering substantial losses including payment of reparations, ceding of territories and colonies. Population reduction and loss of natural resources were some of the damages suffered by Germany.
The terms of the Treaty of Versailles and the repercussions on Germany infuriated Adolf Hitler, the Führer who was determined to repossess the pre-World War 1 territories in Europe as well as rebuilding the German army.
Under the influence of the Führer, Austria by plebiscite united with Germany in 1938. Germany annexed Czechoslovakia and invaded Poland in 1939. Hitler’s ambition resulted in the invasion of France, Netherlands and Belgium in 1940 with incursion into Russia in 1941. In the same year Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Full-fledged World War II had commenced and by 1941 the Allies had consisted of Britain with its Empires, the United States of America, France and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The use of atomic bomb as weapon of war on Hiroshima and Nagasaki resulted in massive casualties and catastrophic destruction thereby precipitating the immediate surrender of Japan.
The Second World War was estimated to have caused the death of over 80 million people. By May 1945, the German Army had surrendered and by June 5, a declaration on the defeat of Germany was signed by the Allies. The Postdam Agreement planned a new mandate and obligations for post war German government. Peace treaties were signed in February 1947.
Peace treaties and conciliation followed destruction in major wars. The Nigerian psyche also embraces conciliation for conflict resolution rather than venting anger with unrestrained violence, mass murder and social dislocation.
Crisis management
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant OA Ihejirika affirmed (Daily Trust, November 26, 2013) that the Nigerian Army had taken delivery of new equipment aimed at improved realization of current security challenges in the country. He indicated that additional procurement of high quality armaments was anticipated with a view to strengthen the Army and meet the expectations of the citizenry
It must be emphasized that greater synergy has been established between Security Agencies in the country in view of the requirement to consolidate peace and stability in the States under Emergency operations.
Eruption of intermittent violence in the country
Since independence, all geo-political zones, derived from defunct regions, at different times, contributed to relative instability in the country. Astute combination of human capacity and resource capability has been repeatedly deployed to resolve myriad incidents of violence, militancy and insurgency in the country. The prediction of an American theorist and scholar preceding unanticipated virulent sectarianism in a section of the country would not create justification for the de-amalgamation of Nigeria. Indeed South North political symbiosis has been sustained in the country since democratic inception, in spite of prolonged military interregnum thereby aligning ideologies and enhancing equitable governance.
From historical perspective, exploration and emigration caused new nations to emerge through voluntary amalgamation of multi ethnic and cultural entities; divergent religious doctrines as well as discernible pluralistic societies, growing strong and powerful with the diversity. Dauntless concerted resolve to advance economic progress, strengthen individual rights, institute social justice and enhance state security justified consolidation into strong nations.
Social environment
Routine wellbeing has normalized in Maiduguri as well as in major cities and rural areas in States under emergency operations. Dignitaries, distinguished citizens and foreign residents have undertaken social and business visits to the areas. High society weddings and other social functions occurring in the States have been reported in the media. It was exciting that the current year Amirul Haj- Shehu of Bornu, His Royal Highness Muhammed al-Amin al-Kanemi was received on his arrival from the Holy Pilgrimage and Saudi Arabia by tumultuous crowd of citizens along with most colourful durbar- the horse parade. The excitement was heightened by successful organization of the North East Economic Summit in Gombe State, an integral component of the zone. It is significant to recognize that the success of the Economic Summit implies that the North East Zone possesses enormous unexplored economic wealth with capacity to raise the per capita income of the citizens of the states and Nigeria as a whole thereby exposing the inutility of insurgency and sectarian violence.
Notwithstanding the sporadic attack on public installations in Maiduguri and earlier mindless fatal assault on young people in learning environment, the insurgency has been substantially contained thereby justifying the criminalization of further insidious activities of renegades in the Boko Haram sect.
The Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North submitted its report to President Goodluck Jonathan. It was affirmed that the dialogue produced attitudinal change in numerous Boko Haram sect members encountered by the Committee. In fact members of the Committee who were Islamic intellectuals otherwise recognized as people grounded in relevant knowledge engaged the sect members with a view to clarify salient facts in the Islamic books that were available to the parties. The dialogue was confirmed to have yielded positive reaction from numerous sect members whose remorse induced them to renounce the Boko Haram doctrine. It is anticipated as recommended by the Committee that the dialogue be sustained by government in order to enable sect members to collaborate and integrate into mainstream society.
Entrepreneurship and sustainable peace
Remote causes of sectarianism, militancy and violence in various parts of Nigeria have been associated to social inequality, poverty, unemployment and elite corruption. Inequality has been interpreted as social exclusion and poverty arising from low pay, underemployment, acute basic deprivation as well as incapacity of disadvantaged states to access reasonable level of derivation from natural resources.
States under Emergency operations, Bornu, Yobe and Adamawa have lost substantial sources of revenue from collapsed infrastructure including rail transport and Lake Chad desertification. The effect of environmental disaster in Lake Chad region manifests as water insecurity and massive population depletion.
The peace process in States under Emergency operations would require scheme integration that engages households in cottage industries. Locally produced materials that are readily convertible by hand into commodities will enable people living below poverty line to secure economic activities that deliver enhanced earning level. Textiles for fabrics, leather products, and jewelry from precious metals, baked goods derived from edible items, cottage flour milling and conversion of natural fiber require institutional support including participation of Non-Governmental Organizations as dynamic poverty reduction agenda.
Conclusion
Stemming radicalization, insurgency and sectarianism must be approached from the perspective of social inclusion. Sustainable employability promotes social inclusion, reduces poverty and facilitates community cohesion. The government at all levels, Security Agencies, Non-governmental Organizations and the Interfaith Agency would collaborate to rejuvenate the communities. Furthermore it must be recognized that accelerating economic growth resulting in high employment rate would specifically create the atmosphere for sustenance of dialogue and peace.