Culture of silence, root cause of Boko Haram, says Sanusi
The Emir of Kano, Mohammed Lamido Sanusi yesterday chided Nigerians for what he described as their culture of silence, which he said was the root cause of the emergence of Boko Haram and the Chibok girls’ tragedy.
Sanusi, who spoke at the Inaugural Annual Chibok Girls Lecture held in Abuja, noted that that culture created the kind of society we now live in and called for an end to forced marriages, maternal and educational challenges, and other vices against the advancement of the girl-child.
The Emir, who was represented by his daughter, Shahida Lamido Sanusi said in three years, since the Chibok girls were abducted, Nigerians have been horrified by the incident and the consequent crimes of forced marriages, forced labour and even sale into slavery.
He said while effort should be concentrated in bringing back the abducted girls, “we ask ourselves where are they being brought back to when they are eventually released? What kind of society? How much better is the normal environment we all take for granted than Boko Haram camps?
“These questions ultimately force us to face the reality that the kind of society we have created is in fact the root cause for the emergence of groups like Boko Haram and occurrences like the Chibok tragedy,” he said.
Explaining the seriousness of the challenge, he said at the Dalori Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp alone, near Maiduguri, there are over 1,500 Boko Haram-abducted girls who are either pregnant or carrying babies, who have been freed by the military while hundreds of orphaned children are being carried away to unknown destinations and they are all gone into oblivion due to society’s neglect.
“We are dealing with an anti-intellectual environment and with people whose failure has bred a sense of insecurity which leads to incomprehensible, almost insane, reactions to simple advice.
“Secondly, that these problems are deep-seated and have been there for a long time so changing mind-sets will be a difficult and painful process. Finally, we must never succumb to the temptation to join our opponents in the gutter,” he added.
He also pointed out that the elite in society were heavily criticized when he said their consensus was about a culture of silence and complicity where everyone remains in his or her comfort zone and where the voiceless majority are allowed to remain where they are.
Citing several statistics and data to buttress his argument of what poverty means for girls and women, he stated that poor education and adolescent marriages have led to serious social and health outcomes.
Giving another example he said the Southwest of Nigeria has less than 20% of its population living in poverty while the Northwest has more that 80% of its population living in poverty.
In the Northeast the figure is 76.8%. Over 90% of the people in Yobe and Zamfara states are living in poverty compared to 8.5% in Lagos and around 11% in Osun and Anambra states.
“Instead of hiding these statistics and being scared of repeating them, what we need to do is bring out even more of these data. These are already published and easily verifiable but not often discussed in the public space,” he added.
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7 Comments
[He said while effort should be concentrated in bringing back the abducted girls, “we ask ourselves where are they being brought back to when they are eventually released? What kind of society? How much better is the normal environment we all take for granted than Boko Haram camps?
“These questions ultimately force us to face the reality that the kind of society we have created is in fact the root cause for the emergence of groups like Boko Haram and occurrences like the Chibok tragedy,” he said.]
I’ll have wished the Emir was more specific and gone straight to the problem and the real cause of it thus it reminds me about my publication where I CITED THE PROBLEMS ABOUT NORTHERN NIGERIA including sadly, the ‘fatwa’ proclamation or application to back or sustain policies across the zone! It is sad/ unfortunate but the issue I said it earlier is: Who do you tell in Nigeria and he/she is willing or ready to do something that early so as to check on these malpractices? As you can see I have been crying out or posting all year long what I have done for Nigeria of which you’re by now are off, yet nobody in the seat of government has shown or demonstrated that concern or willingness to ascertain whether Vincent is telling the truth or falsely claiming all that he said he did for Nigeria, even from the Presidency! Yes, he has said but how many in the North will be ready for the desired change in their culture – recall that I cited India, Iran and Egypt in my last comment? So here we are a Big problem indeed, folks!
Please post my comment after all I did not say what you featured I am only stating my own observation, which you’ll agree is correct so, post my comment to stay on the basis of that FoI and expression Bill please!
Those making noise call anti-graft are naive and ignorant. What is
corrupt is the system not the people. The people are victim of the
corrupt system of National Cake, system in which only north have
Democratic Capacity, by so doing influence only policies for so-called
northern interest, system one state get allocation that is bigger than
allocation of eleven states that generates the money to fund the budget
etc. The noise makers should fight the corrupt system if they want to
fight corruption. Igbos of Republic Of Biafra are the one fighting
corruption by fighting the corrupt system in which Igbos now have
Republic Of Biafra and system they have Democratic Capacity to influence
policies Igbos and any who want to be part of Biafra need to exist-
social, economic, political etc. And will defend Republic Of Biafra with
Diplomacy or War. If the coastal states was worse off under eastern
region government, then they will be worse off under Biafra. Despite the
fact that eastern region government of the time did not have complete
control- still had limitations as a result of northern governments
nickname FG, how much more under Republic Of Biafra that have complete
control, resource control policy, best economic policies etc. Majority
Igbos who are not fools, not ignorant and naive, have decided for
Republic Of Biafra and will defend it with Diplomacy or War. It is up to
people of the coastal states to decide on May 30. 2017 by stay-at-home
to indicate for Biafra or not. May 30. 2017 is Biafran Day- the day to
Celebrate Biafran Victory. God Is With Us!!!
Haha Ezekiel did you just say igbos are the only ones fighting corruption?
Yes, only Igbos are fighting actual corruption- which is Republic Of Biafra since 1967 to this victory. Who else?
This
man call Yakassai must be insane, an illiterate of history etc. who
thinks he is talking to fellow poor illiterate north. Igbos are
intellectuals, Biafra issue is an intellectual issue of scientific
knowledge of social science etc. Not issue persons like him can say a
word about, it is not issue to broadcast in BBC Hausa to Almajiris of
north etc. He Yakassai should best keep his mouth shut about Biafra to
save him such a disgracing interview etc., listen to Sanusi or live with
his poor north.
[He said while effort should be concentrated in bringing back the abducted girls, “we ask ourselves where are they being brought back to when they are eventually released? What kind of society? How much better is the normal environment we all take for granted than Boko Haram camps?
“These questions ultimately force us to face the reality that the kind of society we have created is in fact the root cause for the emergence of groups like Boko Haram and occurrences like the Chibok tragedy,” he said.]
I’ll have wished the Emir was more specific and gone straight to the problem and the real cause of it thus it reminds me about my publication where I CITED THE PROBLEMS ABOUT NORTHERN NIGERIA including sadly, the ‘fatwa’ proclamation or application to back or sustain policies across the zone! It is sad/ unfortunate but the issue I said it earlier is: Who do you tell in Nigeria and he/she is willing or ready to do something that early so as to check on these malpractices? As you can see I have been crying out or posting all year long what I have done for Nigeria of which you’re by now are off, yet nobody in the seat of government has shown or demonstrated that concern or willingness to ascertain whether Vincent is telling the truth or falsely claiming all that he said he did for Nigeria, even from the Presidency! Yes, he has said but how many in the North will be ready for the desired change in their culture – recall that I cited India, Iran and Egypt in my last comment? So here we are a Big problem indeed, folks!
We will review and take appropriate action.