By
Fr. Ali Nnaemeka, OMI -
Nigerian Missionary
Oblate Fr. Nnaemeka reflection on one-year anniversary of abduction of the
schoolgirls in Chibok.
One
year today, 14th April 2014, the whole world was shocked by the news
of the abduction of more than 200 school girls from Chibok, a community in
Borno State of Nigeria. The incident drew attention and led to voices of
concern and condemnations from different areas and works of life, among which the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Pope Francis, Michel Obama, Malala
Yousafzai etc. All those who spoke, including many other important
personalities, were united in insisting that everything be done to save the
girls or that the girls be brought home.
Many Countries offered the Nigerian Government some military aid to rescue the
school girls. However, apart from the few girls that were alleged to have
escaped on their own, no one of the girls was or has been militarily rescued.
Shortly
before the just concluded March 28 Presidential election in Nigeria, the
outgoing president, Goodluck Jonathan, had been convinced on the need to a
rescheduling of the date of election on the conviction that with a six weeks
extension would result in redressing the Security issues caused by Boko Haram
in the Country. After what could be likened to a commando operation at the
famous Sambisa forest where the school girls were allegedly harboured, no
information has been given on the whereabout of the girls. Presently, many
Nigerians are fed up with the kids glove approach to crucial national issues,
like the kidnap of more than 200 schoolgirls. This no doubt contributed to the
failure of the incumbent president in his re-election bid, and that of most of
his serving cabinet.
From
all indications, the incoming government who throughout the time of
electioneering always laid emphases on “Change”: taken as changing the
situation of insecurity and corruption in Nigeria, would be faced with the two
big giants – corruption and insecurity – that have been tying Nigeria down.
Besides the fact that the incoming President has already insisted on fighting
corruption, starting with his would be ministers, his speech on the occasion of
the one year anniversary of the kidnap of the Chibok School Girls is quite
encouraging. The President elect had started his speech by recognizing the
extent to which the issue has affected Nigerians, and the public opinion about
Nigeria. Then, after consoling the families and assuring them that the thought
and prayers of the whole Nigerians are with them, he promised that his
government will, with the collective effort of Nigerians, do everything within
their power to ensure that the issue of Boko Haram is addressed properly.
As a matter of fact, with the coming to
power of new government of Buhari, the Nigerian youths involvement in politics,
and coupled with the expected involvement of the Nigerian Catholics in the
policy making, Nigeria would most likely have a better tomorrow, while it is
hoped that those things we have not yet been told about Boko Haram would soon
be laid bare.
