Still on Boko Haram | President Bush’s Address to Congress and the American People: A Lesson for My Country.

Lately, I have had to rethink my position on the Boko Haram menace i.e. cause(s), effect(s), and government’s response/course of action. On many of those occasions I got confused on what conclusion to draw. I have heard speeches from the David Marks and Goodluck Jonathans of this world; messages like the bikinis of this world which promises much, but reveals little. We have had three years of unbroken stretch of attacks from the deadly group and we still seem to be lost on the way forward. Though I do not want to be given to the buck passing business, I however grow sad every passing with the sheer irresponsibility on display by all stakeholders in the matter. Recently I was refreshing my world affairs knowledge when I stumbled on the excerpt below:

On September 20, President George W. Bush addressed a joint session of Congress to discuss the 9//11 tragedy and the U.S. response to it. He spoke of the country coming

George W. Bush: "Freedom Is Under Attack"

On September 11, 2001, the United States suffered the most devastating terrorist attack in its history. Hijackers seized four commercial jets and crashed two of them into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing the collapse and destruction of both towers. A third jet crashed into a section of the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., and the final jet crashed into a field southeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. More than 3,000 people were reported dead or missing. On September 20, President George W. Bush addressed a joint session of Congress to discuss the tragedy and the U.S. response to it. He spoke of the country coming together and the need for patience in the face of a long battle against terrorism.

President Bush’s Address to Congress and the American People

Mr. Speaker, Mr. President Pro Tempore, members of Congress, and fellow Americans:

In the normal course of events, Presidents come to this chamber to report on the state of the Union. Tonight, no such report is needed. It has already been delivered by the American people.

We have seen it in the courage of passengers, who rushed terrorists to save others on the ground—passengers like an exceptional man named Todd Beamer. And would you please help me to welcome his wife, Lisa Beamer, here tonight.

We have seen the state of our Union in the endurance of rescuers, working past exhaustion. We have seen the unfurling of flags, the lighting of candles, and the giving of blood, the saying of prayers — in English, Hebrew, and Arabic. We have seen the decency of a loving and giving people who have made the grief of strangers their own.

My fellow citizens, for the last nine days, the entire world has seen for itself the state of our Union—and it is strong. Tonight we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Our grief has turned to anger, and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done.

Of The Wanton Killing and Boko Haram: A False Flag Operation or A Genuine National Migraine?

Save my article ‘Nigeria at 51: My Reflections on security’, in which I dedicated a few lines to the Boko Haram menace, I have maintained a disturbing silence on the issue since the first suicide bombing incident took place in the country. I mean whoever will jump into analysis in a country once regarded as the happiest people on earth; a country where the romance between an average citizen and life is so hot that the mention of death will bring their heart into their mouth. Though the infamous Abdul Mutalab drama should have served as an eye-opener, one cannot readily accept that truly, a Nigerian can commit to blow himself up for whatever cause!

I have tried, over a period of fourteen months, to analyze and understand the

False Flag Operation.

"False flag terrorism" occurs when elements within a government stage a secret operation whereby government forces pretend to be a targeted enemy while attacking their own forces or people. The attack is then falsely blamed on the enemy in order to justify going to war against that enemy. Or as Wikipedia defines it:

False flag operations are covert operations conducted by governments, corporations, or other organizations, which are designed to deceive the public in such a way

Another way to lead: The British Hacking Scandal Example.

Perhaps the first time anybody, or most people on this side of the world heard about the British Hacking Scandal, was when the Wayne Rooney side of the story surfaced some months back. One of British’s most sought after tabloid, The News of the World, was enmeshed in a Phone Hacking and Illegal purchase of Classified Information; albeit largely a journalistic goof, it however has its political side and implications.

What would now be termed a preliminary or pseudo investigation, though conclusive then, was conducted and appropriate conviction and vindication made. In the heat of this scandal came the resignation of the once politically influential former Editor of The News of the World, Andy Coulsin. Saving you an epistle however, the aim of this piece is not to bore you with the details of the scandal, but drive home a particular message.

After the whole scandal had subsided a little, Andy Coulsin was appointed by British Prime Minister, David Cameron, as his Chief Spokesman (Director of Communications), a job he recently resigned from again. I was watching Sky News International on July 8, 2011 however, when the driving force of this piece struck me. The Hacking Scandal is back on spot, and there are fresh facts to nail Andy Coulsin as an accomplice. This is coming against his initial testimony, where he claimed ignorance of the scandal. Obviously, this influenced his resignation again from Cameron’s appointment. The Labour Party leader, Ed Miliband had demanded an apology from Mr. Cameron for bringing Coulsin into the heart of the British government, which he responded to by addressing a ‘non-simulated’ team of pressmen from across Britain. These pressmen churned out loads of ‘non-simulated’ questions and queries, responded to accordingly by David Cameron.

There and then, my country, Nigeria, came to mind and I started asking questions: when will Nigerian political leaders develop the Political Will needed to move this country forward, placing us on the path to assuming our destiny? Mallam Nasir El-Rufai was arrested for questioning the integrity of the Nigerian Police Force, and raising doubt on their competence; yet, British Labour Party leader, Ed Miliband still works the streets of U.K with no intimidation or harassment from the government or Cameron.

While an undergraduate, I studied and understood the politics of executives standing in front of the parliament, answering simulated questions from engineered legislators, clearing doubts and coming out an administrative hero; at least, to the unsuspecting novice around. This is a microcosm of the national experience. While Cameron will not play politics with real issues, one wonders why at this stage of our nationhood, or statehood as you may say, Nigerian political leaders still exhibit ignorance of the real task at hand.

Perhaps I should briddle the tongue of my pen, and tame my sagacious mind at this stage, lest I suffer El-Rufai’s fate. Yet, I will not sign off without asking a question that has been on my mind for a while now: What is the real task on the desk of Nigeria’s present crop (2011 – 2015) of leaders? I know of radical infrastructural development, power (electricity), fundamental educational revival, wholesome economic rethink, corruption, good governance, and mass employment generation (not asking graduate to sell recharge cards by the roadside, or join traffic management for 10,000 naira a month). Oh! Lest I forget; I also know of post-election violence, Boko Haram, Dimeji Bankole, cabinet constitution et al. Sorry, a friend seated next to me here said the latter is too trifling to attract too much of symposium, seminar, and communiqué; it only requires political willingness. But I also ask: where are those types of leaders?

There are still many more lessons to be taken from the British Hacking Scandal, so I’d suggest you stay in touch.


Alamu Samson.