Many voted for Muhammadu Buhari on March 28 with the hope that he would finally tackle the problem of security.
But apart from the Boko Haram menace, Nigeria suffers from the activities of the Niger Delta militants and kidnappings. Some have attributed the recent rise in abductions to the worsening hunger and unemployment.
The most recent was in Ekiti State where several persons, including academics, were kidnapped with heavy ransom demanded for their release.
North East
However, amid deaths caused by bombings which Boko Haram has taken responsibility for, the sect abducted over 200 girls on April 14 last year from Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State.
The federal government claimed to have initiated negotiation with the sect over the release of the girls.
Until recently, the Army had failed to make a breakthrough in the hunt for the girls. Hopes were raised on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 when defence headquarters announced that troops raided the dreaded Sambisa forest where the girls are believed to be held.
Some 200 girls and 93 women were rescued in the raid. But Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, said “we are yet to determine their origin as all the freed persons are now being screened and profiled.
“Please don’t misquote me on their origin. We will provide more details later.”
Army spokesman, Sani Usman, later clarified that the girls were not Chibok girls.
Earlier, the #BringBackOurGirls group held a silent march in Abuja to mark the one year anniversary of the abduction of the girls.
New York’s Empire State Building was lit in red and purple in honour of the girls.
Many have criticised the slow handling of the rescue process by President Goodluck Jonathan, saying it took him too long to equip the military for the battle.
However, President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has assured that Boko Haram would soon be history.
“No doubt, this nation has suffered greatly in the recent past, and its staying power has been tested to its limits by crises, chief among which is insurgency of Boko Haram. There is no doubt that in tackling the insurgency we have a tough and urgent job to do.
“But I assure you that Boko Haram will soon know the strength of our collective will and commitment to rid this nation of terror, and bring back peace and normalcy to all the affected areas. We shall spare no effort until we defeat terrorism.”
Niger Delta
Militants in the Niger Delta also raise concern. Some ex-militants had earlier threatened that there would be war if Jonathan lost the election.
In January, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), Victor Ben Ebikabowei (aka Boy Loaf), Eris Paul (aka General Ogunboss), and Pastor Reuben were among those who made the threat after a meeting with Jonathan’s Assistant on Niger Delta Affairs, Kinglsey Kuku.
“This action is calling the Niger Delta youth to war,” Dokubo-Asari warned at a press conference after the meeting.
“Every Niger Delta youth should go and prepare for war. For the past four days, I have not slept well, neither have I had a change of clothing. I have not been to my house. This is the time.
“The Northern youth are trying to know how important you are. After this time, no one will play with us. After the 2015 election, no governor will play with us.
“We are saying we will fight with anything and everything that we have, Ijaw people cannot continue to suffer while other people enjoy.”
But other ex-militants representing Niger Delta Coalition and Delta Coalition for Change countered the threat and pledged peace irrespective of who won the presidential election.
Fears have even arisen that Buhari’s aides could push for the scrapping of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). But the APC has denied such move.
In January 2015, while holding campaign rally in Lafia, Nassarawa State, Buhari promised to tackle Boko Haram if elected.
He repeated the same thing in his campaign rallies in Enugu State and in ravaged Borno State, promising to liberate captured towns in the North East.
Confidence in Buhari
Many doubt if the APC would assist Buhari to create the change he promised.
But a legal practitioner, Monday Ubani, expressed confidence that he has the capacity to surmount insurgents through proper handling of the military.
Said he: “We have a military that can beat the Boko Haram insurgency. They need enough weapons. They need their welfare to be taken care of. If they are properly motivated, Boko Haram will be a thing of the past.
“We have just seen a bit of the Nigerian military under six weeks before the election. We saw them invade Sambisa and they are almost flushing out the insurgents.
“If we now have a former head of state who happens to be a military man, who will occupy the position on May 29 and has promised to flush them out, I have no doubt in my mind.
“Buhari has the capacity of good leadership and also the military mind to tackle the insurgency.”
Solutions to agitation
Ubani attributed the agitation in the Niger Delta to high level of poverty but expressed confidence in Buhari’s ability to make infrastructure work effectively.
“Every manner of insurgency, every type of terrorism in the country, will be tackled by Buhari as long as he gives justice to all the regions.
“While insurgency is all over the place is the level of poverty in the country. The economic situation of the people is very low whereas the leaders are living in opulence.
“If basic infrastructure begins to work; power, roads and all that; then agitation and crisis will cease. Even if not completely, it would be reduced to the minimum.”
Public affairs analyst, Achike Chude, also backed Buhari whom he described as someone strong to tackle insurgency.
His words: “I think that one of the critical things needed to tackle insurgency is a strong government. Not just a strong government, but a committed one, one that is highly patriotic, a government of integrity and one that understands what sovereignty means.
“A government that knows that it is in jeopardy as long as its territorial integrity and sovereignty is compromised.
“And you cannot have a strong government without a strong leader. Buhari has shown a lot of strength and capacity in the past. And he has shown the kind of commitment needed in this country in terms of his anti-corruption stance.
“If there is one thing that has destroyed the credibility of politicians, it is their lack of moral rectitude, their lack of integrity and dignity.
“One of Buhari’s strongest points is integrity. That is a measure of his strength. I think Buhari is going to be a strong leader.”
Chude, however, implored Buhari to adopt diplomatic means to solve the Niger Delta problem.
“I think Buhari will use a diplomatic approach in the Niger Delta case. However, if the government feels it cannot achieve that diplomatically, then I cannot rule out the use of force.
“But the militants themselves are now becoming like the politicians and are only concerned with self-aggrandisement. Some of them have become multi-millionaires at the expense of their own people.
“I know that Buhari would ensure there is peace in the Niger Delta region knowing how important it is for the economic stability and well being of Nigeria, since oil exploration occurs in that part of the country.”
