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MESSAGE TO NIGERIANS IN THE WAKE OF THE TERRORIST ATTACK THAT ROCKED AMERICA AND THE WORLD
PRESS STATEMENT ANOTHER BLACK SEPTEMBER
The horrific attack on America by terrorists of yet to be identified hue has brought home to us that though terrorism isn’t new, it is now a growing evil and has grown to be the new ideology. But unlike other decent ideologies that seek to open up the world, even if from diverse world-views, this one is about closing the world, about Armageddon - it’s about putting out every light irrespective of where they are lit, irrespective of what’s on any mind. It’s about making a Statement of Death. But where do we stand as Nigerians? How does it affect us? Yes, America was attacked, but it’s always happened; it’s always been expected, even if not on this scale. Why should we worry beyond sending our condolences to those who have lost loved ones and praying that God takes care of the dead? For one and one thing only – we should be concerned because we live in today’s world and borders are not sacrosanct; they will always welcome ideas, welcome attacks and yes indeed, welcome evil. The difference is made not ironically also by men and women, but of absolutely different breed from the shameless bigots who planned and are continually planning this evil. The difference is made by people who THINK and who STRIVE through the avenue of public policy and private convictions to defeat evil. Today those who fashion public policy around the world are rattled. What are they to do? Take President Bush, for instance. He’s come to power preaching a higher technological advancement for the US military. The threat of today, according to him, are likely to come from rogue states, groups or persons who possibly may want to target America with nuclear weapons. A defence shield is the answer, he proclaims and couldn’t wait to get started. In spates of agreement breakages in a singular pursuit of what he’s termed America’s interest, Bush has gone gladly about alienating everyone. Even America’s traditional allies are as miffed as anyone else. As at the time of our release, President Bush is yet to speak with his traditional number one ally, Great Britain. Nonetheless, Tony Blair has gone ahead to coordinate European efforts at responding to the new challenge. Well, these are the strongest men in our world, so if even among them a consensus is a luxury on some of the most fundamental issues that govern our world, what happens to the rest of us? And the answer, as gruesome as can be, must be found in the fate of all those peace-loving, law-abiding and hard-working citizens of our world who went down with the World Trade Centre, the Pentagon and every other place and in every heart that terrorism have struck successfully. For people of the Third World and for Nigeria in particular the effects are obvious. First, the notion that we are not at the frontline fades significantly when we consider the terrorist attacks in Kenya and Tanzania sometime ago. While we are not suggesting that terrorism is singularly fostered by the dynamics of Middle East politics, we have to acknowledge nonetheless that the strand we witness today, the one threatening the civilized world as at now is endemic to influences from that region, especially considering the common thread of Islamic fundamentalism. And that is where we come in as Nigerians. Today there’s a form of attack going on against the Nigerian psyche, especially in the northern part of the country. The kind being perpetrated in the West by the OPC phenomenon or in the East, South-South by similar fads is not the issue here. What is in issue here is the kind of terrorism non-worshippers of Allah and enemies of Mohammed and the prophets are intent on engulfing us with in the name of Islam. Of course, true believers know that this cannot be the way of God. Unfortunately though, while most do not feel compelled to preach this goodness to the next man as they rightly assume this is self-evident; the practitioners of evil from the other side are prowling around seeking for who to convert, fanaticise, robotize and make literally into weapons of evil. Those who had put themselves forward as instruments of the destruction and death visited upon New York, Washington and so on were at one time men like everyone – fearing death, thinking of where the next meal would come from, reciprocating good with good, indeed doing all the things that normal people do. But something happened and then they grew (or more like diminished) into people who fear death no more, in fact people who seek it, but ironically, more cowardly than they ever were, they had to take the world with them. What we are taking away from here is that anybody can be an Absolute Instrument of Evil, if they want to, if they make themselves available for its use. It does not need great investments – a word in the ear is enough! We call on fellow Nigerians everywhere, especially those in the northern part of our country, to be VERY VIGILANT. It is quite possible that now that a worldwide manhunt has begun for the perpetrators of these acts, most would attempt to go aground. Our borders cannot be discountenanced for obvious reasons. Worse still, they may already have started recruiting and growing cells of fanatical suicides amongst Nigerians who wouldn’t seek to go alone. It is your duty as a human being, as a servant of Allah, as a follower of Jehovah to defeat this Evil. Do your best to thwart this first, by making yourself unavailable for its use; secondly, by ensuring that the law enforcement agencies are aware of your suspicions; but mostly, by standing in solidarity with your fellow Nigerians, wherever they may come from, to denounce this growing evil. The events of Kaduna and Jos and all those ethno-religious clashes that have claimed fellow nationals are attacks on our humanity just like this one on America, not least because perpetrators are linked to some strand of this new and evil ideology. Let’s all, in unequivocal terms, rise above our lethargy and condemn this before it devours us all. We call on the Nigerian government to make a statement immediately assuring Nigerians and all foreign nationals in our country of their safety and security. We call on them to co-operate in all ways possible with the American people, American administration and the World alliance in seeking and punishing the perpetrators of this act. We call on our government to review our national security forthwith in the light of these events to take cognition of the possibility of such a thing even as we fervently pray it should not befall us. Nigeria is an important country in Africa, Nigeria is an important country in the world and Nigeria does not discriminate in making friends; but some of our friends may not like each other. May we not be victims of their wars in any way, even as we know that the whole free world is now hostage to this growing evil. A heightened sense of internal security must be our national goal. For Nigerians who are abroad, especially those in the United States, we send our condolences. It’s quite possible that by the time the dead is counted and identified, one, two or more may very well be Nigerians. While it is our fervent prayer that we lose no one, our heart goes out to all people, all nations that have lost people in this terrible tragedy. We pray the Almighty Father to take care of every soul dead and alive that has been shaken by this tragedy. But, YOU MUST NOT FOLD YOUR HANDS! Let the American people, your hosts, know DISTINCTLY how you feel. Make yourselves available in the days ahead for America, help in ANYWAY you can. ORGANISE to show America that you are one with them. And when all the present confusion is cleared, seek to put down your condolences officially at the highest level as one group – as one group of Nigerians in the United States who genuinely grieve with America in these times. God bless.
NIGERIAN CONSULTATIVE FORUM INTERNATIONAL Ibrahim Ahmed Femi Ogunsola (For and on behalf of Nigerian Consultative Forum International)
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