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DEBATE

WANT TO KNOW WHAT I THINK?

 

African Colonialism:

The Effect and the Solution

ESTEE YANKELEVITCH ('23)

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The terrorist organization known as Boko Haram has proven to be a huge issue in Nigeria and even poses as an international threat. Since its emergence in 2002, it has been responsible for countless kidnappings, murders, and rapes leaving thousands of Nigerians as victims. In this article, I will be addressing the factors that resulted in the creation of Boko Haram (including how it became what it is today), how the problem could have been avoided, and finally, a proposed solution. 

 

To fully understand the reason behind Boko Haram's emergence, you must use system thinking. This means taking in all perspectives and making connections between them. Using system thinking, I can summarize the cause for Boko Haram in two main points: colonialism and geography. With British rule came Western education, the English language, and the spread of Christianity. This angered some groups of people because their culture and religious freedom were threatened. The British also brought new forms of money, transportation, and communication. The economy under colonial Nigeria became based on the export of cash crops. This meant that areas with lucrative crops such as cacao and peanuts (groundnuts) profited, while many people in different parts of the country had to migrate to work elsewhere as tenant farmers or use their newly acquired education and skills to work in cities as wage earners, traders, and artisans. Thus, automatically there was an imbalance of wealth ensuring that some regions would be less fortunate than others. To ensure that this disparity would not provoke united opposition to the authority, the British adopted a divide-and-rule policy, keeping Nigerian groups separate from one another as much as possible. The groups had already been quite separate because of the geography of the country. The bodies of water known as the Niger Delta, the Niger River, and the Benue River had already separated the people into three different groups where the North became Muslim and the South was a mix of native culture and Christianity. The Muslims strongly resisted Western education (because it threatened their rights as a group) and so the North developed much more slowly than the South, which resulted in political tensions. Eventually, this led to fewer opportunities for the North, which continued to fall behind. This disparity caused a strong sense of frustration among the people in the North because they were not enjoying the same lavish lifestyle as the people in the South. In brief, colonialism in Nigeria not only divided the population but also gave unfair opportunities to different regions and faith groups, resulting in injustice and frustration. Some regions (particularly the North) were prevented from enjoying equal access to education and wealth. 

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Once Nigeria gained its independence, the North was still far behind in resources and knowledge, a problem that was never given proper attention. In fact, this became a perfect breeding ground for Boko Haram. Once again, we will need to use system thinking to propose a solution. The media normally depicts the crisis only from the government's point of view; but to propose a solution, you have to consider all the factors. This includes Boko Haram's standpoint. You have to think about why Boko Haram came to be and stop it at its root instead of putting a bandaid on a bullet wound. Ultimately, they were angry at the authorities because their country had the opportunity to be very wealthy, but 63 percent of the population lived in poverty. The government let their religion be oppressed and let their people go hungry even though the country had plenty of natural resources to keep everybody fed. Thus, the blame should not be solely on Boko Haram. 

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So what exactly did Boko Haram advertise that gave them an audience? Well, they were not the only ones unhappy with the injustice around them, and they gave people someone to blame for it all. They blamed the corruption on the influence of Western civilization; and this translated to their name, which means, “Western education is sin.” Thus, they not only gave people someone to hold accountable for their situation, they also gave them hope and something to hold on to that was promising to pull them out of their misery. Initially, their objections took the form of peaceful protests, which makes one wonder, what happened that made them turn violent. This brings us to our point about how the situation could have been avoided. As they emerged, the Nigerian government saw Boko Haram as a threat and immediately took military action. They flaunted their minor successes in dismantling the terrorist organization, which tempted Boko Haram to fight fire with fire. They needed to feel heard, and felt the only way to do so was through violence. If the government had reached out through diplomacy and political settlements, instead of initially addressing the issue with military action, Boko Haram most likely would not have become a violent group. I'm talking about a political settlement in which they feel equal and represented instead of overthrown, which is what the amnesty proposal made them feel. They deserved a say in the government, confidence that they would not be religiously oppressed, and some sort of control over how money is distributed. Instead, they were continuously disappointed by the government and continued to feel undervalued and 

unimportant. 

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This article offers three main points that will work to eliminate the crisis. First, the Nigerian media must stop claiming victory against Boko Haram. Claiming that Boko Haram has been, or soon will be, defeated makes it easy for the group to undermine the narrative with every attack. The magnitude of the threat that Boko Haram poses needs to be understood by the population. They should in no way be underestimated. Also, it is common sense that shoving defeat in an enemy's face makes the enemy more vindictive. Second, civil society and state governments need more authority. Both international actors and Nigerians seem to look primarily to the central government to address the crisis, but the government does not have the interest, the knowledge, or the capability to address the insurgency on its own. It has been at its most effective when it has worked closely with local actors, through initiatives such as the Civilian Joint Task Force, a constellation of militias and community defense groups that have cooperated with the security forces to locate, fight, and evict Boko Haram from areas in its control. More resources and decision-making authority need to go to local governors, traditional leaders, women, and civil society in the regions most affected by the conflict. An overpopulated country cannot depend on one central government to resolve a problem that is widespread. Finally, the central government needs more of a political settlement approach to the crisis. More specifically, a treaty needs to be drawn along the lines of, “we will give you proper representation in our government, more funds for the education of your children, more opportunity to benefit from the natural resources of our country, and freedom of religion in return for a cease fire.”  This treaty needs to include the construction of hospitals, schools, community centers, banks, and law firms, and the creation of job opportunities—anything that will level the playing field and increase the amount of opportunity in the North. Modern problems require modern solutions. Only through a more just, and inclusive political and social order in northeastern Nigeria can militancy there be defeated for good. Military efforts will never be enough if social inequality and corruption are not addressed first. 

 

Overall, who does this proposal benefit and how? The population of Nigeria is large and diverse, but I believe that my approach would satisfy everyone. The Muslims will have equal opportunity and will no longer live in poverty. They will have a say in how their government is run. The rest of the population would be saved from the horror that Boko Haram brings to their communities. The government wouldn’t have the overbearing pressure from not only the threat of Boko Haram, but also the responsibility of the entire population. With the Muslims having partial power, they can’t complain that they are being mistreated because they will be in charge of their fate. This gives the government fewer people and, therefore, fewer problems to worry about. Also, this proposal doesn’t require any help from foreign powers, which means that Nigeria is not giving another country power over it, and is not putting itself in someone else's debt. Many times, countries get themselves into trouble when they have a relationship with another nation that isn’t mutual at all. This won’t be the case because my proposal suggests a completely independent solution. However, if other countries did want to get involved, my proposal allows for them to do so. They can help in the building of all the developmental facilities (hospitals, schools, banks, etc.). Then, they can send over supplies that would complete said buildings, like medical equipment, stationary, toiletries, clothing, food, water, and anything else an underdeveloped region might need. All of these services are non-invasive ways for outside assistance to greatly improve the situation and speed up the process of bringing northern Nigeria to the modern world. Also, it is important to note that the majority of Nigeria's population is under the age of twenty-.five, therefore, these advancements would give them something to attach to/take part in, instead of relying on membership in Boko Haram for a future. The younger generations of Nigeria can now go on to be doctors, teachers, lawyers, and engineers instead of choosing between being a supporter or the victim. All in all, Albert Einstein best summed up the solution to this crisis with the words, “Peace cannot be kept by force: It can only be achieved through understanding.”

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