War Against Boko Haram: Crash Course For “Dummy Generals”

Editor’s note: Nigerians are positive that President Muhammadu Buhari’s ruthless treatment of Boko Haram will yield results. Regrettably, not everything depends on Buhari alone. Naij.com guest contributor Aremu Oluwafemi says war on terrorism should be coordinated by non-corrupt and experienced army generals who understand needs of their soldiers.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the original author. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Naij.com, its editors or other contributors.

War is the greatest plague that can affect humanity; it destroys religion; it destroys states; it destroys families. Any scourge is preferable to it. – Martin Luther

Boko Haram’s perceived ideology operates on the boundaries of a particular religion, Islam. Muslims, including myself, have denounced this ideology countless times. It goes against the ethics of Islam and, ultimately, against humanity. I intend to establish an alternative front to this deadly war, though not totally different from existing views.

Situation reports trickle in itemizing casualties suffered by the gallant Nigerian troops and by the insurgents’ camp. Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am a part of mankind. These innumerable painful exits disable me from finding out whom the bell tolls for. It tolls for thee, humanity.

War should belong to the tragic past, in history. It has no place on humanity’s agenda for the future, and this present generation should not be witnessing it. Boko Haram members and sponsors would certainly disagree with the last assertion, and that is the major reason why we need to flush them down before they do.

I don’t have a qualification in defence studies. But I’m certain that the art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard and as often as you can and keep moving on. That’s all.

The war against Boko Haram presents a scenario in which the survival of our race ultimately depends upon the extinction of the insurgents alongside their ideologies. It seems there will never be peace until these bastards start fearing our military.

I do not know whether the generals will frighten the enemy, said my nephew, but I know they frighten me whenever I think of them. My nephew is naïve and five. He still dreams of becoming a general. He believes that generals are great men. At least, the president is one. The truth remains that the president will always be great, regardless of being a general or not. His disaffection for corruption has afforded him that.

That’s the solution. Making absolutely sure that the junior officers do not, under any circumstances, perceive their senior officers as corrupt. Perception, in this regard, is enough to dampen a man’s spirit. It negates the idea that all is well. But I’m sure our generals are not aware about that. They failed to learn that the first rule of war remains this: never send in a hungry man. Very simple. If they did learn this, they would have understood that a famished man thinks less of the outside world and more of his inner space irrespective of sworn oaths.

Stemming corruption was the easy way out. But no. They chose another path. No food, no weapons, dishing out strategies via press releases, and a whole lot of orders. Even Hannibal Barca would have been unable to lead such an army to victory.

This course, War on Boko Haram-101, centres on the apparent resilience of the insolent extremists, the high-handedness of our generals, and an attempt to re-educate our supposed war leaders that stealing is definitely corruption. No two ways about it. Apologies to the past lecturer who felt and tried to prove otherwise. Before I forget, our generals should be made to lead at war fronts and not offices anymore with the same status quo: empty bellies. Let’s see if they will survive the first wave.

Of course, being a dummy is not the whole problem. The ones who end up working with dummies would only find themselves doing all the job. Mr President, please, take heed.

Mr Oluwafemi is a former president of students’ union, University of Ilorin, Kwara state.

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