Olumuyiwa Olumide: It is time for traditional rulers to close ranks and tackle Boko Haram

by Olumuyiwa Olumide

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It is way past time that all former (living) leaders come together to form a gathering. All retired security chiefs, former heads of intelligence, should all be in one place at the same time for a retreat. These are indeed desperate times and desperate measures need to be undertaken.

To the proponents of “prayers are keeping Nigeria together”, it is way past time you alter your “prayer points” for good. Just in case you haven’t noticed, corruption is doing that all by itself–changing the course of our country’s history and bonding the elite together.

It is time for a new set of prayers–prayers to tackle Boko haram. I am of a different school of thought, nevertheless, I will align myself with both sides of the divide.

The need has arisen for the mighty men of God to show themselves strong. This is a time of coming together, across all denominations and all religions.

This is the time to forge an alliance so strong it will resonate through the ages for an eternity. Some of the most respected names in Nigeria and indeed beyond these shores–names such as Pastor Adeboye and Bishop Oyedepo–hold many devotees spell bound. It is time to reach out to the Chief Imam of Nigeria and his adherents. For a country like ours with its religious fervour, we need to tap into what we hold so dear and save our country from the brink of an imminent collapse.

Pastor Olukoya and Pastor Kumuyi between them can create a critical mass and syndicate awareness both locally and globally. Pastor Oritsejafor can rally together all the religious leaders. Between Pastors Chris Okotie and Chris Oyakhilome (who are very eloquent and grandiloquent) I can bet they could produce heartfelt/heart wrenching short clips that will elicit emotions which will cause millions to reflect and ponder. Those who represent their fore fathers and their fathers before them, our respected and renowned 1st Class/premium Traditional rulers, your ancestors forbid you from keeping mum as the blood of the dearly departed cry with bloodied souls from beyond the grave daily.

The Oni of Ife needs to strech out his hand across the Niger to the Obi of Onitsha, the Oba of Benin needs to go hand in hand with the Oba of Lagos together with the Emir of Kano and Sultan of Sokoto; create a brotherhood that will be the stuff of legends and folklore. It will be said of them that when their people needed them most, they stood up to be counted.

It is way past time that all former (living) leaders come together to form a gathering. All retired security chiefs, former heads of intelligence, should all be in one place at the same time for a retreat. These are indeed desperate times and desperate measures need to be undertaken.

For our people, for the our nation, for our country, this is the time to join hands and put the evil that Boko Haram has come to represent, to the sword. The situation forbids us from doing nothing. The situation forbids us from keeping quiet.

To keep quiet and do nothing will be the ultimate evil; the ultimate acquiescence.

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Olumuyiwa  Olumide tweets from @MrEnclave.

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

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