Date Published: 01/06/10

Terrorism is not race, religion, nationality, ethnic or gender-based. By Ben Wuloo Ikari.

Statements such as the Nigerian Minister of Information Prof. Dora Akunyili's in Vanguard that Nigerians have no tendency to be terrorists, that of Obasanjo, that says don't criminalize Nigerians, in Pointblanknews.com and the reaction of Nigerian students at the University of East Anglia, Norwich United Kingdom (SR) that says terrorism isn't in our character helps keep Nigeria stupid, undemocratic and more dangerous.

The Nigerian Government knows no truth. Therefore the claim that Nigerians have no terrorist tendency is untrue. What is terrorism and who is a terrorist? should be the first question to ask or what we should understand first. Terrorism is "the acts of coercing a people or government by violent and unlawful means for political reasons," among others according to all dictionaries. Economic reasons should also be added as the scarcity of economic resources and exploitation by both national and foreign governments/multinational companies breeds terrorism as well. Politics and economics travel together; they are twin brothers or sisters.  Anyone or group including government that commits these acts against anything person or group is a terrorist.

Now, has the Nigerian Government not committed terrorism against Ogonis/Niger Deltans and other groups in the country, knowing what terrorism is? Is the Nigerian Islamic fundamentalists (not the moderates), especially the Hausas in the North burning down churches and Christians burning down mosques in return, in their decades of religious animosity not terroristic enough? All governments in the world have committed the acts of terrorism one way or another against their people and other innocent and weak nations. FMR. President G. W. Bush committed the crimes in Iraq yet walking free on the streets of America. And until Obama and the United Nations or the International Criminal Court at the Hague (ICC), Netherlands prosecute him and his cohorts they will not be serious with fighting terrorism, which is of course an immoral way of acting and must be condemned by all meaningful persons around the world. Such acts as Bush's breeds terrorism.

The alleged Nigerian (Hausa) bomber should face the law and accept his fate if found guilty. And parents most not be too conceated to think with once a child turns 18, and with or without money their wards are safe from intrusion or indoctrination while studying in other nations or away from their watch even in same country. Allowing children to parent themselves has never worked in any society. Meanwhile, the most stupid thing any person can or should do is kill another person irrespective of the reasons-government also has no right to kill unless fighting in self-defense as could be granted individuals. I do not support or believe religious or ethnic profiling is the way out of fighting the so-called terrorists as anyone, tribe or nation can be terrorist and numerous examples that points to non-Muslim terrorists abound .

This strategy is like when law enforcement go after a known offender everytime something criminal happen in his/her domain. And by so doing may let loose the real culprits. Every possibilities should be considered and not overemphasis one particular target as the solution. Consequently, I disagree with Prof. Akunyili, Obasanjo and the students above, and anyone  who may think similarly, because terrorism is not race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or gender-based. As a matter of fact the immoral behavior could be controlled or stopped by treating everyone, group or nation with the respect, dignity and consideration they deserve and not encroached upon or occupied.

No one or group/nation no matter how weak, powerful, poor, rich or democratic, undemocratic should force their ways of life or culture on others, but be open and dialogue to offer what you think or believe you have that is good. No culture is absolutely good and none is absolutely bad. But once we start thinking ours is better than the other therefore we must impose our cultures on the others, then comes the origin of conflict, which we can trace today's international terrorism to.

If  you are trying to penetrate another culture or person and those you are working to persuade are convinced then you are free to give what you have. If refused and even resist, common sense and fairness dictates you leave such persons/groups alone.

By now we should know and acknowledge there is danger in imposing our views or cultures on others yet will not allow anyone impose theirs on us. There is, nevertheless the need to intervene in places where people's lives are absolutely in danger-which justifies the use of force. There is of course no need where relative peace exist even though these places could be termed uncivilized. We must desist from allowing our economic and political greeds or tendencies to fight and die to control others ruin this beautiful world. Civility is not a nation but individuals and there are uncivilized and civilized people in every nation of the world, just as terrorism could breed anywhere.