NEO-SECESSION AGENDA: BOKO-HARAM DELUSIONAL MICRONATION CALLED CALIPHATES

NEO-SECESSION AGENDA: BOKO-HARAM DELUSIONAL MICRONATION CALLED CALIPHATES.

As of the time writing this piece, I was wondering if the title will capture what goes on in my mind touching on declaration of a caliphate by the outlawed Boko-haram sect. However, I will be requesting for the complete document on the Oath of Office sworn to by the President of the Federal Republic Nigeria, at least the Freedom of information Act is yet to be abrogated so I can make use of that tool. The most discernible part of the Oath of Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is to ‘’Protect the Territorial Integrity of the CONGLOMERATION called Nigeria”. In the light of the foregoing, how effortless was the Boko-Haram able to declare a caliphate in Nigerian Territory when we still have President Jonathan steering the affairs of the all-powerful, populous, flushest, and most influential black nation in the entire world?

Few weeks back, Boko-Haram declared a caliphate in Gwoza town in the Northern part of the country and even made a mockery of the Nigerian Army by showing us a video of the Nigerian troops squirting to neighbouring country, Cameroon, a move the Nigerian Military authority tagged ‘’Tactical’’. When will the Nigerian Government heed to calls from patriots, soldiers, foreign observers and wives of the Soldiers that the troops be better equipped with modern combat weapons to confront the seditious elements? About 480 souls of our darling soldiers could have been squandered had they not taken to their heels and seek refuge in Cameroon. In a contrast development in UK according to CNN, Scotland will this month decide in referendum whether it wants to go it alone as an independent country and split away from the United Kingdom. Also, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) led by Ralph Nwazuruike have established a currency and proclaiming an independent state called BIAFRA.

Dr Judy Lattas of Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia defines a micronation as a self declared entity that’s either virtual or very small (though some are actually quite large when compare with microstate such as Monaco or the Vatican).Dr Lattas is of the opinion that ‘’there are incredible differences among them and no clear sense of unity at all’’. In addition, she opine that ‘’Many reject the notion of micro-nations outright. Some are secessionists and some aren’t. Some are more like virtual-game playing, some are art projects, some are very cyberpunk and others are quite serious political protests or indigenous sovereignty movements’’.

However, some of these micronations are borne of out of dissenting agitations for ‘Independence’ desires. Take the issue of Boko-Haram and Biafra in Nigeria, the former is clamouring for a non-western ideologies and religious secession while the latter is desirous of independence as a result of perceived jaundiced resource control system in Nigeria. All of these generally follows a secession model and take inspiration from the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States (signed in 1933 by the United States and numerous Latin American countries) and clearly states that:

• There must be grievance
• There must be members
• There must be some sort of declaration
• There must be perceived wrong against a dissenting group

And if the group claim goes unanswered –you don’t, for example, receive any kind of formal rejection-then it’s assumed by default that you’ve succeeded in seceding. Boko-Haram has been a major phenomenon in Nigerian history, they have succeeded in exposing the laxity and rot in our security system making us vulnerable to external aggression if not addressed promptly. Sometimes ago, MASSOB militant group was able to gain access to the Government house in Enugu causing a serious storm in a tea-cup, were it not for the timely intervention of Military back-up of Governor Sulivan Chime of Enugu State, they would have succeeded in overthrowing the Government and many lives would have been lost in the struggle for emancipation of BAIFRA state. Boko-Haram would have wreak havoc on the state of Borno if they had half chance what MASSOB did in Enugu Government house, they are the offshoot of Al-qaeda and other terrorist group such as ISIS of Iraq and Syria. Their modus operandi is to coerce and maim innocent souls in the name of religion and hatred passion for western education.

Consequently, we are experiencing a new world order in secession which calls for global attention. It is irrevocably becoming a wish to just wake up from slumber, raise an army of dissenting voice and declare a MICRONATION (Vatican or Monaco), CALIPHATE (Boko-haram), STATE (ISIS), etc. In my own opinion, I do not really see the micronations surviving beyond the borders of their wishful desires, because the world itself keeps getting smaller and becoming a global village as a result of direct/indirect international relationships brought about by factors such as:

• Trade,
• Education,
• Technologies,
• Marriages,
• Exchange Programmes
• Religion
• Others

In conclusion, Boko-haram should never be deceived into believing that Nigeria as a country will tolerate their boisterous tirade that a caliphate has been twisted out in the Northern part of Nigeria, the shindig revelry will soon be over as President Jonathan will kick-start his campaign for re-election soon and he really needs to abide with the National Pledge which goes thus:

I pledge to Nigeria my country

To be Faithful Loyal and Honest

To serve Nigeria with all my Strength

To defend her UNITY and UPHOLD her Honour and Glory

So help me God.

With the National Pledge in President Jonathan’s mind, Boko-Haram is truly in a state of disillusionment; Boko-haram had better have a re-think and retrace their steps before Jonathan’s campaign train gets to Borno state. Perhaps, Boko-haram could equally visit some micronations around the world and tap into the knowledge with which they created their mini empires. Here are the lists of such micronations:

• The Republic Of Molossia ( US state of Nevada)
• The Republic of Kugelmugel (Austria)
• The Free Republic Of Alcatraz (Italy)
• Freetown Christiana (Copenhagen Denmark)
• The Principality of Hutt River (West Australia)
• Akhziv Land (Israel)
• The Naminara Republic ( South Korea)
• The Republic of Uzupis ( Lithuania)

Lekan Olanite is a Social commentator and Enterpreneur most, especially, on small business developments. He is based in Lagos. 
Contact at lekanolanite@gmail.com

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