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Nationhood of Nigeria and Neighboring Countries Being Targetted
16 January 2012
The combination of the ongoing political demonstrations and nationwide strikes against President Goodluck Jonathan’s Jan. 1 decision to eliminate subsidies for refined fuel, and the increasing bomb attacks and armed assaults claimed by Boko Haram, an Islamic jihadist group based primarily in northeastern Nigeria, is causing concern in Nigeria and surrounding countries, that the British financial empire intends to run an "Arab Spring" type of attack against Nigeria. The consequence for the entire region could be devastating. Nigeria has one-fifth of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa, and at 160 million, has the highest national population in the continent, and is the biggest oil producer in Africa. The British calculate that large numbers of people will die if they succeed in collapsing governments in the region.
The British financial empire expects that if the situation in Nigeria gets too chaotic as a result of the protests over the fuel subsidy elimination and the Boko Haram attacks, the military would take power. But they also think that, unlike Egypt, Nigerian regional differences could be played on to break the unity of the military, which could plunge the region into chaos. Nigerian labor unions have suspended their strikes for two days this weekend, while negotiations proceed especially with the oil workers. The British-led Western media are already asserting that oil workers will shut down oil exports. Nigeria is the U.S.A.’s largest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa, getting 9% of its oil imports from Nigeria. Despite being a large oil producer, Nigeria has to import a high percentage of its refined fuel, and importers as well as those claiming to have imported oil, are paid subsidies. Those who are corruptly benefitting from these payments have become a powerful cabal in the country. The looting mentality of this subsidy mafia stands in the way of the economic development of the country. As a result of their influence, the four oil refineries Nigeria has, barely function. If Nigeria could refine all the oil it needs for internal consumption, the subsidy mafia would be out of business, and would have no influence. Some of the oil for which subsidies have been paid, is marketed elsewhere. For example, as a result of the subsidy being lifted, the neighboring nation of Benin, according to reports, was experiencing a fuel shortage at service stations. Although it was not stated explicitly, the Jonathan administration’s intention with removing the fuel subsidy, was to weaken the subsidy mafia. However, the move which more than doubled the gas price, was ill advised, since it left the government wide open to protests for increasing the cost of living. Anticipating a growing Egypt-style protest movement, the Western media are already talking about the important role the social media are playing in these protests. Protesters in Kano, Nigeria, have, according to reports, renamed Silver Jubilee roundabout as "Tahrir Square Kano." The protesters have also been encouraged by the House of Representatives vote against removing the subsidy. As for the threat of Boko Haram, loosely modeled after al-Qaeda, Chad President Idriss Deby expressed the concern of Chad, Cameroon, and Niger Republic, all Nigeria’s neighbors, when he called for collaboration among the four countries to deal with the effects of the Boko Haram threat, as foreign-sponsored jihadist activity is being spread across a swath of Africa from Somalia, across the Sahel region of West Africa toward Mauritania. He made this proposal while on a visit to Nigeria Dec. 19, 2011. At the end of December, Deby also visited Cameroon, which borders both Chad and Nigeria. Security was one of the concerns on this visit as well. The modus operandi of those who control special-forces-type capabilities which are then attributed to Boko Haram, is to send them in from a neighboring country, and then pull them out after the operation is completed. Cameroon is concerned since Boko Haram is reported to be recruiting in northern Nigeria, for operations against the Cameroonian government, where there is a Christian South/Muslim North dichotomy somewhat similar to Nigeria. There are also deserters from the Chad army present in northern Cameroon, who may be playing a role in Boko Haram’s activities in Nigeria. On Dec. 31, 2011, Jonathan declared a partial state of emergency because of the Boko Haram’s attacks on the population, closing the borders with Cameroon, Chad, and Niger Republic, and setting up a special counterterrorism unit. In addition to bombings and attacks on churches and government institutions, Boko Haram also recently attacked a mosque in northern Nigeria, stoking communal conflict. Its recent ultimatum for Christians to leave the North in three days time, and attacks on churches is reminds Nigerians of the late-1960s’ civil war. Regions where Boko Haram has been able to recruit are extremely poor, and a strong military move supported by the U.S.A., against Boko Haram, without a U.S.-supported accompanying drive for economic development, would only facilitate Boko Haram recruitment. |
