A RETROSPECTIVE ON A WEEK OF TERROR, YET FAILING TO CURB OUR PURSUIT OF PROSPERITY- DR. ORJI UZOR KALU As last week came to a close, it was with a heavy heart that we laid to rest Mallam Suleiman Bisala. In my eyes, we had lost an accomplished senior editor with the New Telegraph publication, a consummate professional, colleague and indeed another unnecessary casualty in the insurgency presently threatening Nigerias very integrity. Last week was a particularly startling one in this campaign of terror, as militant forces set off a targeted blast in a bustling Abuja market, morbidly timed to maximize the potential loss of life. From the assault and those that subsequently followed, we derive that we can no longer believe that threats from North or South are acute, firmly-rooted, nor lacking the capacity to be exported at a large scale. To suggest that the diverse communities that comprise Nigeria, from all walks of life, are today aggrieved with the state of their security, concerned for their well-being and that of their country, is a gross understatement. However, journalists such as Mr. Bisala have long held dear the tenets of liberty, of freedom; the freedom to express opinion with impunity, the freedom to live in a way that befits ones self and ultimately, the freedom to prosper on ones own terms in a nation conducive to the pursuit of happiness. Nigeria can only continue its forward-trajectory and grow as an economic steward of the budding continents emerging markets if it holds these tenets dear and ensures no compromises are made in our struggle for prosperity. Decades of disunity have allowed longstanding grievances to fester and foment unabated disillusionment. In the name of those who honor and have honored our nation by seeking the freedoms which we will never shelve, I implore Nigerians to stay strong, hold the belief that we can bring back our country from a potential tipping point in this war on terror and ensure Mr. Bisala did not die in vain. If we see something this week, we must say something ahead of the next. We must remain vigilant in these trying periods and ensure Nigerias legacy remains one of perseverance in the face of unparalleled adversity.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 11:19:48 +0000