Nigeria Insecurity: The Power of the Quasi-state By Elempe Dele

It was with trepidation that we saw pictures of Boko Haram members giving out food and cash to poor villagers in the North East region to mark the Ramadan. The fear is that Boko Haram, forming a quasi-state within Nigeria is expanding it’s base perhaps branching into kidnappings, banditry and other criminal activities all over the nation.

We must understand what a quasi-state is before we can proceed to the elements of our fear. The quasi-state is that ellusive entity, that state-like entity, that political, religious or ideological entity which content for power but not defined by physical boundary but mimic the sovereign state. It does not represent a fully institutionalized autonomous sovereign state. So Boko Haram, with it’s flag and other paraphernalia, is a quasi-state within Nigeria.

Boko Haram, as it is with most quasi-states, did launch it’s career from a position that was aimed at challenging the unjust status quo: decades of state corruption, poverty, alienation of the northern ruling elites, political use-and-dump ecetera ecetera. But it has since passed that stage of progressive movement, and has moved to a quasi-state which show open power of force, it demonstrates overt power, and it’s purpose is to show the people and the government who is the master and how ruthlessly powerful it’s force is. That’s why it sacks villages, kill as much as they like, attack military formations, take their weapons and cart away victims. Yes, they exercise a very crude form of power and authority taking control both over the willing and the willing, the Muslims and the Christians alike and behead some…these are parts of the characteristics of the mimic but potent entity called the quasi-state.

The Federal Government under Buhari is now powerless against the Boko Haram’s advancing force, almost prostrating to it’s terminating power. This powerful but ellusive quasi-state conquering territories day, night and carting away prize victims in women.

Today, in Nigeria, poverty is no longer available for fear to the conquered people even when it’s omnipresence is felt. It is the fear of this Boko Haram quasi-state that instill fear. And to complicate matters, since the government has failed, Boko Haram now boast of liberating manifestos in towns they take with seductive religious ideals. And they easily get converts; both the willing and unwilling. Again, Boko Haram use theocratic lead to trap illiterate victims.

So objectively, Boko Haram and it’s syndicates are the major reason for apprehension the people are currently and generally faced with all over the country where even the government forces are stretched beyond defending the sovereignty of the country. We cannot ignore the the contemporary history of victim peoples we have suddenly become today. For a while now, the defenseless people are being grounded to collective deaths by the implacable mechinary of the quasi-state of Boko Haram. Yes, the struggle of Boko Haram has since moved from righting wrongs by trying to restore to themselves what they initially said was been disposed off them. They are now dedicated to the ruthless and continued ceasure of more raw power through terror.

It is unfortunate that this is happening under the once said disciplined and ruthless General Buhari now aging and embarrassing ruler. We all know his government is being sustained not by popular acceptance, but by the same agency of tepid terror, blackmail, negative propaganda and open resentment for dissenting voices.