The rallying cry to “bring back our girls” began over two months ago as a humanitarian appeal in Nigeria, where two hundred and fifty (250) school girls, were allegedly kidnapped from their boarding school headquarters in Chibok (a Christian village) by a group known as “Boko Haram”. The global community has responded in kind with goodwill gestures such as: candlelight and prayer vigils, peaceful demonstrations, as well as other forms of protests to support the rallying cry to “bring back our girls”. The news media is also reporting that as of this writing, twenty (20) more girls were kidnapped allegedly by the same group known as the “Boko Haram”. According to an article regarding “puffing” in the most recent issue of the Anguillian Newspaper, we too need to rally around the unified cry to “bring back our girls”.
My family alike most Anguillans of African descent, our ancestors were kidnapped from the Continent of Africa; and brought through the Middle Passage (journey across the Atlantic Ocean to the Western Hemisphere) as a source of free labor to build the European colonial empires. Personally, my family has traced our paternal ancestral heritage to the nation of Nigeria. Ever since I became aware of it, I carry it proudly on my shoulders. Having lived in Nigeria as an undergraduate student back in the day; for starters I will share with you some important facts about Nigeria, so you will understand the complexity of not only the most populous nation on the Continent of Africa, but you will be able to figure out (“what school keeps”); meaning what might really be connected to the kidnapping of the school girls; as well as other internal coups and civil wars in Nigeria.
Nigeria is 354,64989 square miles, Africa’s most populous nation with 160,000,000 million people, was colonized by Great Britain, the major ethnic groups are the (Yoruba, Ibo, Hausa, Fulani and 250 others). English is the main language (language of instruction – 70% literacy rate), 250 other traditional languages are spoken, and the religious groups are 40% Christian, 50% Islam and 10% traditional beliefs. The nation of Nigeria is the world’s tenth most petroleum rich nation (oil fields are mostly situated in the Niger Delta) that accounts for (98% of its exportation revenue and 80% of government revenue), produces over 2.5 million barrels of crude oil per day, supplies the U.S with almost two thirds ( 2/3) of its crude oil. The (exportation terminals are foreign corporations such as: (Mobil, Shell, Chevron, Texaco) that fall under Nigeria’s (“indigenization decree” meaning they are industrialized and under government control since the early 70’s). Apart from being a major crude oil producer, Nigeria has the world’s largest supply of natural gas with trillions of reserves, as well as other natural resources such as iron, ore, lead and an impressive agricultural production.
On October 1, 1960, Great Britain’s Union Jack fell, as Nigeria formally gained its independence from Britain under its first president the late legendary Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe graduate of Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, (one of the one hundred (100) traditional African American colleges and universities) that due to segregation were built post slavery by African Americans to provide higher educational opportunities for their children. It is believed that Dr. Azikiwe and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah (who also attended Lincoln University), and brought Ghana (first West African nation) to independence in 1957, were both deeply influenced by the African American Civil Rights Movement in the U.S as students during the early 1950’s. When Dr. Azikiwe and Dr. Nkrumah returned home after graduation, they both were determined to free their respective nations from the yoke of British colonialism.
Ever since Nigeria gained its independence from Great Britain on October 1, 1960, there have been many coups and internal conflict among the various ethnic groups. The major one was the (Biafran War), where the Ibo (major ethnic group) in the eastern region wanted to secede from the western region and call itself Biafra. Several coups and other forms of internal conflict have occurred that overthrew whatever government was in power on more than one occasion.
The powerful nation of Nigeria is currently under the leadership of duly elected President Goodluck Jonathan, and prides itself in being a democratic nation. Why is Nigeria a powerhouse in natural resources, such as crude oil and gas reserves in such turmoil? Who or what is Boko Haram? According to the experts and conspiracy theorists, Boko Haram is allegedly a disguised foreign intelligence covert operation to destabilize the powerful nation of Nigeria, to take control of its much sought after natural resources? Are the nations that Nigeria is supplying with oil “throwing a rock and hiding their hands”? Who are the outside forces that can create internal conflict to destabilize Nigeria in order to take control of her natural resources? Who is really responsible for the kidnapping of school girls from their boarding schools? Is it a foreign intelligence covert operation disguised as a so called internal “terrorist organization”?
As the world continue to plead, lest we forget at the end of the day, we have to “bring back our girls” (who are being taken advantage of in Nigeria or Anguilla); safely to their mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, families, neighbors, friends, communities and villages. The recent article in the Anguillian Newspaper regarding the “e cigarettes” (electronic cigarettes) is a wakeup call for us to “bring back our girls”. Several expert substance abuse professionals have issued warnings regarding the so called ‘e cigarettes” that are allegedly manufactured in China, and (contain potent liquid nonregulated neurotoxins that produce poisonous vapors and can be lethal). Moreover, according to these experts, not only will “e cigarettes” cause serious hallucinations after being “puffed”; it can cause extreme altered states of consciousness, and a rapid heartbeat that in some cases can result in fatalities. For that matter, many of these substances are manufactured in trendy colors and names; so a lot of young people think it is cool to be considered “hip” to indulge in smoking it. [You must read The Opium Wars in China during the 19th century. Opium was allegedly brought to China from British East India. Thereafter, along China’s east cost more than 90% of the young males who smoked it became addicted to it]. Is Anguilla next, or is this the handwriting on the wall.
Our children are our most precious resources. Let me let you in on a little secret, when some folks want to get to you, they will use your children to do so. Some of them use their superficial smiles and kind deeds, while at the same time you are ever so unsuspecting of their ultimate agenda. Our children are very vulnerable, and it is high time that we understand, just like drugs such as (heroin and crack cocaine), were used to destabilize larger communities of children of the African Diaspora in the United States, it can also happen in Anguilla, if the Anguillan community at home and abroad, does not become and stay vigilant and nip it in the bud. The burden of responsibility for our girls is not just on their parents, they are part of our communities. In the wisdom of our African ancestors, remember “it takes a village to raise a child”. The “e cigarettes” are not manufactured in Anguilla, so where are they coming from, and how did they get to the island of Anguilla and are being distributed? Mind you, we are just asking’ Calling all direhearted Anguillans to unite and bring back our girls and young men to uphold our tradition of strength, courage and endurance….just like we pulled off our bloodless revolution in the mid 60’s.
There are no drugs, alcohol or other substances that lead to the road of success. Save our children, save our babies, let us “bring back our girls” and young men, to the moral standards of behaviour that will mold them into women and men of distinction, who will take their rightful place, and contribute to their own positive growth and development; as well as our island nation of Anguilla “the crown jewel” of the northeastern Caribbean. God bless Anguilla, her children, youth and their families…and may the ancestors continue to find them in their favor.
This article by an Anonymous writer does not represent the views of the Anguillian Newspaper or any of its employees.
[Name held upon request]
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
