Jutha Gupah, Damaturu
The Vice Chancellor of Yobe State University (YOSU), Prof. Yakubu Mukhtar, has attributed Boko Haram insurgency to bad governance and parenting for decades in Borno and Yobe states. The 10-year insurgency in the Northeast; has claimed many lives and property with the displacement of over two million people. Prof. Mukhtar spoke on Thursday in Damaturu, while presenting the Dissemination of Research Findings to address political, youth restiveness and conflicts in Yobe state. He said that Yobe and Borno states would continue to sit on a time bomb; if people continued to give birth to children without “adequate and proper” parenting. According to him, bad governance has also contributed to youth restiveness and terrorism in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. His words: “Bad governance has been one of the main reasons for emergence of Boko Haram insurgency. “I could recall that for years before the emergence of Boko Haram insurgency, my late mentor, Prof. Nur Alkali was concerned about youths gathering in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital. “People from other states of the Federation, were also dumped in Maiduguri metropolis under the auspices of Almajiri (street children).” He lamented that that people, under the guise of obeying Islamic teachings, are marrying three to four wives and keep reproducing children without thinking on how to up-bring and sustain them. He further disclosed that parents of affected children ignored their “welfare and proper upbringing” into society. Continuing, Prof. Mukhtar asked: “Yes, I agreed that it’s God that provides for everyone; but He has given you a faculty to think. “Are you mindful of the fate of the children? Agreed, population is power, China developed largely because it has advantage of productive population unlike in Nigeria.” He said the nuisance created by such parents and bad governance had mainly contributed to the emergence of Boko Haram insurgency that has claimed many lives and property. He recalled that prior to Boko Haram insurgency in 2007; their research team had raised concern, in a document submitted to government. The concern, according to him, was over the massive influx of restive youths into Maiduguri metropolis. He however noted that the findings of the Research Centre were not implemented until the commencement of Boko Haram insurgency on July 26, 2009. He commended the federal and state governments for initiating programmes like N-Power and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers’ scheme that could empower youths and make them self-reliant. He warned governments that population growth without commensurate plan would make the society to continue sitting on a time bomb. Director of the Centre, Dr. Umar Yusufari, said a research finding would be produced and submitted to have a significant impact on minimizing youth marginalization in political participation and the associated security breaches in Yobe state. The National Programme Manager, British Council/Managing Conflict in Nigeria, Prof. Tabiu Mohammed, said that the programme; was to achieve a monumental step in addressing serious societal challenges to foster sustainable peace and security in the state.
