Nigeria is passing through a phase in the history because the “homegrown” terrorist risk is on the rise, but the Aso Rock has been slower to respond to the threats.

Also, the leaderships of the appropriate agencies responsible for public safety are still struggling to provide answers in the last two years. Effective political and public safety leadership is the first compulsory requirement for successful counterterrorism operations strategy to attack and defeat terrorism.

Of course, the real danger lies not with what the terrorist can do to us but what we can do to offer essential leadership and do our best to improve our ability to weather the age of terrorism and disasters. Therefore, the country needs political leadership that will inspire people and take them out of turmoil.

Nigerians are cognizance of the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan inherited these problems from the past administrations, including inept law enforcement agencies and the highly politicized Nigerian military.

Nevertheless, it is natural for people to look up for a way out in a time of crisis. Every crisis always produces leadership that may come in the form of individual or organization to give hope to people in the midst of their trouble and inspire them to triumph over their problems. President George W. Bush did not create the problem that led to the tragedy of 9/11 but he provided needed leadership. He never blamed Muslims because the suicide bombers were Muslims by name but accused al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden and declared war against them.

Winston Churchill did not create the problem of the WWII but one of his major contributions that eventually led his country to victory was the ability to inspire the British people to greater effort by making public broadcasts on significant occasions. A brilliant orator, he was a tireless source of strength to people experiencing the sufferings of the Blitz.

President Jonathan must personally engage Nigerians through constant media broadcast to educate citizens that the ongoing war is neither religious nor struggle between the South and the North.

Hence, below are “to do” lists for President Jonathan’s consideration in 2012:

First, presidency must set up a terrorism advisory system that effectively communicates information about terrorist threats by providing timely, detailed information to the public, and government agencies. The government would have minimized the casualties of Christmas day bombing if there are NTAS in place to warn people about the threat level.

Attacking And Defeating Terrorism In Nigeria