Are you from a community in Borno, “HOME OF PEACE?” This title currently contradicts the current reality in the state since 2010 after the rise of the Boko Haram group. Yet, it is still possible that Borno people can build more social or industrial excellence if they have the liberty to own and control their lands, resources and socio-industrial destiny?
Today, the message of intercultural liberty becomes more relevant to Borno communities and their neighbors for them to prepare to manifest the greatness that God put in each community and individual at Tour of Liberty. This intercultural liberty is the belief that:
“there is something great in every community and culture, and so, they all deserve the liberty to own, modify and use their cultural, human and natural resources to prosper and to manifest their greatness to their communities, nations, continent and the world. And that the four institutions of public regulation (government, religion, academia and mass media) are only made to support these communities and their members to manifest their greatness.”
So, Bornon people are not made just to depend, survive and endure, but to prosper and manifest abundance to other people in Borno, Nigeria, Africa and the world. This Tour of Liberty will lead to discussion and institution of private property rights in a Restart National Conference for each community or individual to own and control their lands and resources (cultural, human and natural resources). For, despite government beautification of the environment, as long as the communities and individuals lack control of their lands and resources for socio-industrial growth, they are still under neo-colonial bondage.
CULTURAL RESOURCES: Borno was created in 1976 from the former North-Eastern state, and has about many tribes, such as Kanuri, Shuwa, Margi, Babur, Hausa, Mafa, Dghwede, Glavda, Guduf, Laamang, Yedina (Buduma), Kanembu, Waja, Guduf, and Laamang, Afade, Kyibaku, Kamwe, Kilba, Mandara, Chibok, Bura and others that spread across over 190 communities. Apart from their various tribal languages, they generally speak Hausa and English language. These communities and cultures in Borno have various festivals, stories and legends that they can refine and use for arts, songs, movies, entertainment and sending their message to the world. They are over 75 percent Muslim and about 20 percent Christian.
Before the advent of Boko Haram, these communities were known as some of the most hospitable and peaceful people, which earned them the name “Home of Peace”. And with some reforms from intercultural liberty, they can still reenact that fibre of peace and
HUMAN RESOURCES: based on the 2008 INEC register, Borno has a population of about 4.1 million vibrant and brave people. And some prominent people from Borno who can influence this socio-industrial liberation process and prosperity for Borno people include: Mohammed Ali Ndume, Kaka Mallam Yale, Ali Modu Sheriff, Oliver Dashe Doeme
NATURAL RESOURCES: Borno covers about 72,621 square kilometers of land and has extended dry seasons. Most of the communities have vast land to support various types of agriculture like guinea corn, millet, groundnuts, rice and wheat. Also, their closeness to lake Chad supports them for fishing, massive cattle-rearing for meat and leather.
POTENTIALS FOR THESE RESOURCES WITH THE ACTIVATION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS IN NIGERIA
CULTURAL: since they have different ethnic communities, they can develop movies, books, stories, games, and arts to project their story of harmonizing their differences to manifest their intercultural liberty.
HUMAN: with as much as 4.2million people and vast arable land, Borno has and can produce high level farmers, scholars, doctors, athletes and professionals in all sectors of the economy.
NATURAL RESOURCES:
Even though they are not fully utilizing their mineral resources, their vast arable land can massively produce and improve from mechanized farming.
When communities and individuals take control of their lands and resources, then they can partner with various groups and well-regulated investors to properly use these resources to prosper and manifest their abundance.
