Nigeria Nationality War
Before Nigeria finally implodes, i decided to write this piece while also reflecting on post Nigeria War leadership quagmire and the various actors that have consolidated the lie in the Nigeria project. As we contemplate on the contraption and the ideals it was supposed to uphold. For instance, A Nigeria likely to have the people’s love and awe could be one where the son of a nobody could compete with the son of somebody and wins. A Nigeria where competence is esteemed above mediocrity, religious affiliations and nepotism. A Nigeria where a father or relatives should not spend days in police custody for the offense and crime of another who stole or bruise the ego of the rich. A state where equality before the law is not an ethnic ideal but a value system for all. I believe in a Nigeria where the spirit of republicanism and free enterprise is encouraged by law to thrive rather than to trifle it. A Nigeria fully grown to the status of a man that he looks the children of imperialism in the eye and say” you do not eat my food, drink my water and call me black”, you do not collect my resources stored up in your banks and call me fantastically corrupt and yet your banks and lawyers are actors in covering stolen resources and providing safe haven for the fantastically corrupt.
Since the Nigeria system provided none of the aforementioned; for exigencies sake, I would rather speak to a Nigeria of the present struggling with her identity.
Different national speakers had in books, seminars and conferences given credence to the point that unless Nigeria is restructured, it is certainly headed for implosion. Various indices have also pointed to that fact. The right wing igbo from the outset believed and laboured in the titanic project called Nigeria more than any other ethnic nationalities in the universal set. Evident in their colossal investment seating off the shores of igboland. They adamantly have rightly given voice to the need for restructuring of Nigeria in the face of the present and past realities and for enhance economic advancement, religious freedom and tolerance and identity appreciation and recognition. More so, were the Yorubas whose voice echoed in the hall of congress. Unfortunately these voices are limited in our generation. Of course, other nationalities in south- south have rebranded it (resource control (. To save Nigeria therefore, our present leaders must consider available ideas and shelve the bruise on their ego.
The salvation of Nigeria is on three life lines among which our “recycled leaders” could do us a favour and work together to see that Nigeria does not just survive but that she also thrives in all human endeavour especially in adequate channelling of competent inherent in her rich educated and skilled people.
On the basis of the first life line which is constitutional restructuring that has the concept and dynamics of federalism and fiscal responsibility vested on the peoples of the federating unit; and a clearly defined unambiguous religious laws that have no preference for religious affiliations but rather protects such affiliation as individual. Further down the lane of federating units for example, the Oduduwa manifesto clearly desire the inclusion of all Yoruba speaking part of Kogi, Edo, and kwara into the main stream Yoruba states. Conversely, some ethnic nationalities in the middle belt and Niger-delta wish to advance their ideas and aspirations away from Hausa and Biafra struggle respectively. Therefore, unless such aspirations are tested on the crucible of referendum, the will of the people is never known. On the other hand, unlike some Igbo people, I totally support “ chidi ebiam’s ideology” on the idea of a new Biafra map and the union of the willing” The Igbo in their vociferous demand for a federating unit should also seek the inclusion of all Igbo speaking part of Edo, Delta, PH, Kogi and Benue into mainstream Igbo states not only on linguistic similarities but on ideological compatibility while recognizing the union as “willing”. If on the contrary they wish to stay as igbo minorities or whatever name they choose in the south-south agenda, such desire should be respected. The willing should call to mind that Switzerland has both German and French speaking regions. Austria seceded from Germany on ideological differences even though they have linguistic similarities. Belgium and France, Canada has both French speaking Quebec and English speaking region. These are union forged under mutual respect, accord and ideological predilections. Ekweremadu in his book: who will love my country: Ideas of building the Nigeria of our dream” posited that fiscal federalism does not mean equality of the federating units even in the forest all tress are not equal”. The veracity of this statement further underpins the need for competitive economy and idea driven democracy rather than shying away from it, we should pursue it.
A strong glance at the second life line is not a retrogressive step but an embrace of a system that totally represents a widely consulted representation of the will of the people- the regional government of 1960. Other scholars called it the collapse of the 36 states or geopolitical zones into six regions.
Thirdly should be an agreement signed to protect the life of over 40 million old Eastern region in particular and the future of other ethnic minorities in general. The Aburi accord of 1967, which proposed the replacement of regional government with confederation arrangement. It did not survive the day as pressure from the combines of western machination, Sokoto caliphate and Yoruba oligarchy pushed Gowon to renege on those accords. Gowon did not realize that Ojukwu was offering Nigeria in general and Gowon’s people in particular what could save her people from Hausa-Fulani domination. Today Gowon’s people in plateau state have joined force with other minorities including southern Kaduna to disentangle from Hausa/Fulani subjugation. Therefore no matter how wrong you think an idea was only time, perhaps in the right hand will prove it worthy of a venture. Despite our feeling about published literatures on the cause and consequence of Biafra war and the on-going social media ethnic vituperation on the obvious Nigeria dichotomy. The truth remains that Biafra exposed an already existing ethnic divide and western hatred of healthy competition at economic and technology levels.
These crop of Nigeria leaders with few exceptions have failed to address the foregoing on its merits, gravely steeping Nigeria division and paving way for nationality war on three fronts- Identity, religion and economic. The question is who gains if Nigeria nationalities go to war? Only the west has something to gain in a divided Nigeria and at war. From the dismantling of colonialism, it has been their agenda to castrate a heavy weight. The moment that black man declared his intention for freedom, recognition of his identity and embracing of his culture; he further came at logger head with his master- the west. He was inadvertently telling the west “ we are ready to compete on these three levels : identity, economic and technology. GEJ knew better, Murtala Mohammed paid dearly and Obasanjo has always been a willing tool in the hands of his western master. From replacing Murtala to capitulating to democracy as a military dictator and ceding of Bakassi Penusula to Cameroon while also recognizing the French interest in the oil and uranium rich land. While they ceded the land and laughed about it with a glass of wine they never thought of a people killed, butchered, desecrated, raped and eviscerated 50years ago. On the forefront of these agenda are multi-national co-operations posing as friends where as they are sleeper cells of the enemy’s intent. These groups have contributed to more conflict in Africa for economic gain alone. Although they front their aid package to Africa in billions of dollars, yet if the truth be told, the Africans in diaspora have invested more funds in Africa from 2010-2016 than the combines of all western aids.
Coming back to my question, if Nigeria goes to war, who will gain? In my opinion, I think that the Buhari administration has given them everything they need for a nationality war visa-vie CIA prediction and the available indices. The available technology today, advance war machines and information in this age, Arewa should never think that this was 1967 when they had the backing of the south west and the west. They should also remember that a 3days police action stretched to a 3years war even with the help of the west. Today’s context makes it quite different even amidst a grossly divided ethnic nationalities. On the led role to decide the direction of the war includes but not limited to identity divide, religious divide, internal and external economic interest. Etc
The possibility of peaceful accommodation of one of these options is less likely by the present benefactors in the Nigeria project. Cursory look will suffice me to say; (a) The south with about 17 states can hardly agree especially with perceived betrayal of the Igbo by Awo. In 1945, throughout the years leading up to independence has questioned the ground for the union and the need for different nationalities to go their separate ways. Zik and others could not lend their voice to that visionary idea and insight. Few years down the line, another Igbo man, in an entirely different circumstance offered Awo the same idea he gave voice to years earlier, he declined and we know the result. 50years later, the west again, whose leaders spoke that Buhari was perpetually unelectable and unworthy to lead a twenty first century Nigeria gave the Arewa a hand of fellowship; depicting the same pattern of treachery as in 1967-1970. The Arewa with about 10 major ethnic nationalities, though divided but always united against one enemy-south. On religious ground, the middle belt with claims to southern part of hausa-fulani core state and 6 other states are likely to go with their brother as was evident in 2015 election.
So in parliament, a united south, less likely, will need an unwilling middle belt for any meaningful constitutional change to be effected. More so, are the ethnic nationalities willing enough to compromise for a better state in Nigeria. Somewhere in the world it was said that compromise makes a good umbrella and poor roof.