The problem with Nigeria; the problem with the North

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Nigeria, Good People Great country, we did it again! This great country has gone down same road of electing representatives in the past; hence, it’s not a new experience. Between 1951 and 1957, Nigerians had seven elections to elect representatives to the three regional houses of assembly and two the central House of Representatives. Just recently, we did so again with relative success; the world applauding us and even South Africa’s President Zuma stating that it’s a model for Africa – such feats is what the acclaimed giant of Africa should have been known for.

Before delving into our discussion, let me first congratulate all Nigerians, who contributed in one capacity or the other to make the recent polls a success. It is apparent, judging from previous ones, that the just concluded polls, even though there were some lapses, can be adjudged to have been successful. We all apprehend the hierarchical arrangement in nature, and how realities manifest in degrees - of superiority or perfection, perfection not in its strict sense, because imperfection cannot birth perfection.

Having said the above, we will then proceed to look at the events that occurred before and after the polls. I still recall one of the first papers each member of my schools philosophy class were asked to write; titled "History Teaches that History Teaches Nothing. I argued for the position that indeed history is indeed a wonderful teacher. However, this great teacher unfortunately is confronted with either dull students or students who never want to apply what they have been taught or who want to remain as educated illiterates.

I believe that this article will raise fundamental questions, some of which have been ignored, that will help us better understand the reasons behind the post election violence and to better appreciate the complexity of Nigeria and to judge the viability of the various options available should Nigerians ever call for a dissolution of this country called Nigeria.

Of most importance, I wish to state here that I believe this article will reflect the ideas, in some aspects, of the men and women going about their lawful activities as many are tired of the elite telling us the version from their own perspective. We want them to understand that we now know better and hence want steps taken to forestall future tragedies.

Before going any further, it’s apt for me to state that, like every good writer, I anticipate criticisms, antagonism, and applause. This is because in human relations there is bound to be differences. However, I will do my best to clarify some areas with respect to comments and questions that will arise from readers, later.

The complex nature of Nigeria

Because of the scope of this article and the varying audience it is targeted to, I will shy away from making it too technical for the sake of lay readers. Hence, I will try to leave off technical definition of terms where possible. Nevertheless, the content I believe would do justice to the issue of discussion.

The nature of Nigeria has always been an issue of debate in the academic field: of whether it is a "Nation State". The position of this article, however, takes the position of Nigeria being a country working towards achieving unity despite the diversities that is expressed within its boundaries. With well over 500 languages Nigeria has been generally recognised to be one of the principal melting points of cultures and languages as different African nations interacted on the basis of trade or war conquests leading to the assimilation of conquered cultures[1]. In describing the British creation in Africa – and this applies to Nigeria – Margery Perham put it thus:

“[…that] European rule was imposed like a great steel grid over the amorphous cellular tissue of tribal Africa and  the hundreds of independent and often hostile communities were held within its interstice of peace…[which allowed free movement of people and encouraged sharing of ideas between people who ordinarily may never meet or know each other]”[2]

From the above quote, one easily understands why people argue that Nigeria is just a geographical expression, a British creation. Pre and post independence activities were aimed towards creating a national awareness amongst people who have been brought together by the forces of nature and to maintain the entity so created – Nigeria.

 Federalism and Ethnic Conflict in Nigeria    Oil, Democracy and the Promise of True Federalism in Nigeria   A History of Nigeria
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From the foregoing, to my mind Nigeria is a consciousness we still struggle to make all who lay claim to be “Nigerians” to internalize. Largely it appears to be but a label, going by the outlook of many with respect to Nigeria. It is not a nation in the strict sense of having a common language or culture etc. it is, in a broad sense, a nation – if really we can judge it to be so – based on the sentiments expressed by a people, of belonging to a nation (Nigeria) and fired by the desire for its prosperity. Sadly, it’s apparent that we are a long way from achieving our dream of nationhood – based on the prevailing situation in the country. Rather than be a blessing that will launch us into greatness, it appears the nature of Nigeria is her bane – threatening to destroy her. Rather than think Nigeria, what finds expression today is “cultural nationalism” or a race consciousness in a supposed modern state, thereby gravitating towards what was prior to colonialism.

This nature of Nigeria as a country in quest for nationhood has been a strong contributing factor underlying past events in the annals of the country - and which would continue to determine our socio-political and economic relations in future. Take for instance the policies made in the past, such as the "Federal Character Principle" which was formulated to protect perceived sections of the country from being dominated in a supposedly "lopsided" social arrangement - However, this policy has created its own problems as it systematically leads to the denial of merited rights of many. This can be seen in the area of job appointments where candidates with the requisite skill and qualification become themselves victim of the very same tool designed to ensure equity or balance.

To my mind, even though our predecessors had good intents with regard to formulating such policies like the one mentioned above, they seem to have “failed” to recognize that such policies would function properly where there has been a mental revolution and where all parties involved are ready to outdo one another, in a healthy fashion, with respect to development. This is true if we look at the Northern part of the country. Hence, a policy like the “Federal Character Principle” either has outlived its usefulness or appears to be similar to putting the cart before the horse – which may serve as an explanation for its apparent failure since the north has blatantly refused to develop with respect to educational empowerment etc, or is that their leaders are keeping them down under?

The problem with Nigeria

According to Professor Chinua Achebe, the problem with Nigeria can be traceable to Leadership – even though a critical mind would disprove that assertion on the basis of the fact that the Nigerian experience has not been akin to “a kingdom where a one eyed man is king”. Indeed many “good eyed” citizens of this country saw the anomaly in our leadership; they either kept quiet or connived in the evils and misrule meted on all citizens. Over the years, we have had leaders who mismanaged this country, looting and salting away resources needed for the development of human resources and infrastructure. Others lacked the political and moral will to prosecute erring predecessors – though it appears now that they did so to protect their backside ensuring their own skeletons were not exposed when they have left power – thus perpetuating the culture of impunity as it were. This corrupt state of affairs has so permeated the country’s social fabric as families now reek of its stench, prompting one to think whether it’s the leaders that that really influence followers or if they merely express what they have been inculcated with from home.

Still talking about leadership, yes! We should be grateful to our founding fathers for fighting for our independence – or is it for throwing us into a hot pot of soup out of which it’s now difficult for us to come out of simply because it appears we feel the heat while enjoying its taste and aroma as well? The idea of self-governance was welcome at the time. However, the question remains, were all parties fully developed to adapt to such change?

Again, as if the unpreparedness of some parts for self-governance was not enough, some of our founding fathers also sowed seeds of discords – intentionally or not. These (seeds of discord) also can be identified as having fanned the embers of distrust, hate, and tribalism, a persistent threat to our quest to nationhood, as we shall also see.

Nigeria needs a leader who is not only visionary, intelligent, morally upright and who has the will or guts to enforce the laws of this country without regards to status or individuals involved. Hence, it behoves the citizenry to utilize their votes for positive change. This Nigerians have done with the recent polls – even though irregularities were recorded in some areas, one that can be attributed to desperation on the part of some politicians.

We shall come back to discuss the way forward in the latter part of this article after looking at the problem with the north, how it has militated against Nigeria unity. I will try to show how it explains the “post election violence” that swept across northern Nigeria.

Seeds of discord

An observation of most forums – including online ones like facebook powered ones – one finds myriads of analyses. The amazing thing about many of such analyses is that their authors seem not to have any recollection of historical events, or that  they haven’t experienced any or at best have no idea about the object of their analysis. Little wonder most make irrational statements.

Such analysts indeed only serve to underscore the thrust of argument, that “history teaches that history teaches nothing” – a fallacy, because history as a great teacher over the years has had students who would rather not want to learn. If we learn to learn from history, which sometimes repeat with quick succession or after a long time, we won’t have made some of the avoidable mistakes we have made.

In the process of securing Nigeria independence our founding fathers also faltered in one way or the other. This brings to the fore again the impact leaders have on the led. Perhaps they should have realized that more deliberations should have been done before we tied the “marital knot” of nationhood. It appears they wanted their names engraved in gold at all costs; thereby hastily founding this country on a ground riddled with mines and cluster bombs waiting to explode at the slightest disturbance. I say this because the phenomena of today also found expression throughout the 50’s especially through to the 60’s and then continued onwards.

Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe
Now speaking of “seeds of discord”, I will proceed to cite some instances for us to judge. Most critics describe the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe as a “big time tribalist”, hence the aggression in some quarters. He was considered “power mad”, a driving force behind his push for a Nigerian state. According to his critics accused him “of having a consuming passion to be Nigeria’s first president”[3]. A “reckless” statement is also on record, one in which he stated that it appears the God of Africa created the Igbo race with the responsibility of liberating Africa, a responsibility she (the Igbo) mustn’t relent on. With such loose statement credited to him, even though he publicly eschewed tribalism, having a huge Igbo political followership provoked a strong opposition from leaders of other groups – especially the Yoruba[4].

Alhaji Tafawa Balewa
Now we come to another political icon at that time, the late Mallam Tafawa Balewa. In making history, he also failed at some point to influence his people mentally[5] with respect to building a unified Nigeria. In the course of the budget session at the Nigerian Legislative Council, in march of 1948, Mallam Tafawa Balewa the “Golden Voice of Africa” reaffirmed (or affirmed) the northern position with respect to Nigeria’s unity. He stated that many Nigerians deceive themselves thinking Nigeria is one, that the presence of unity is merely artificial and that the southern tribes who pour into the north are regarded as invaders[6]. Such coming from a respected individual should have got the other political gladiators to think about how to cure the cancer of tribalism. He also pointed to economic domination saying “… [though the Europeans are around] it is the southerner(s) who have the power in the north [as the run the post offices, hospitals and canteens including the government secretariats].”[7] Don’t also forget they asserted their non-readiness for self-government at the time. They also threatened secession and withdrawal to southern Sudan on many occasions – one I have always believed would have been better for this country. See my reasons for that when you read another interesting article on this blog titled: Who’s afraid of Nigeria in the 21st Century?

Chief Obafemi Awolowo
Further still on our past leaders and how they influenced the people of Nigeria by emphasizing our differences and the need for collective self-preservation, we come to late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. A great mind of his time, like all mortals, in spite of his nationalist activities human nature still prevailed. Many South Easterners disliked him for putting his interest first before any other. Take for instance his action of siding with the Nigerian Government during the Nigerian civil war, against his (former partners in progress with respect to building Nigeria) where he suggested starvation as a legitimate weapon of war against the Biafrans, whose own saved him during his incarceration. This coupled with the famous Cross Carpet in the Western Region has created the impression, or has made it acute, in the minds of the Igbo that the Yoruba are a people not to be trusted.

Having stated some of the events in the past involving the founders of this country, Nigeria, I begin to see and to understand what I was taught during my days in the university, of the quality of a true representative. The three major gladiators mentioned above (i.e. Zik, Awo and Balewa) failed to behave in the ideal way representatives should. I know some may fault this statement because ideals are usually defeated in practice. To my mind, I think they should have allowed the interest of the country they seek to bring to being to override the individual interests.

It is believed that a true representative of a people must find a middle ground between the needs of his constituency and his idea of what their needs are truly are. Take for instance the statements of Mallam Tafawa Balewa, rather than go all out to emphasis the views about the north with regards to the backwardness of the north at the time militating against their being able to compete favourably with the southerners in their midst, he should have worked towards organising the ruling class and enlightened northerners so as to find a solution aimed at arming the people with all that’s needed by them to succeed. Instead, he allowed the ideas of the people to override the ideals of one Nigeria he joined forces with the other gladiators to fight for. What is the rational behind embracing the concept of Nigeria when your people have no such consciousness in them?

Further more, a man like the late Zik should have been aware of his status to make just any kind of statement. He should have known that such a statement credited to him, which I cited above would cause eyebrows to be raised and his nationalistic activities critically questioned. Even though it is believed the 1951 constitution triggered regional politics our fathers should have deemphasised such ideas and not what they did like the famous “carpet crossing” that left Zik in the rains – himself not exhibiting the maturity expected of him by his act of plotting the removal of Eyo Ita in the east thereby further spreading the seed of hate and distrust.

Our leadership at the time failed because we lacked consistent and strong transregional and transtribal leaders, one that has continued till date. To sum this section up, this article posits that Nigeria’s problem is in two parts (1) a lack of transregional and transtribal leaders and (2) the failure of those who lay claim to the “Concept of Nigeria” to conceptualize the idea of Nigeria in a comprehensive manner. The Nigerian socio-political quagmire will continue unless leaders who can transcend the realm of rabid tribalism and sectionalism and who have a clear and consistent ideology come on scene; leaders who will do all it takes to “brain wash” the electorate they represent with the Nigerian idea until it is internalized (and blossoms in their minds). Only then would the object our quest (Nigeria) be realised. For now, many are just paying lip services to the phenomenon that is being expressed as Nigeria.

2011 Elections and the bloody violence; was there a northern conspiracy?

This section is bound to raise some dust as I believe it will polarize the views of the audience it is targeted. It may appear to be conspiratorial; but I believe that even conspiracy theories have inherent in them some truth if not the whole truth. Take the case of the Al Qaeda leader (Osama Bin Ladin) slayed recently, you find conspiracy to conceal at play on ground – either the ISI (Inter-Service Intelligence, Pakistan’s Secret Service) connived with or just allowed the network within to keep the terror king pin cosy in Pakistan for five years. With respect to the post election violence, if at all it was related to the election’s outcome directly, I will try to recreate a picture of what I believed was carefully designed to be.

The plan to set this country ablaze I believe was hatched by the north after the so called rotational presidential blueprint of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that they failed to force down our throats as supreme to the country’s constitution threatened to destabilize the party. I once read whey one gentle man even had the gut to say PDP’s constitution is Nigeria’s; and by virtue of its being empowered by same constitution the rotational idea amongst the six geopolitical zones – another PDP creation – must be adhered. The most appalling thing was the seeming acceptability of the whole idea of rotation by other political parties as the status quo – their silence to the best of my knowledge is tantamount to acceptability.

The north has over the years come to believe that ruling (which they have always done in the past and not showing good leadership) was their birth right. I however choose to see their desperate hold on power was the aftermath of the coup of 1966 and the phobia for southern domination; both poured together and mixed with the religious belief that the Hausa Muslim must not be ruled over by the unbeliever. Many have accused me of basing my analysis on religion. But it’s the case until I find a talakawa who will prove me wrong by challenging his brothers, their clerics and elite that such a view is unislāmic. Or how best can you explain this statement: of “how can two arnnes[8] live in the state house (Aso Rock)”? Coming from the so called urchins protesting, it underscores the fact that either they were fed with such by the northern elites and clerics, through their “khuṭbah,[9] as propaganda or it’s what their religion of Islām teaches – that a professor of Islām must not be under an unbeliever. I will come back to this later.
Now back to the “northern agenda” we come. I was sceptical when the big guns stepped down for Alhaji A. Atiku as a consensus choice for the north. Note that it was no longer about PDP because President Goodluck dared go against the PDP formula – a faulty thinking. At the point the twisted minds of some northern politicians thinking a northerner would replace the late President Yar Adua met the brick wall of reality, the dictates of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, marked the time the north began looking for a way to keep power in it “Home Town”, northern Nigeria. Of course if they ever conceived the idea of the demise of a sitting president, they would have worked towards adding a clause to the provisions of the constitution that would have prevented the vice president at the time completing the term of his boss. Hence with the new plan it was no longer about a party or a country but the north. The northern consensus Alhaji Atiku was just a decoy. Retired General Muhammadu Buhari was the chosen one.[10] This is a fact because the north never favoured the former.

For evidence to support my conspiracy argument as some would say it is, I will cite a statement made by a prominent northerner. It’s on record that Alhaji Adamu Ciroma asserted that the North would make its domain (and Nigeria) ungovernable should the incumbent President, a southerner, win[11]. Doesn’t that point to the fact that they were putting an alternative to a PDP candidate, a party that no longer served their interest?

I believe that with the daring attitude of Mr. President having been expressed the PDP northern members (most of its governors if not all) agreed to sell out Mr. President but some how retain their positions, since they could work with their own in spite of his party. Also recall how General Buhari’s camp spoke with all certainty of its sweeping the votes of the electorates at the polls. I also want to believe same conviction prompted the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) candidate to state that he was not going to contest the outcome of the polls – because when he wins there would be no use for a court as it were.

However, in spite of whatever plans the north made the electorate spoke resoundingly using their votes. I for one never favoured President Goodluck as president, but he became the only alternative needed – a change for once in the face of northern domination when it comes to the leadership of this country. Nigerians voted not so much on the basis of tribal or regional sentiment, but for a “change” from northern supremacist hegemony, which has been the status quo for over 30 years of Nigeria’s existence. Hence What the north is doing and one it seeks to perpetuate is a scheme the south never thought of, or if they did they shut their eyes to it. According to Coleman, very few southerners seriously considered the possibility of the north seeking its own destiny or even imposing its on concept of political development on the rest of the country[12] – which they have been doing all these years – once the wind of nationalism blows across the northern lands. They (southern political class) took them, just as we still do, for granted.

Further still on the northern conspiracy to derail the Goodluck-Sambo train, I believe CPC must have put in place the necessary machinery “solid”  enough to guarantee its winning the polls. Don’t forget that the northern conspiracy included sensitizing its people to make sure their voting power was amplified using under eighteens.[13] Take for instance while Southern Kaduna had inadequate Direct Data Capture machines during the voter registration process, areas like Tudun Wada, in the North, had it in abundance that under aged children metamorphosed into adults - the case in areas where CPC had influence. Having consolidated its influence in the north the party needed to complete the jigsaw, getting the south to buy its idea of “progressive change”. Its candidate, of all good men and clergy men, chose someone he believed would sympathise or understand his policies when the time comes (like implementing Sharīʿah he once talked about in the heat of Political Sharīʿah causing crises in some states?) as running mate[14]. CPC believed that the adoption of Pastor Bakare would guarantee the necessary votes needed from the south to win the polls. However, in spite of the fact that CPC used shrewd and crude means in working towards its success it failed. They could not translate the number of people that usually grace their rallies to votes. Having “lost” the presidential ticket we saw the PDP northern governors going back to Plan B, consolidating their positions in the next dispensation.

The last part of the last paragraph above raises some questions, like (1.) was the CPC after the number one position? (2.) was there a plan by the northern governors to decamp afterwards after achieving their grand plan via CPC?  (3.) did PDP suddenly wake up to overthrow CPC in their strongholds during the presidential elections? and (3.) if the second question is not the case, how on earth did CPC not having enough representatives in the state houses of assembly nor governors hope to run the Nigeria government with respect to reaching a compromise on issues of national interest where the executive might differ with the members of the houses? I believe questions one and two attracts a positive answer.

The immediate violence was not a direct result of the result of the presidential election outcome as it was an act carefully planned, premeditated as it were, over a long period; beginning from the time the question of whether the incumbent president will run or not. Or how do we explain the arms seized from the mosque at Barnawa High Cost Kaduna weeks before the polls; or the various attempts of aliens to find their way into southern Kaduna?  how about the bomb making academy at rafin guza, was it an arm of the Nigeria Defence Academy? I believe such was to make good the promise of Adamu Ciroma. What about the frightening arms imported into the country by the Iranian and his accomplices? Of course that issue might have been swept under the carpet as usual. Probably that weaponry would have been employed in the war against “a corrupt president, the ruling party and all who support it.”

Enough of the balderdash being spread via the media. I know many do not want a reaction from a people always fingered in the negative sense, but light must be let out. The violence was not a revolt against the system for denying some their dream candidate who would have instituted a caliph probably. It was not a revolt against the northern elite either for the destruction of the properties of PDP stalwarts is, to my mind, a distraction from the real mission – the extermination of any one perceived as anti CPC and the northern hold on power. What justifies the burning of places of worship and killing of innocent citizens of this country in the name of anger against ones leaders? Do they look like PDP secretariat or the departed the supposed PDP leaders? In fact one begins to think of the rational in the crisis. Wasn’t it supposed to have been unleashed by the southern arm of CPC for being denied their win? Why was it in the states they swept that the mayhem broke out? Analyse the whole situation and you will see that the reason for the violent uprising was to punish the south and all who appeared to have undermined the plan of the north with their votes. The so called “urchins”, some of who spoke fluent English when interviewed by a bbc journalist in the heat of the violence and who the CPC candidate denied were indeed protecting their votes by lynching innocent people just as their grand commander instructed them. I think the duo of Buhari and Bakare should tell us what protection[15] of vote means. If the CPC really was not in support of the violence staged by their supporters, or misguided elements as they chose to call them, all chanting “Sai CPC” (which means Its only or its CPC or no other), the CPC candidate should have dissuaded them. Rather they party and its leadership watched it degenerate probably thinking that INEC and the ruling party could be stampeded.

Imagine the new term in the air courtesy of CPC, “Forensic/Biometric Verification[16]. Its quite amusing reading through the text of the steps the CPC intends to employ in upturning the mandate of the president elect, president Goodluck Jonathan. I begin to wonder why the members of the CPC never contributed towards building our security outfits with respect to forensic investigation of those killed in the past: Dele Giwa, Bola Ige, Alfred Rewane, Kudirat Abiola etc – or is it because they are not Hausa? That would have paved way for their success today – for who wouldn’t vote for any person who champions such a course for leadership? Rather they choose to go for such scientific solution when its about their personal ambition at stake[17].

Conclusion: The next step while we wait

Now that we have a president elect let us allow him to complete his term and prepare for the next. It’s said that “to whom much is given, much is expected.” I am quite happy the president has instituted a panel of investigation. However, I think it’s still necessary the CPC candidate and Adamu Ciroma be invited to do some explaining with regards to their unguarded statements. Also, the general should be invited – I didn’t say arrested – to stand before all those who were apprehended by law enforcement agents and who claimed to have fought for CPC and deny them. It would be a pleasant sight to see the reactions of those vessels of Shayṭān (satan).

Secondly, a constitutional conference should be organised so that the north would bare its mind on our continual coexistence because many are fed up of the incessant destruction of lives and properties. It is important so as to determine how best Nigeria is to be dissolved – an option which wont be easy as any dissolution would be along ethnic lines and not by region. Enough of telling us the problem boils down to illiteracy and poverty. don’t we have acute poverty in the south? Aside robbery and other vices, have the down trodden there taken up arms to slaughter people for poverty sake? Enough of the quote, of “operation wetie?” that occurred in the past.

Thirdly, religious leaders no matter their level of influence should endeavour to teach their followers truth. It appears that in the north, the elites, and clerics, still want to maintain monopoly of knowledge to continue breeding cyborgs that would never question their motives, when ever the latter are needed for such devilish assignment the nations witnessed few weeks back. This can be traced to Islām, the surrender to the will of Allāh. The elite’s et al has so come to twist the truth in the religion, manipulating it for their selfish gains. some fraudulent ʿulamāʾ (learned) among them use irrational and poisonous raʾy (personal judgment) to brainwash the almajiris who become willing tools for destruction. The talakawa “peasant class” are not able to assert themselves because their hands appeared to have been tied by their doctrine: “addininmu addinin biyayya ne” (our religion is one of obedience) which is manipulated by the “filanin gida+ma’ aikata” (the traditional ruling class+the learned middle class).[18] Hence their every word is regarded as sacred and followed in to-to without questions. Take for instance the high regard they north has for the sultan of Sokoto compared to the president.

Please note that this article does not seek in any way to discredit any religion, not even Islām. But the actions of the Hausa north begin to cause one to wonder if the religion endorses violence. Of course, many in the South are Muslims but we don’t find the kind of madness up north there. Does it not suggest that either side are doing something wrong? I believe the last statement is true, being that there are divisions among the Muslim faithful on whether such aspect as jihād should be part of the pillars of Islām. Probably  the Nigeria Muslim community bought the idea of the Khawārij sect adding a sixth pillar, the jihād – the jihād originally meant to serve just one purpose, self defence against threats to the faith; but now exploited for devilish purposes by some.

Having said the above, I believe Nigeria will work and soar when we put our hands together to realise that dream, for all who have it. Until we do our bit in our little corners that dream will only end in the mind. The north I believe would be a lot better if they and indeed all Nigerians recognise the importance of mental emancipation. Hence, the governors should not rely on the central government to build their educational sector and encourage those they now refer to as urchins to embrace education. When education is in place and the e people are empowered there will exist no longer the acute phobia for western domination that began years ago as I pointed out in the course of our discussion.

Rather than waste time and resources going to the tribunal – like some posited but swallowed back their words out of desperation – let all parties join hands to build this country. Yes, there may be issues, and there are with regards to the way the electoral process went; but when we look carefully, we may find that those pointing accusing fingers have exactly four pointing back at them. all parties do rig at one point or the other – as we saw in Florida, in the United States of America – but it now depends upon who rigged whom out. Let all parties give peace a chance; and our leaders work towards instilling in ourselves a transtribal and transregional attitude, including ourselves.

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Notes
 
[1] J. S. Coleman, Nigeria: Background to nationalism (Berkley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1958) pp. 15.
[2] She highlights the effort of Britain to ensure peaceful interaction between “micro nations” at the time. This is not to say they never did relate. They wanted to create a large area of influence, thus welding different societies together as it were. See Margery Perham’s Introduction to Joan Wheare, The Nigerian Legislative Council (London: 1950), p. x.
[3] J. S. Coleman, op cit pp. 342.
[4] J. S. Coleman, ibid pp. 343.
[5] This ability found expression in Herbert Macaulay during his time. He was able to fire up the imagination of the semi-illiterates and illiterates of Lagos, creating the awareness in them of recognising they are superior as any other human person in existence, unlike the crop of leaders we have and now have.
[6] Legislative Council Debates, Nigeria, March 4, 1948, p. 227.
[7] Ibid.
[8] The word means ‘unbeliever.’ I put it in plural form because the statement was used to refer to the duo of President Goodluck and Vice President Namadi who is regarded by the talakawa here in Kaduna of not being a pure Muslim. It’s alleged that he is not a northerner but from Auchi.
[9] The word khuṭbah is Arabic for sermon, a usual part of the Friday prayer. Depending on the verse of the Qurʾān that is recited the sermon might have either moral, social, or political content or all. Friday sermons usually have considerable impact on public opinion regarding both moral and socio-political questions.
[10] His followers, who he also denied before the world, saw him as a messiah that would replace the corrupt leadership of the ruling party; one that is now corrupt because their kinsman is not at the helm of affairs of the country? Of course it was a perfect party when Mr. President’s boss won the 2007 polls with a mind bugling figure in the most flawed elections he admitted to.
[11] See the article on the man Adamu Ciroma and his regional politics at http://dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5646:metamorphosis-of-adamu-ciroma&catid=7:opinion&Itemid=12
[12] J. S. Coleman, op cit pp. 352
[13] The coalition of civil society organisations that monitored the 2011 general elections alleged that such irregularity was the case in the northern states. According to its spokes person Mr. Clement Nwankwo, “One area of concern was significant instances of underage voting in Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau, Nasarawa and Taraba States. In particular, Bajoga, Funakaya Local Government Area in Gombe State saw irate youths attempting to lynch the Resident Electoral Commissioner - along with a number of journalists - who sought to enforce the prohibition against underage voting.” See http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5691210-146/story.csp
[14] Probably Pastor Tunde Bakare a Muslim convert would better understand the north’s position on Sharīʿah I believe which informed his being Buhari’s favourite.
[15] They both used the word protect to describe they charge they gave their followers with Buhari using an extreme word “lynch.”
[16] See “How we’ll nail PDP at the tribunal CPC,” published in the Vanguard Newspaper of 10th may, 2011.
[17] It was the norm in the national house of assembly for representatives to make an issue one of personal interest once it involves someone close to them. selfishness?
[18] Coleman x-rayed the reasons why the north is what it is systematically in his work “Nigeria: Background to nationalism

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  1. I am not a northerner but I am a Muslim. In all, your article is well written for the part I was able to read but you reference to the religion of Islam is such that puts me off reading the article at some point.

    In as much as your claim that Nigerian leaders are bias, you have succeeded in making the same trait reflect in your article.

    It is just so difficult to stand a middle ground, isn't it.

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    1. Your comment is much welcome faroukzy. Like I stated I expected reactions like yours. I was neautral as much as I could. remember I took us back memory lane on how our leaders failed in putting the necessary conditions that would guarantee the success of Nigeria. The issue of religion arose as it concerns the North. Remember, ie if you even bothered finishing the article, that I stated I was not against Islam. However it doesn't mean one should turn a blind eye to how the religion has been manipulated. I doubt you read through. Thanks anyways

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