Who’s afraid of Nigeria in the 21st Century?

This post should have come a long time ago, but I put it off just to see if I could get another news bit that could help me make this post a bit interesting – as there are always new developments everyday. This is because it appears I was hasty to put out my earlier post titled “The problem with Nigeria, the problem with the north”. It was interesting to see that after a few days Point Blank News online published something that reflected my article, which appears to be conspiratorial to some extent with regard to the post election violence in Nigeria in the recent past.

Not too long ago, on June 5^th of this year, I was left shaking my head on the apparent reality that the north as a whole or its elites is not willing to embrace the place of dialectics in nature. Change has always been a permanent phenomenon; but rather than adapt, the north and its elite try to swim against the tide. How possible can that be?

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On the aforementioned date above I read “an exclusive report” written by Jide Ajani of the Vanguard Newspaper, on how some northern politicians – among whom were members of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Unity Forum and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) etc were already putting plans together to ensure Nigeria’s north retakes political power come year 2015 – one some are not even sure to see alive although I don’t imply here that I wish them ill. Not at all! In the article published June 5, 2011 at www.vanguardngr.com/2011/06/the-new-northern-agenda-how-the-north-plans-to-retake-power/ the author stated how some members of the northern elite could not wait for the President to settle down before plotting their scheme. He emphasised how they lamented their failure, of not having done what ought to have been done to stop President Goodluck [with the failure of the rotation formula of the PDP] – probably via terror as we have witnessed with respect to the recent spate of bombings in some parts of the country; one that could be some elements in the north like the Gboko Haram making good Adamu Ciroma’s post election gift manifestation of causing chaos in Nigeria should the Jonathan-Sambo train succeeds in reaching the station. I begin to understand with the passage of time why you hear statements like “we are born to rule” on sites like face book. From the article they (i.e. attendees) even showed how dumb they appeared to have even raised the issue of how Mr. President should have been stopped before the demise of his boss – one that showed how illiterate some of them are with respect to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Of course they should not be blamed because we never had the opportunity of drafting our constitution even though it reads “we the people of Nigeria…” right?

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Furthermore, Jide wrote about how the politicians discussed about putting a tab – whatever that means – on Jonathan to make possible 2015 plan of “Power to the North”. They also, according to the author of the article, questioned the reason for the Chief Justice of the Federation, the National Security Adviser and the heads of the State Security Service (SSS) and the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) respectively should be Christians. They also pointed out that of all the Service Chiefs only one was a Muslim and that in the past of the 1,500 SSS personnel at the Presidential Villa in the recent past 500 were of northern extraction compared to the few among the current 700 at present. Can there be anymore pathetic and anti-modern Nigeria crop of politicians as the said participants at the meeting? Well time would tell.

It’s important for me to state here however that I in no way want to paint a particular people as useless but working on perceived phenomena. However, it is the responsibility of northerners who do not share in the aspirations of the crop of politicians that part of Nigeria has fielded to come into the open and shame them for people to believe that truly the north are not the same. Of course, there are good people up north as I am privileged to experience time and time again. That said, let us now proceed further.

In my past article The problem with Nigeria, the problem with the north (which I suggest you read to understand where am coming from with regard to the thrust of this one) I tried to show how Nigeria politics found expression prior to and after independence and how the gladiators at the time – we now refer to as founding fathers – failed to take critical factors that were and are still prevalent into consideration, proffering pragmatic solution to possible future problems as we have witnessed and are witnessing today, before legalising this “holy-turned-unholy matrimony” we are in today; one characterised by rancour as it were. When I look back to that article and many more documents that are dedicated to highlighting our problems and solutions that are never implemented I begin to wonder if there is any use to keep on undertaking researches aimed at discovering solution for this nation. But, I and many other well meaning citizens of this country won’t give up, but will continue to make known the folly of many who go by that “rubbished” label, Leaders.

In that, article the same phenomena identified as the Achilles heel militating against the realisation of a Country built on sincerity is still being made the motto of today's crop of politicians, such being acute in northern Nigeria, hence my giving this article the title, “Who’s afraid of Nigeria in the 21^st Century?”. For me, I believe the north of all the sections of this country is insecure when left naked without political power, hence their desperation to have strong representation in the corridors of power. The events of the past and recent past in the annals of this country highlights this insecurity as the years go by.

Come to think of it, what did they ever achieve throughout the over 30 years they (rulers of northern extraction, I refer to them as such because ruling and not leading was what they did) held power? Isn't it a story of marching backward at an astronomical pace? When did our currency begin its nose dive and under whose administration? When was corruption institutionalised? Who neglected the education system of the north and Nigeria as a whole? Are all these anomalies not the doing of their sons?  Today some northern politicians attribute the Gboko Haram problem to unemployment and illiteracy in northern Nigeria. In doing this they fail to address the phobia for education traceable to past belief of their fathers, that western education is a tool for religious conversion one I believe that is still reinforced amongst the talakawa still today. No wonder they were late in embracing western education as it were.

in an article by Armstrong Bakam published on Tuesday June 14^th 2011 at www.234next.com (http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5715607-147/story.csp?) the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education For All (CSACEFA) said that Bauchi state had the highest rate of young illiterates with ages ranging between 5 and 16 which constitutes 56% of children as indicated by the Nigeria Education Data Survey (NEDS). Isn’t that sad with 11 of the 15years target set out for the attainment of MDG’s gone? What does the Gboko Haram they (the politicians) use as excuse stand for? Is it for or anti-education and western civilisation a reversal to what was vis-à-vis my statement in the above paragraph?

Going back to the lamentation of some of the attendees at the so called meeting vis–à–vis operation “power capture by northern Nigeria come 2015” which saw them listing the low representation of the north in the recent past administration and the current administration, isn’t it a case of the north's faeces being the only sweet smelling aroma which all have had to stomach and the rest of Nigeria’s stinking? What was the power configuration and government appointments like in the past administrations headed by northerners? Wasn’t or is it not “baban riga” everywhere with people from other ethnic groups added just to tone down the grumbling from other quarters? When did people from other tribes begin making it to the highest echelon in the army after the civil war? Isn’t it the “privilege” of the north until recently – one the result of the fear of domination and the need to monopolise power? At least the individual alleged to have referred to the makeup of the SSS on duty at Aso Rock emphasised that, as stated in Mr. Jide’s article. Thus, is the north trying to tell us that the north, only, is right in whatever it does while others are always wrong in what they do? I think its high time northern Nigeria embraces change and work towards building up its people to survive in a dynamic Nigeria rather than take us all hostage.

Today the pressure is on President Jonathan to replicate the Niger-Delta amnesty in the north. What justification do such proponents have? Should every agitating group be given amnesty? What happened to the Biafrans? Didn’t Nigeria of the day rob them systematically of their substance after the war only giving them a paltry £20 pounds each compared to some whose wealth were confiscated at the time? Didn’t they (Igbos) move on by concentrating on building up themselves? Didn’t they fight because the Gowon led Nigeria reneged on the original Aburi Accord (no thanks to the British who largely are to be crucified if any one needs to be as they are the major cause of these madness as they re-educated the Nigerians on the implication of the accord they signed alongside the Biafrans led by Nigeria’s first Graduate to join the army)? Did they (the Igbo) unleash terror after a few years with the excuse of having been denied their right in Nigeria? What then happens to the OPC etc? People speak of unemployment as the reason behind most vices. I do not disagree entirely. But I believe it automatically means every unemployed graduate qualifies for amnesty if such is extended to Gboko Haram.

It’s unfortunate that a man who calls himself an expert on security, Mr. Max Gbanite could come on TV (Africa Independent Television) in the aftermath of the suicide bomb explosion at the Force Headquarters of the Nigeria Police in Abuja to state categorically that the Gboko Haram group was meted with injustice in the past. Are they the only ones experiencing unjust incarceration – if that is really the case? When a group becomes a threat to national security and it is clamped down on, is it injustice? Is that sect in question more superior to the Nigerian State? Truth be told, illiteracy exists in all parts of this country because of neglect. But unlike other parts, the talakawa of the north appears averse to education – the doing of their leaders (aided by many ignorant parents and guardians) who consistently want them to remain under to serve as tools for selfish gains while their own children get the best of education having seen the light and tasted the reward of being learned. Because majority of the talakawa are gullible, the result of inadequate of lack of education, they fail to understand that they are being deceived by rebellious individuals amongst them who are in fact dogs when it comes to leadership. I say this because leadership is about pace-making. The leaders of sects like Gboko Haram and other radical clerics sympathetic to their cause have failed in that respect as they and their children appear to project the fact that they deserve life while the gullible are to die for causes they don’t even understand. Still, the talakawa so deceived appear incapacitated to question that status quo. Sad, indeed.

The fact is there, that the northern politicians misused the opportunity they had to improve the lives of their people. Hence, there is no rationale to continue to cry over spilt milk. They should rather work towards adapting to a new Nigeria in the making. Political power is not the birth right of any section of this country, not even the northern part of Nigeria. Largely they are the reason for the formulation of such ineffective policies like the Federal Character Principle that constantly robs many who merit certain rights based on qualification and that has perpetuated the culture of filling square pegs into round holes just to ensure the north adequately represented – even though people may want to argue from the perspective that its to protect the minorities. Even with the quota system in operation in universities how many northerners leave the comfort of their states to school down south? Is it because they are scared of competing or because they can’t stand their competition in other parts of Nigeria?

Many do not recognise the fact that the phobia and overreaction of the north escalated the situation that caused the Nigeria civil war. After the failed coup that has today been, tagged “Igbo Coup” (an erroneous one only based on the fact that majority of the top ranking officers were of Igbo extraction but with support of other officers from other regions) General Aguiyi sort to bring sanity to the country and its civil service – with respect to correcting the disparities that exist – by bringing to bear on the people the unitary system he believed was appropriate if Nigeria was to succeed. He I believe saw the anomalies in the political fabric of Nigeria, which needed to be addressed and believed organising its affairs under one strong centre was a good starter – just as such arrangement made the military a successful institution in spite of the different people from different backgrounds that make up its numbers. Unfortunately, it was perceived by same northern elites as the part two of the Igbo Agenda, “domination”. Students of Nigeria history will agree with me that the status quo with regard to the unpreparedness of the north to be a part of Nigeria because of its level of development when compared to the other regions led to variation in the workings of the federal and state civil service respectively. Thus if one were to have started work in the federal civil service his counterpart in the state civil service would after a time experience rapid promotion in rank for instance – one that made some think the federal service was not worth it. The problem of the north sadly is akin to xenophobia if you ask me as it still echoes the words of the “Golden Voice” and former Prime Minister, Late Alhaji Tafawa Balewa.

So far the north appears to be an over grown baby refusing to mature. It should have grown up to a point where its concern should be about having mouth pieces (representatives) like other stakeholders and not acting like a child a parent wants to wean of his favourite feeding bottle for solid food while he chooses to throw tantrums so as to remain a toddler ad infinitum when it comes to the question of who wields political power.

Nigeria should have gotten to a point where a Hausa man can contest for and win the governorship seat in Abia or Lagos states and vice versa. Sadly, primitive politics is still a cog in the wheel still. Today sects like Gboko Haram now tells us what must be done for peace to reign, among which include full scale sharia implementation in twelve (12) states. This begs the question of, if Nigeria, which constitution has been violated by same people on many points via irrational violence rooted in ancient hatred (and religion most times), was founded as a religious or secular state? Be on the look out and the list could include same twelve states the late Okar carved out as those to be kicked out of Nigeria should the coup he led succeed. If the north is true to itself groups like the Gboko Haram sect, (which I believe some bad eggs among the northern politicians are patronising) won't be in existence because they have no cogent reason to be. Their leaders and not Nigeria failed them. I believe its imperative we really discuss if we must live together and go by that name Nigeria. There is no use remaining in wedlock if one partner feels threatened in the marriage, in this case the north is that insecure partner, a people so scared of their future in a dynamic and progressive Nigeria State in the 21^st Century.

***Postscript: with the statements credited to some politicians, I believe its high time the current administration summons courage to deal with the current insecurity in the country, unlike the past ones that acted like men without balls either because of unclean hands or because of some gains. Such politicians should be held responsible for their promise of making northern Nigeria another Afghanistan should Jonathan-Sambo assume office. They should be made to explain themselves or prove how innocent they are. Its time to end the era of impunity in Nigeria.

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