by Maazi Obinna Akuwudike
Reno Omokri captured a lot of what I want to say in his tweet, where he urged the Buhari administration to do away with it’ s perceived Igbophobia, and work towards a Nigeria were everybody is seen as one.
There is without a doubt, an open hatred of other tribes, especially Southern tribes of Nigeria, by the Muhammadu Buhari led administration.
The Yorubas used to think they were the favoured ones, but clearly, with what has been happening recently, the Yorubas have realised that after the Igbo and South Southerners may have been dealt with, they would be next.
That was probably the birth of Sunday Igboho.
Nnamdi Kanu’ s call was very distant before the arrival the Muhammadu Buhari administration. Many people didn’ t know who he was, and Uwazuruike, was still deemed the leader of a Biafra struggle, everybody knew was only interested in self enrichment, and as such, wasn’ t taken seriously.
But Buhari set the ball rolling, when he insisted that he would be removing the equity in the Nigerian anthem and pledge, by telling Nigerians that here was a 95% Nigerian and a 5% Nigerian.
Even when the South West and Middle Belt, who felt the were part of the 95%, have suddenly realised, that the 95% Buhari was talking about, were strictly the Fulanis; the only people who had the right to do anything in Nigeria and get away with it.
A leader who saw every Nigerian as one, would never have allowed the Fulani herdsmen crisis, get to the extent it has gotten to today.
The Fulani herdsmen issue, is the singular issue, that is threatening the unity of this country. Every secessionist, is holding the killings and destruction of his people, by the Fulani herdsmen, as the reason for his agitation.
From the man in the Middle Belt who were the first casualties, to the Yorubas, to the Igbo and even the Niger Delta, the stories of blood is everywhere.
And the body language of the government seems in support of their killings and carnage, making people wonder if truly those at the top, are even desirous of a united Nigeria.
The lives and property lost in the last few years since the inception of this madness, which have now graduated to banditry and kidnapping, would have been avoided, if the Buhari administration had been sincere from the start, in its approach to the unity of this nation.
There wouldn’ t have been the argument today, of open grazing, if the Buhari administration, had put the interest of others into consideration, there wouldn’ t have been the friction we have today.
There are vast lands in the North, that would have been properly irrigated, and the herders can take those lands for their grazing, rather than allowing them to forcefully invade the lands of others, destroying other people’ s businesses for the selfish benefit of their cattle.
In other businesses, the South have promoted the business of the North, yet they are killed by the same people they help grow.
Government will give aid to Northern businesses, yet frustrate those owned by Southerners. Is it fair? Where it is ok for the Fulani cattle to destroy the crops of the Southerner?
Dangote makes billions selling noodles, sugar, cement and his main market is in the South. Yet rather than protect Innoson and even make the Presidential car and govenrors’ cars in Nigeria Innoson brands like in other countries that have car makers who value their unity, efforts was made at a time to frustrate Innoson.
Yet we are One Nigeria.
The administration’ s actions, which was further trumpeted by Malami’ s recent comments, practically endorsed the activities of the herdsmen against other tribes in Nigeria.
By that action, other Nigerians see themselves as second class citizens, and as such, the agitation for secession grows.
Today Nnamdi Kanu is waxing stronger by the day, and his gospel is gaining more International acceptance. The same has become the case with Sunday Igboho’ s agitation, and all these stemmed from the inequality and marginalisation, the Buhari administration seemed to have promoted.
Today the Yoruba man has become more conscious of his nationality, which he no longer sees firstly as a Nigerian. The same for the Igbo man and South Southerner. The Middle Belt have become more interested in being bunched with the South than the North, while the Hausa man has become more aware of his difference from a Fulani man.
It shouldn’ t have been so, if those charged with piloting the affairs of this nation, hadn’ t been religious and tribal bigots, who consider tribe and religion first, before the nation.
If we must tell ourselves the truth, Nigeria is at its most perilous time. This time, it’ s no longer just the South East and Southsouth that seem disenchanted with a union that doesn’ t see them as equal partners in progress, the South West and Middle Belt seem tired of the marriage, judging by the acceptance of Igboho’ s preachings.
What is the way forward?
Now, more than ever, Nigeria needs to gather around a table, and renegotiate this union.
We need to ask ourselves some questions, and give ourselves sincere answers.
It isn’ t questions that will be asked by selfish politicain, the questions much be asked by the Nigerian people. The man on the street must have a voice in deciding Nigeria, unlike when a British man an his girlfriend cooked up an unplanned union of very unlikely people.
We need to table our grievances and sincerely come to workable compromises.
This is the only way, Nigeria can survive beyond 2023, if she even gets to it as One.By Chimamanda Akuwudike
