To hear some
Nigerians of southern extraction tell it, they are being colonised by Nigerians
of northern extraction. By colonisation, I do not mean it in the classical
sense: the establishment and perpetuation of hegemony, and the spread of its
political, cultural, social, and economic order. In the classical sense, and
insofar as continental Africa was concerned, seven European powers dominated
and controlled the public and private spaces of individuals and the state. But
in this context, in this instance, I think of colonisation as the exploitation,
the oppression, and the domination of a weak southern Nigeria by the powerful
northern Nigeria. At least, this is what some southerners are saying.
Some
southerners speak of northerners as if they are speaking of a people and a
region that is thousands of miles away. They speak and act as if northerners
are not their brothers and sisters and in-laws and neighbours - neighbours,
in-laws, sisters and brothers with similar aspirations and with common
historical experiences. This is not to say that northerners do not speak of
southerners in uncomplimentary terms. And they seem suspicious of the south:
that overly liberal, Americanising and increasingly secular, politically
disorganised, and polytheistic people and place.
I
am a southerner with good fortune to have lived in many parts of the country;
and mightily blessed to have nieces and nephews from all parts of the country,
too. Within my circle of friends and family, you barely hear the northerners
complain about the southerners. Well, maybe they do when "outsiders"
are not listening. But hell, you can't keep the southerners from expressing
their fears and anger.
In
the mind of the average southerner, the northerners are the "problem with
Nigeria." Many believe that the North is holding the South back in terms
of political and cultural progress and economic development. They believe that
"without the oil, the north would have seceded." And that once oil is
found in commercial quantity anywhere in the North, the drums will start
rolling for the separation of the country. They blame the North for all the
military coups and counter coups; yet, forgetting that rich, ambitious and
manipulating southerners, in many cases, financed and encouraged failed and
successful coups.
But
the greatest of the fears, insofar as one can tell, is the belief that the
North has a grand design to rule Nigeria from 1960 until eternity. The
oft-quoted passage that frightens many is this: "This New Nation called
Nigeria should be an estate of our great grandfather, Uthman Dan Fodio. We must
ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities in the North as
willing tools, and the South, as conquered territory and never allow them to
rule over us, and never allow them to have control over their future" (Sir
Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of Northern Region: The Parrot of
October 12, 1960). In spite of this, there is nothing in the memory of Nigeria
to indicate the North intends to colonise or lord over the country forever. But
don't tell this to the average southerner.
Some
southerners have data that seem to confirm their fears. Show up on the social
media on any given day and you will see/read many of the fearful and
fear-inducing commentaries about northerners. When the Niger Deltans are not
going well, they blame the North for "taking their money and oil
blocks." They blame the North for the poverty and social dislocations that
have befallen them (instead of blaming themselves and their leaders). Since
1999, indigenes of the Niger Delta have been running their respective states
(as governors, commissioners, and local council chairmen). What have they done
for the people and for their states in spite of the billions and billions of
dollars in budgetary allocations? Is that the fault of northerners, too? The
other day, a Niger Deltan governor, suffused with so much money and nothing to
do with it, dashed out two brand new Prado jeeps bought with unbudgeted state
funds, to a popular Nigerian musician simply for marrying, finally, a lady from
his state during a traditional wedding ceremony. Yet, the road to the wedding
venue is a big disgrace to behold.
As
far as I am concerned, Niger Deltans should stop blaming northerners for their
woes: they should look inwards, question and challenge their state governors. A
thief is a thief whether or not he/she is an insider or an outsider. Today, the
collective voice of the Niger Delta is almost silent. How many are today
talking about the inhumanity, the indifference, and the Stone-age condition of
the region? Where are all the so-called commanders and generals that were
pounding their chests and who waived AK 47 and other weapons in and around the
Niger Delta? The answer is simple: the vast majority have become caviar eaters
and champagne drinkers - wining and dining with political and economic
heavyweights in and outside of the country.
On
any given week, you will find some of these wannabe commandants and imaginary
generals flying to and fro choice vacation spots. And you will occasionally
find them at the Presidential Villa (or safe houses) giving and or receiving
reports and briefings. Many can also be found on the premises of the
Presidential Amnesty Office in Abuja conducting million dollar business.
"Forget the struggle," they will tell you to "chop as much as
you can...who knows what will happen after 2015." So, are they going to
blame future calamities on the northerners?
And
then there are the Yoruba. One cannot but wonder "what's going on amongst
the Yoruba?" From Action Group to the Unity Party of Nigeria, it was
achievement galore. But you go to western Nigeria today, what you see and feel
are confusion and economic stagnation. Meaningful progress halted! It is as if
the Yoruba, since 1985 or thereabout, suddenly ran out of ideas. For whatever
reason, they became unsure of themselves, became unsure of what to do and how
to do it. They ceded leadership to "rascals", as the President would
call them. What can small boys and small minds, read rascals, do - except
attempt small and inconsequential things? Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow,
they will wake up then blame the northerners.
The same unsightly scenario is evident in Igboland where
political governance has been taken over by merchants and desperadoes leaving
the region, known for its enterprise, as a den of kidnappers and decrepit
roads.
Is
northern Nigeria colonising southern Nigeria? The answer is a resounding No!
Collectively, is the North more politically clever than the South? Of course,
just as the South is more economically developed than the North. Are there
primordial suspicion and latent animosity between the two divides? Yes, of
course! Are there compelling reasons for the breakup of the country? No, no,
no! Is there a way forward? Yes! In a week or so, I shall offer a set of
recommendations.
Comments
Post a Comment