It is better to understand Nigeria first, then proceed in talking about the modern but yet old word marginalization; this word is hardly likely to examine itself fully well, because those who may be able to grasp certain privileges might pretend to fall within the centre of gravity to that much chanted word marginalization; modern dictionary fail woefully to express the full meaning of this word but can it equal hallucination by the world standard vocabulary dictum? To understand Nigeria you must first focus your attention to knowing who occupies every inch of the Nigerian territory and from which successful tribe? Those who understudied Nigeria from 1960 to date said Nigeria has 300 different linguistic groups; in the North, there are about 200 tribes.
However, the big five are Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa-Fulani, Tiv and Kanuri. These five tribes are said to be those always marginalizing the others who remain at back and denied access to the nectar of powers. I beg to disagree with such notion,because of the three presumed minorities that ruled Nigeria, I mean, three or even four gentlemen. They are late Sir, Abubakar Tabawa Balewa (first prime minister of Nigeria), General Yakubu Gowon Rtd (military head of state from 1967 – 1975), General Ibrahim Babangida (1985 – 1991), General Abdussalami Abubakar (1998 – 1999), General Sani Abacha and General Murtala Ramat Muhammad. They were categorised within the big four haven born and bred as Hausa-Fulani even when General Abacha had traditional marks from El-Kanemi empire, the biggest in African history. Among the minorities, were the one and only South-South indigene that ruled Nigeria between 2007 – 2015. The man had been lucky – from local government chairman to deputy governor, then governor, vice-president, and president of Nigeria.
The 1966 episode did make the Igbo hero by name Ironsi to rule Nigeria through bullet not the normal world acclaimed democracy, that is the ballot. The way Ironsi came to power put Nigeria on the dangerous path up to this moment. The Hausa marginalized themselves even before the coming of the colonialists that had colonised parts of what they term Hausa land. If you look and see-read-the poem of Sa’adu Zungur, you would see how the Hausa were marginalized practically by themselves. If, for example, the Igbo said they are marginalized, nobody would have the right to say no, but unlike the Hausa, the Igbo are the right owners of commercial sector of Nigeria and to control the whole market place, you control the entire country economically. How can you control the commercial nerve of the whole country and still yearn to control the political life of the country? US President Donald Trump came and left the political scene because it is hard to control the two at a time.
The Hausa have never ruled Nigeria but perhaps their blood conquerors, the tigers of their time – the Fulani. Tell me whether Hausa that marginalized selves had ever ruled Nigeria. For the Yoruba, they are economically, socially, educationally wise. They own Nigeria through education sector and have control of the financial institutions, judiciary, manufacturing companies and much more like the media. Tell me why America today controls the whole world. So, if a Yoruba man asks for restructuring, why not let it be. Even if Igbo or Yoruba call for Nigeria’s disintegration, why should the North say no? Let it be, but we should be cautious and remember the way Sudan.
Ibrahim Abdu Zango,
260, Zango Quarters,
Kano
08175472298
