Nigeria’s elite and the rest of us

Nigeria unfortunately came into being by 1914 Amalgamation which made it to be of one entity. I believe at the time, if our political forefathers had wisely thought it over, they would have realized that the amalgamation is not convenient to over 340 ethnic nationalities. The simple arithmetic could be made with the three so-called three major ethnic groups, namely, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. These three should have got their different countries because there could be nothing that would ever make them to be one.

One may ask why this proclamation from a northerner? Yes, since 1950 when the political gurus of the north rejected the granting of independence until a later date, we saw adverse reactions from politicians of the Southwest stoning northern leaders.

The insistence of the North to wait for the time for a desirable independence was to close the wide education gap between the North and the South but the Southwest politicians could comprehend the wisdom. Well, whether one likes it or not, the amalgamation of Nigeria did not go well especially with the people of the North as it was leading the country through ballot papers by which by 1960 NPC did form the national government. The Action Group led by the political gem of the Southwest, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, has remained an opposition down to 1963 – where wild wild west did happen of which since then politics in Nigeria has never been easy, because of do-or-die syndrome.

By 1966, the mad-dogs did their worst that claimed the lives of many political forefathers of this nation and since then, Nigeria has not found it easy, politically, socially, and what have you. Nigeria is not only for these major tribes – Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo – as there are other 300 tribes that no matter how small have the rights to claim anything Nigeria. Among the minority tribes that ruled Nigeria were General Yakubu Gowon, General Ibrahim Babangida and, of course, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Despite this, certain majority individuals are still nursing animosity that let’s-go-back-to-trench giving horrible headaches to this nation.

I wonder if this is how to force anyone to get the mantle of leadership; is the seller of onion the one to give you the mantle of leadership? Will having people killed give you the mandate and is it through murderous actions one should come to you, do you think this is the world acclaim political sagacity and judgment?

Nigeria’s elite have killed Nigeria economically, socially and politically. What remains of Nigeria is for either America or England to return and colonise it. The agitators of disintegration have remained in Europe getting financial aid to kill Nigerians; let’s see who will win-the unholy dictum.

Comrade Ibrahim Abdu Zango,

Chairman,

Kano Unity Forum,

Kano

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