Wednesday, December 5, 2012

The Bastards of Nigeria


(Why the current violence in Northern Nigeria will not lead to the breakup of the nation or the creation of more states.)

By now you have to be living under a rock not to have heard about the violence in Nigeria, Northern Nigeria to be specific. You will also have to be living in a vacuum not to hear the cry for the breakup of Nigeria or at least the creation of more states.

If you are a Nigerian, (those with dual citizenship are not my primary audience. So if you are a dual citizen, you do not need to read this) you may be living on another planet not to have heard about Boko Haram and the "violence" they are inflicting against our people.

In our country today, every act of violence (against a family, organization, community, state or nation state) is blamed on Boko Haram.
Just the other day, a man and his children were murdered in their home. Boko Haram was blamed.
A church (St. Rita Catholic church) was bombed and people killed. Boko Haram was blamed.
An attack in the military barracks in Jaji killed many. Boko Haram was blamed.

In fact Boko Haram has become such a culprit that both (in my case) the Kaduna state and our Federal budgets had more funds allotted to security than Education and direct economic developments.

This is so, even though Boko Haram, known for claiming credit has not claimed responsibility for any of the recent violence against our people.
I do not know what it means that they (Boko Haram) are not claiming credit for any of these.
What I know is that for every ten Nigerians you ask about whom we should blame for this violence, nine of us will not finish assigning blame without mentioning Boko Haram.

I am in that 10% that argue Boko Haram is not responsible for these violence’s, especially those that they do not claim credit for.
While you are puzzled at my view, I need to let you know that for most of the cry I have read and heard for the breakup of our country or Kaduna state, they mostly come after an act of violence.

For some unexplained reason, I do not hear a cry for plans that will provide economic opportunities or at least make it possible for us, your sons and daughters to aspire for economic independence.

After these attacks, I do not hear cries for the development of outlets for our sons and daughters to reach the social and economic altitudes that we believe we can.
This violence’s are not followed by cries to improve on our institutions, such as our schools, hospitals and social services. Rather these violence’s are followed by calls to split the country and create more states.

Maybe they think breaking up will lead to these things (better institutions and improved economic outlets).

Well, none of these are going to happen anytime soon. Definitely the breaking of the country will not happen in my life time (do not worry; the average life expectancy of our citizens is 45. I am almost there). You need to know though that Baba (AKA to those none Nigerians or dual citizens, it means Daddy or Dad) lived till he was about seventy. And Mama (AKA Mommy for those none Nigerians or dual citizens, it means Mommy or Mom) at early seventy is doing well. And for certain not in the life time for my children nor their great grand children.

So let us settle down and get comfortable for we have an eternal time to be Nigerians in the Nigeria as we know it today.

Let those who would like to leave do so. In fact, let the government create a program that will fund and finance all those willing to leave the country to leave. “Andrew” does not have to stay. “Andrew” can leave. Actually, I heard “Andrew” has left, may his soul rest in peace .

So why is it that these cries for a separate country and state creations get louder after "Boko Haram attacks"? I do not know the answer to this question. But this much I know, they always get louder after these "Boko Haram attacks".

However for academic purposes, I will speculate that the people calling for the break of our country or the creation of these states are responsible for these attacks on our people.
My proof is also academic, it lies in the fact that their calls have moved from the basic purpose for state (nation state or state) creation to a call for the creation of a theocracy. I mean, look at what is been put out there. We want a divided Nigeria because Christians are better off in another country and Muslims are better off in another. We want a new Kaduna state (as an example) because Christians will be better off (that is able to attend churches) and the Muslims will be better off (that is able to attend mosques) than they are able to do so under the present arrangement. (Do not laugh, these are serious arguments made by our rational intellects, the product of “the best Nigeria”)
In other words, these voices are calling for separation based on the freedom of our people to worship.  No one is making the case that these states will lead to better jobs and improved life conditions. Actually no one is saying that new states will rid the North (Kano e.g ) of polio or the south (e.g Iresi) of an unacceptable infant mortality rate. But these voices seem to agree that being able to worship the deity of your choice is all we need.

To achieve this, they are desperately trying to elevate Boko Haram. Elevating it with the hope it will be the reason we break as a country or at least create new states.
While I have no idea what the leadership of our country will do. I am very pleased with the way they have handled this thus far; One, they are not going to talk to "Boko Haram" regardless of what you read or are told. Secondly, this fight is becoming more between the security forces than between "Boko Haram" and our citizens. This is good, because our security forces will deal with these men and women accordingly. Actually, it is not even a close fight.

Thirdly, the 10% are more efficient and influential that a One United Nigeria will be impossible to break up before our eyes. You may make it about Boko Haram. We believe it is still about a One United Nigeria.

Oh, by the way, just in case you think I do not know what I am talking about; you are right. I do not.  All I have to do is pick up the Newspapers, read what you are reporting and saying. And based on these, Nigerians should feel assured that a One United Nigeria is here to stay and the creation of new states will only be credible if those advocating for it begin to articulate other reasons than Boko Haram for why states should be created.

Hey! Like Baba said, it is a foolish people who relegate power to men and women who have no stake in their (our) future. These people are bastards (I have no idea what the female version of this is. Whatever it is, it is). They are the Bastards of Nigeria.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

It is still about a One United Nigeria

Most of us continue trying to keep our nation united .
Too many of us have lost their lives keeping this nation united.
It seems those who do not wish our country well continue to underestimate our resolve. Our resolve is that we will remain a one united Nigeria. And if we choose to be a geographically broken nation, it will not come as a result of the violence doled on our people. It will be because we agree as a people that a United Nigeria in not viable.
No one can break Nigeria up except Nigerians. Not anymore.