Nigeria, for reasons well known and recited by every Nigerian
was made into a country comprising of Peoples
with
ever stretching diversities and dissimilarities
This Amalgamation
of 1914 has been on test drives to this moment but we have often either
failed to note our lessons or simply ignored them in the euphoria of
African contentment with smallness.
In spite of all efforts made by our
heroes past for a better envisaged Nigeria of our time, some of them,
honestly, saw its overwhelming challenges and near impossibilities and,
voiced their doubts.
Amongst their honest predictions, those of some
alive and clear-cut warnings of those who know the truth were:
Lord Lugard
“The North and the South
are like oil and water, they will never mix.” Yet he went ahead and
amalgamated them.
Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
“The Southern people who are swamping
into this region daily in such large numbers are really intruders; we
don’t want them and they are not welcome here in the North. Since 1914,
the British Government has been trying to make Nigeria into one country.
But the people are different in every way, including religion, custom,
language and aspirations… we in the North take it that Nigeria unity is
only a British intention for the country they created. IT IS NOT FOR
US”.
Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo
“Nigeria is only a geographical
expression to which life was given by the diabolical amalgamation of
1914, that amalgamation will EVER remain the most painful injury a
British Government inflicted on Southern Nigeria”.
Al-Hajji Sir Ahmadu Bello
“The new nation called Nigeria should be an
estate from our great grandfather, Othman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly
prevent a change of power. We must use the minorities in the North as
willing tools, and the south as conquered territories and never allow
them to have control of their future.”
Retd. General Yakubu Gowon
“Suffice it to say that putting all
considerations to the test, political, economic as well as social, the
basis of unity is not there.”
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan
“If
anything at all, these acts of mayhem are sad reminders of the events
which plunged our country into 30 months of an unfortunate civil war. As
a nation, we are yet to come to terms with the level of human suffering,
destruction and displacement, including that of our children to far-away
countries, occasioned by those dark days. In recent years, we have also
witnessed other acts of intolerance, violence and destruction of human
life perpetrated by unpatriotic elements for no justifiable reason.
Indeed, the nation still bears some of the scars of other similar events
like the aftermath of the June 12 1993 elections that brought our polity
to the brink. It is inconceivable therefore, that there are some in our
midst who seek to re-enact a stalemate in the political process.
My
fellow countrymen and women, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.”
As a result of the differences which
our leaders pretend do not exist, Biafran independence was declared.
MASSOB still cries for freedom, OPC brought its awareness, while MEND
came with a new force. Now, it is Boko Haram-bombing everywhere and
killing everyone in a bid to Islamize Nigeria. All these are asking for
one thing: the freedom to be themselves in their fatherland.
Nigeria, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Nigerian leaders, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Let’s
stop this beating about the bush, this meandering around the glaring
truth, and opt for a Sovereign National Conference (SNC). The prophetic
speeches of our heroes past have all been happening before our eyes
while we feign blindness. Suppressions cannot suppress, if anything, the
cries will get more dramatic and violent by the day. If there is any
hope left for a better Nigeria, if there is wisdom in averting another
civil war, then SNC is the answer.
I hereby call on our president, Goodluck Jonathan, to step up to this
challenge that will imprint his name in the sands of time, and call for
a SNC. It’s inevitable, it’s unavoidable, and it’s the only way out-the
only way to our freedom, peace, and prosperity. There must be a
conference of true representatives who will speak for their people. Two
cannot work together unless they agree. Only an ignoramus favours chaos
and war against a meeting of the elders. It’s a sovereign national
conference or complete hopelessness.
Ikechukwu Enyiagu