Nigeria at 63rd; Can We Justifiably Have Any Reason To Celebrate The Independence? -By Usman Yanmaza

Religious Bigotry, Ethnic Nationalities, Political Gamesmanship and Racial Superiority; Bane of National and Global Unity…..

Whenever many people come to the terms of national dialect the first thing coming to their average minds are (though, intuitively and ideologically varied) depending on how deem necessary fit. Here without fear, favour and contradiction i will specifically bask the cacotopia, dysfunctional, rigidly heterogeneous and passive diversity of “Nigeria Nation-State” especially the North and i will not even intent to leave the other sides of the latitude “Southern” and “Western” regions.

The word “North” itself is even more anthropological dubious if not our perceive messianic and ethnical based beliefs that the region is entirely occupied by Hausa people (even the Fulanis aren’t be smartly entertain since they came to limelight sometimes in 1883 when the leader of fulani jihadist Shehu Usman Danfodiyo ignited the Usmaniyya era and caliphate). Thus, that ugly impression resulted to disbandment of diversely co-existence between Hausa and fulani communities.

Here in the north we have bedeviled by identical crisis, core north (Hausa bakwai), northern (Banza bakwai) north central and other things, you and i we become ethnic supremacists within ourselves? The North that supposedly be the center of unity since we are blessed with a very land mass fertile for farming, we are blessed with population, go to developed countries like China the broader population is a resource to them since they are utilizing it to compose human capital and industrial resources. Here i guess our population is not important even on our national cohesion since our votes can even be dismembered into several entities. We aren’t one voice and our popular voices are not counting at all.

If one will go back to history we’ll discover that Nigeria had come to be recognized by other colonial powers as a British colony sometimes in 1900 when they invaded our lands, rule their shits and get cooperation from our indigenous elites (known as pre-colonial indigenous aristocracies) and also our traditional rulers contributed in no small measure for the barbarism imposed on Northern Nigeria after their acclaimed “Indirect Rule System” introduced and enforced by British forces.

But it’s crucial to note that Nigeria was conquered by British not in terms of ethnic nationality, even though the ethnic subjugation played an important role but Nigeria was severely conquered by British through a systemic, systematic and sustainable approach of exigencies of globalization. I will borrow a phrase from Walter Benjamin who said “Every monument of civilization is also a monument of barbarism”. Every civilized Nation state got through shits and violent like this, it’s normal.

The concept of indirect rule was introduced by British in order to end and ceased the indigenous rulers in the regions. Sir. Frederick Lord Lugard as the Governor of northern region at first rejected the impression of introducing the indirect system but nevertheless on seeing it benefit and effect, accepted the term through our traditional leaders.

But nevertheless, both indirect rule amalgamation does not bring about much unity, why because if you look at the respective lieutenant Governors continue to rule their areas of jurisdiction as they had done previously before the amalgamation.

But Lugard successor Bourdillon did not changed the narrative in 1939 after he successfully divided the southern province and formed western and eastern group of provinces. What this course? Is it unity or disunity? Yes somehow will be unity and partially will be disunity since there was much intense inter ethnical rivalries among the different ethnic groups within each region.

After the second world war precisely in 1946 Governor Arthur Richard formally made the three provinces into three Regions – Northern, Eastern and Western each with very strong powers.

Inequality was noticeable even within same zones since during the amalgamation era since there were core north (of ƙasar Hausa bakwai), north (of Arewawa, banza bakwai) and other things.

Perhaps the greatest thinker of the period who happens to be Dr. Edward Wilmot Blyden occasionally referred as “Father of African Nationalism” Blyden’s ideal influenced many elites. For over 40 years,he was a writer and political thinker (just like me). He emphasised that Africans should pay attention to the original contributions and refuse to emulate other races, yes this emphasis is a very critical and well thought-out.

Instead of emphasising on numerous historical, geographical, cultural, economic and other links which for centuries had brought the various groups of Nigeria together, but some ally politicians always looked for opportunities to emphasis their differences. As far back as 1948 for instance, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa when he was a House of Representatives member referred to Nigeria by saying “Many Nigerians deceived themselves by thinking that Nigeria is one…. this is wrong. I am sorry to say that this presence of unity is artificial and it ends outside the chamber” yes Tafawa Balewa expressed himself with no apology to anyone and many other personalities also made similar or more serious divisive statements, yet they wanted to rule Nigeria as a united country? But when it suited their interest they will refered to Nigeria as one nation.

What ethnic nationalities are we talking about where in Yoruba nation has Alaafin Kingdom, Ile-ife kingdom, Ijebu, Egba kingdom and others, so what do we really need? Is it Igbo nation that have Ohafia kingdom, Nnewi kingdom, Arochukwu Kingdom, Kingdom of Aaron Dizible, Isuikwuato and others? Hausa nation of Fulani – Shehus flag bearers in Kano, Zazzau, Katsina, Gobir, Rano and others?

Let us embrace peace and devoid all those sorts of ethnic supremacy within ourselves.

The Way forward ;

I think there is need for the general public enlightments and ethical reorientation. Elites and political mafias should condone themselves in a manner, lack of political ideologue are affecting us in this country in more strong terms we can admit.

Let me not be that a prophet of doom, i am always trying to be on positive side, so, let me not talk about negativism but the elites, religious and traditional leaders have became a divisive agents speak on the behalf of other gullible Nigerians in the name of restructuring, in the name of true federalism and other things.

It’s also paramount for us to know that there is nowhere Federalism is the same, the federalism operating in USA is different from that operating in Germany, that of Singapore is different from that of Spain, that of India is different from that of Australia, that of France is different from that of Nigeria, so when we are talking about concept of Federalism or National development, don’t say because it happens in USA No! Each federating state has it own uniqueness, we should learn how to manage ourselves in our own ways. Africa should be Africanize to favour it own interest not that of western worlds and new worlds.

We shouldn’t be talking about devolution of power, menace vices religious promotions and ethnic barriers, in this 21st century we should always be talking about forwardness, not to go by 50 years ago when we are talking about regions or 200 years when we are talking about missionaries and Dan fodiyo jihadism.

When we are talking about National affairs we should desist from knowing that you are a Yoruba or i am a Hausa man, don’t mention that i am a Muslim or you are a Christian. It’s certainly now that we have lost and focus, we have lost our values and moralities. You are a Christian, you have a spirit of christ, i am a Muslim, i have a spirit of Islam, so you and i we became individualistic. We’ve lost our communal values, we have lost our moralities?

We must agree about our common humanity, if we have this idea of common humanity, we won’t be killing ourselves, bullying ourselves and talking the way we are talking. Here in the north we’ve bedeviled by identical crisis, there in the south chanting for Biafra (IPOB) down to west promoting Oduduwa nation state? Is tariff.

Usman Yanmaza