Northern Political and Religious Leaders: Hate them or love them, but there is something fundamental that you cannot fault them of. It is their ability to articulate and stand for what they believe in and what they want out of the Geographical Expression called Nigeria. When in 1953, at the Western House, the youngish Mr. Anthony Enahoro moved the first motion ever for our independence from Great Britain, it didn't go down well with our brothers from the northern region. They were not for it.
They opposed self-government, arguing that they don't want "second colonization." You might be wondering what that expression is? Simple. It means at the exit of Great Britain, that's following our independence, the northern region, given the paucity of highly skilled and educated workforce of Northern bearings, would have to contend with the influx of the Yoruba and Ndigbo natives to the region; thus, taking over from where the colonial masters left off. The Sadauna of Sokoto won't take any of that. So, our independence was put on hold until when he would be ready or sufficiently equipped to manage the affairs of the northern public service with the true natives.
On the other hand, our sister nation, the Gold Coast (now Ghana) didn't suffer conflicting internal struggle by the natives. Led by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, they spoke with one voice for the attainment of one goal- freedom for all. Nkrumah, who went to the U.S. for his higher education after Zik of Africa had returned, came back to his country and got independence for Gold Coast in 1957 ahead of Zik who got his in 1960, for Nigeria. Zik and Awo were contending against external forces and domestic intransigence, Nkrumah did not. Simply put, Sir Ahmadu Bello was not prepared, and the colonial masters enthusiastically embraced his delay tactics.
Seeing the handwriting on the wall, Awo made a tactical retreat, focusing instead on his Western Region, developing and modernizing it consistent with the emerging trends in Europe and North America. Zik, on the other hand, was in the balance, trying hard to build consensus and consolidate his national presence. The Cocoa House, the first Olympic size stadium, the first television station in Africa all at Ibadan as well as the present Nigerian House in London were acquired by Papa Awo and his Action Groupers during this period - the waiting period.
Today, I dare say it is deja vu all over again. They are relentlessly pushing a false narrative, to wit, the advocates of Restructuring, Decentralization of Powers, and True Federalism are bent on dismantling this nation under the guise of devolution of powers. Therefore, we must wait for them to be ready. To that, I say no.
I am for decentralization without disintegration. And will not keep silent, while ethno fascist agenda is openly and arrogantly perpetuated to supplant an overwhelming national interest. Whose federal government is it anyway? That's the Nigerian tragedy begging for redress.
This is a daunting challenge before every blogger, political leaders, commentators, stakeholders, and concerned Nigerian citizens. The commencement of the modalities for the implementation of restructuring and decentralization of powers in Nigeria must and should not be according to the dictates, guidelines or timetable set by the self-styled Northern Political Leaders.
In light of the enormity of the problems they articulated in their communique, it is not too much to demand of them to give an account of the resources and national wealth they appropriated on behalf of the region since independence.
These profiteers and commission agents, an apology to Chief Balarebe Musa, do not represent the interest of the overwhelming majority of the people in the region they purportedly represent. It is a sham. And the false narratives must be discredited and rejected.
They don't speak for the talakawa, except for census aggrandizement. They don't represent the interests of the almajiri, and the downtrodden segments of the northern region populace, unless for vote grabbing advantage. If they do, the almajiri culture of endless wondering wouldn't have risen in the first case. In a similar vein, the adherents of the Boko Haram sect wouldn't have been so readily susceptible to assimilation into a culture that glorifies bloodbath, intolerance, and archaic lifestyle.
The decline in infrastructural facilities, institutional decay, and security breakdown that they want a Marshall Plan to tackle are not problems peculiar to any region in Nigeria. It's the same story all over the country. They are peddling false narratives to hoodwink the debate and frustrate the objectives.
Therefore, I call on all Nigerians to stand up to these Northern Leaders and reject their guidelines, conditionalities, and Mashall Plan hogwash. They must not be allowed to set the agenda or the timeline. That's what this essay is about.
In every administration, they are the power behind the throne, and invariably, they are the problem with Nigerian.
Today, Governors cannot pay workers salaries, without the monthly handouts from the Federal government. That is not a culture we want to perpetuate or sustain. Decentralization of Powers will provide the right incentives for inward-looking, economic emancipation, and sustainability.
Pa Awo and his men built all the "firsts" enumerated above from cocoa and agricultural products. The northern region under the Sadauna of Sokoto painted the Kano skyline with a magnificent display of groundnuts pyramids for export and for domestic consumption. Are the farmlands no longer available? Or the hands are no longer there to til the ground?
At Abuja, Civil servants are stealing from left and right because Abuja has cornered so much of our wealth that it can manage. Today, the EFCC and ICPC, including the Federal Court system are helpless in arresting and prosecuting fraudulent politicians and civil servants robbing us blind.
Call it True Federalism, Decentralization of Powers or Restructuring, it's all matters of semantics. They are in pursuit of the same goal - relieving Abuja of the enormous power and responsibilities it has that is creating redundancy in all places. It is a far cry from disintegration. I demand that the mechanisms for the devolution of powers and the timeline must not be according to the dictates of a particular power block representing a narrow interest. Nigeria belongs to all of us. I beg to move.
Merry Christmas to you, guys, if I don't write before then.
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