Of Greed, Insecurity, and the Marginalization of Southern Radicals and Social Activists in Nigerian Political Leadership

The Greed, Insecurity, and Timidity of Southern Politicians and Political Leaders are responsible for the Colonization of the South by a Few Northern Political Leaders. No matter the political party in power, or the geographical, tribal, or religious background of the President in power they are there, in control, permanently entrenched. When push comes to shove, they go for the best among them to do the job, irrespective of his antecedents, political views, or the curses and yabbies he has unleased on anyone in the past. Just as a quick example, there is no Nigerian living on earth today who has labeled President Buhari in a most derisive and disdainful pattern as Mallam El-Rufai. However, when El-Rufai joined rank with the Progressives and contested the Kaduna State Gubernatorial race; thanks to the intervention of President Buhari, El-Rufai won the nomination and also won the Governorship race. That's cannot happen in the South. They will blacklist you for life.

Now, back to the main story.

Have you ever ponder how and why authentic radicals like Femi Falana (SAN), Tai Solarin, Professor Wole Soyinka, Gani Fawehimi (SAN), Profesor Claude Ake, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Professor Festus Iyayi, Professor Awojobi, Odia Ofeimun, Barrister Clement Nwankwo just to name a few, were never considered for any Advisory role, or Commissioner at the State level, or as a Minister at the Federal level? 

I do remember, though, that IBB appointed Dr. Tai Solarin the Chairman of the People's Bank and also made Professor Soyinka the Chairman of the newly formed Federal Road Safety Corps at the time. But, the two gentlemen were already at an advanced stage in life when the appointment came, and they didn't function actively. By the way, Dr. Solarin and Professor Soyinka were appointed by a Military Head of State who is a Northerner. That is very important. What am I driving at is that most Northern political leaders are never intimidated or resentful of the radicals and intellectual activists their midst. Even if the Northern President doesn't know them; someone who does will recommend them.

Name any known radical from the Northern region, Abubakar Rimi, Dr. Bala Mohammed, Dr. Attahiru Jega, Dr. Haroun Adamu, Kwankwaso, Junaid Mohammed, Shehu Sani, Dr. Bala Muhammed, Nuru Ribadu, Malam El-Rufai, Alhaji Sule Lamido, etc., they have either served as advisers, governors, or head of MDAs. I know some of you might not remember or know who some of these guys are or were. For instance, the late Dr. Bala Mohammed was a young leftist radical from Bauchi State. One of the finest intellectuals this country has ever produced. He was a lecturer at ABU and became an Adviser to the late Governor Abubakar Rimi of Kano State, himself a radical and a protégé of the late Aminu Kano. And Aminu Kano was also a populist radical who resisted any attempt to be under the radar or control of Ahmadu Bello.

By the way, rioters burn Dr. Bala Mohammad alive in his house in 1981 following a protest, sparked allegedly by the query issued Emir Ado Bayero of Kano by Governor Abubakar Rimi. Governor Abubakar Rimi was also Nigerian Ambassador to Egypt before he came back home to joined forces with Aminu Kano to radicalize the Northern voters. On his part, Dr. Attahiru Jega was a radical lecturer at the University of Sokoto when he took over the reign of ASUU from the late Festus Iyayi of Uniben. He was a tough-talking ASUU Boss during the Shoneka Interim Wahala and Abacha Dictatorship. He later became a Professor and was appointed Chairman of INEC under President Jonathan.

On the flip side, Dr. Festus Iyayi and his wife and kids were brutally evacuated from their Uniben Quarter by Agberos from the popular Iyaro Motor Park, hired by Vice-Chancellor Alele Williams allegedly at the prompting of President Ibrahim Babangida. He was later reinstated. But he died a few years ago in a ghastly motor accident at Lokoja, Kogi State, on his way to Kaduna State for ASUU meeting. He was vibrant, outspoken, a rare gem of a radical, who wanted the best for Nigerian Universities and our children. I met with him one on one in 1986 at his Uniben residence. How come President Jonathan did not bring him immediately into his Aso Rock Team as an Adviser or Minister of Education?

Chief Obafemi Awolowo was different. He gravitated towards fierce, outspoken, independent-minded intellectual giants when he was the Premier of the Western Region - Bab Fafuwa, Chief S.O Awokoya, the Ondo State native, Samuel Aluko, Anthony Enahoro, and Bola Ige, just to name a few. These gentlemen were not only loyal, but they brought in their academic best to the table to help bring Awo's thinking into fruition. Indeed, they were loyal, but they were never Awo's stooges. Take for instance the story of the appointment of the Ishan Mr. Odia Ofeinmu as Papa Awo Secretary. During the interview, Odia was reported to have told Papa Awo that he knows what is expected of him as a Secretary, but that Awo must NOT tell him how to do his job. And he was hired. You can say that to a Northern political leader of the old and present generation and still get the job. But you cannot say that with respect to any of the present generation of Southern political leadership. Papa Awo was different. And his kinds are rare.

Does it mean we have never been fortunate to have Southern activists at the helm of affairs at some government agencies? Of course, there were a few of them. But what they do is that when they are there they don't remember where they are coming from, their activist background or consider it germane to bring in their colleagues into the system. It takes enlightenment to know the enlightened. It is the responsibility of these fortunate few in the system to recommend qualified candidates to the Governors or the President as the case may. Sad to say, some of these guys strive to integrate into the elite groups by any means necessary whenever the opportunity to serve knocks on their doors.

The reverse is the case in the North. Radicals and social activists think first of their colleagues and how to escalate their ascendency to a more substantial political and leadership position. And they do it legitimately. For instance, the present Emir of Kano, towards the end of his throne at the Central Bank, gave Malam El'Rufai when he returned from exile about One Billion Naira Contract to execute a certain project for Central Bank. Today, both of them are national leaders. One as an Emir and the other as Governor. Professor Attahiru Jega is now at Bayero as a lecturer. Professor Yadudu of Abacha's regime and the author of the 1999 Constitution is now a lecturer at Bayero. How many Southern lecturers who have been appointed into political office have gone back to the classroom? The lure of office is great, no doubt.  

Moving Forward.

Politics, according to opinion leaders is a dirty game. However, some modern thinkers hold the view, and fervently so, that politics is not dirty; it is only dirty to the extent that the clean and honorable and credible men and women of refined integrity remain unwilling to get into the game and get dirty in the search for power. And until that is done, politics cannot be made whole.

On that theory, I want to make this bold statement and a challenge to myself (the author of this essay) and all the young men and women of Edo State to join me to start a new political movement and turn a new page in Edo State leadership structure. A charity must begin at home, and according to the renowned Congressman from Massachusetts, Thomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill Jr., all politics is local. Therefore, if we must change Abuja, we must start at home.

Today, we have an outsider or a non-conformist in charge of affairs in Edo State. We must sustain the momentum he establishes, and embrace his approach. It doesn't mean we have to all move to APC or the government in power. We should endeavor to uphold our political beliefs and at the same time, rally to join forces with any candidate who represents what is good about us as a people and Edo State in general, irrespective of the political party of the candidate.

Finally, none of the Senators currently serving should be returned to the Senate when their terms end. In a similar vein, none of the members of the House of Representatives should be returned to Abuja. I made this declaration in light of what has become of Edo State in terms of federal presence and the appalling state of our road transportation networks. Measured by any standard, they do not represent us or our interests. That they are not as smart and politically sophisticated as their Northern colleagues have been well documented. It is our duty to vindicate the spirit of Chief Anthony Enahoro. Because his audacity is missing in what our representatives bring to the table at the national level and at the National Assembly. Therefore, I want to use this opportunity to invite all my friends to join the bandwagon - Edo State can no longer remain a backbencher in our national affairs. It is time for a new paradigm. All Edo State Senator Must Go. All Edo State House of Rep Members Must Go. Thank you and God bless the good people of Edo State and the good people of Nigeria. From time to time, I will be revisiting this topic on the way forward.