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Is Our Unity Worth The Insults? By Babayola M. Toungo
An article, which appeared on the back page of Daily Trust of Friday October 28th, 2011 by one Ifeanyichukwu Udibe titled Re: Boko Haram’s and Chukwumerije’s Doctrine, made very interesting, revealing and educative reading. It was interesting because while accusing Al Gazali, the writer of the original article that was the subject of his response, of biases and hatred towards the Igbos, he only succeeded in spewing more hate than Al Gazali – that is if his accusation is true – which, in my opinion was false because I read Al Gazali’s article. It was my understanding that Al Gazali was only expressing his disappointment on how Chukwumetije descended from being a nationalist in the 70s to an ethnic champion this late in his life. Revealing in the sense that the writer only succeeded in letting the cat out of the bag (prematurely) by letting us in to the fact that come what may, the Igbos will take over the presidency of the country irrespective of how other parts of the country or other ethnic groups may feel about it. If I understand the writer correctly, then the Igbos don’t need any other part of the country to realise their objective, no matter whose ox is gored, so long as Goodluck can concentrate on empowering the south east and south southern parts of the country to the exclusion of all others. Udibe’s piece was also educative because it has succeeded in laying bare the lack of unity of purpose among the peoples and politicians of particularly the northern region. May be such articles from the likes of Udibe and exhortations from the likes of Chukwumerije will at least serve as a wake up call to our selfish leadership who are content to genuflect and grovel before Obasanjo and Goodluck for a morsel of dog meat by selling their people to servitude and insults.
Another thing I find fascinating is Chukwumerije’s thesis and elucidated by Udibe that the both Shonekan and Obasanjo got the presidency not because they merited it but because of the vicious campaign that was unleashed on the country by the OPC. And Goodluck Jonathan got a bite of the pie not because he is fit to but because of the atrociousactivities of the brigands of the Niger delta, who we all know started out as political thugs, graduated to oil theft and later glamorised by the likes of Udibe in the media as environmental agitators. To further justify this pedestrian thesis, the Udibes of Nigeria are to hang their worldview on every criminal activity committed in the country on the Boko Haram, a group that is more a media creation than reality. The realisation of the political goals of the Yorubas and the people of the Niger delta through violent means (according to Chukwumerije and Udibe) will be the means to be used by the Igbos in 2015 to realise theirs. I hope the National Security Adviser and other relevant security outfits are listening, though I strongly believe no one will act for obvious reasons.
Now to the leadership of the north – traditional, religious and the business leadership. During the campaigns for the 2011 elections, they were at the forefront of selling the Goodluck candidacy to the northern electorate, lying to us with straight faces that this man who wasn’t born rish will only serve for a term and then the presidency will revert to this part of the country to complete the second term truncated by the death of ‘Yar Adu’a. They rejected three of their own and rigged massively for Goodluck, who later told a delegation of Igbo leaders that all the votes he got in the north was from the Igbo communities living in the north. With the benefit of hindsight may be this was just an indication that if he couldn’t get his seven-year tenure kite off the ground then he will back an Igbo candidate in 2015. Am yet to hear as much as a whimper from those who swore on their parent’s grave that Goodluck is a man to be trusted and will keep his word, not minding that he had earlier rejected an agreement that he appended his signature to.
After the destruction of the commercial, industrial, financial and even that most feared northern asset - unity - by Obasanjo thereby reducing northerners to beggars in their own country – or so we all thought – we now have to contend with foul-mouthed commentators calling us names and insults like confetti. Whatever the likes of Udibe may say or write about the north, I don’t blame them but our leadership that sold us for twelve shillings or less in the name of national unity. Northerners are today known as parasites and bloodsuckers that want to reap where they did not sow, forgetting that the oil found beneath the ground in the Niger delta was sown by the indigenes of that area. To the Udibes of this world, northerners have no business being anywhere near Aso Villa till kingdom come. I agree with him. After all, it was the blood sucking northerners who sprang Obasanjo from the comforts of his cell in Yola prison, gave him an expedited state pardon, funded his campaign and made him a president; it was this parasitic indolent people from the north who stood by and watched with feigned helplessness while the same Obasanjo picked a sick man (may his soul rest in peace) and made him the president of the country; the same group hounded the man to his grave shamelessly while he was on his last days; the same leaches who worked tirelessly to scuttle Atiku’s ambition to be the PDP’s presidential candidate and ensured the emergence of Goodluck through means fair and foul; the same north who called Buhari a dictator, Shekarau provincial and Ribadu young and inexperienced. All in the name of national unity.
If the leadership of the north found it expedient to hand over power without struggle, then they certainly do not deserve another chance again. Power has never, ever been transferred like MTN units anywhere. But taking the rest of us for granted, this macabre dance that we are locked in began with the northern power blocs coming together in 1999 to ensure the emergence of two Yoruba presidential candidates with the misinformed believe that a section of the country must be pacified for peace to reign in the country. Thus the basis of Chukwumereji’s thesis. If the north is serious of thinking of getting a shot again in our lifetime then may be Chukwumereji is certainly worth listening to. Let’s also empower the Boko Haram to serve the same purpose that he called on MASSOB to serve the Igbos. Else we should forget it and go back to our primary business of goat herding.
But I couldn’t find the stomach to swallow the insults of Udibe and his ilk. I don’t believe I have the civility or finesse of the Al Gazali and those who think national unity is worth taking such nonsense lying low. I would rather denounce my citizenship of Nigeria and find accommodation elsewhere as a second-class citizen. If some people believe demagoguery is a political tool that could be deployed with abundance, I should be excused from such union because I am simple goat herder who can live off my land.
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