Disenfranchising the North

By

Abubakar Jika

jikaab@yahoo.com

The protracted and tortuous scheme to politically demystify Northern Nigeria under the Obasanjo regime has commenced. The saying that beware of who, on whom you bestowed favours is replicated in Nigerian politics. The Yoruba Afenifere agenda of, as we say in Nigeria, "naketing" the north of its political garments has finally taken off. But as we say in my part of Nigeria, you can start a fight, but cannot predict how it will end.

The north, as it is now trite to repeat, drafted, sponsored and installed an Owo Chief, a retired general of the Nigerian Armed Forces, a former military Head of State and a pardoned ex - convict, Olusegun Obasanjo. Nigerian's second executive civilian president May 29, 1999. Since then, contrary to all expectations, this government persistently and surprisingly ignores the views of its benefactor - Northern Nigerian - on major national issues. Instead it pursue Afenifere Yoruba agenda.

Northerners who serve this regime shamelessly go about attempting to divide northern Nigeria for final Yoruba political slaughter. They pontificate that there is no alternative to Obasanjo as if God created Nigeria solely for Obasanjo to rule. Apart from being open political Judases because of juicy political posts such as Board Membership, Ministership or Special Assistantship, they have the temerity to threaten to break away from Northern perspective such as done by Lawal Kaita and Kazaure.

This regime has, more than IBB, Buhari and Abacha combined destroyed myths of hitherto powerful traditional northern political forces. As former ministers, super permanent secretaries and even governors grovel at the feet of Obasanjo for political crumbs, the sights and sighs were sickening. I wonder if these characters, most of who are Muslims above 60 years ever thought of death. They were so hungry for political posts that they are ready to crucify anyone and anything. I now understand the contempt of southerners for us: Northerners are lazy and greedy who cannot do without political post. Give them political post and they can burry themselves. It is sad and sickening.

As hitherto former NPN legends crumble at the feet of Obasanjo, I believe Awo would be having a big, last laugh. Northern leaders who are currently serving this regime cannot claim ignorance of the serious negative implications of the INEC voter's registration scam on northern political fortunes.

There are allegations by ACF and other reputable organizations and commentators that the cumbersome registration procedures would disenfranchise a sizeable potion of northern voters who are predominantly illiterate. Guobadia who appears to be acting a script claimed that INEC officials are to fill the forms on behalf of illiterate voters. This meant nothing as INEC officials can fill forms and thumb prints them if they are inclined to dishonesty.

The whole idea arouses out of bad faith. Afenifere leader Abraham Adesanya claimed that cows and goats vote in the north, a yarn Obasanjo regime appears to have bought. Otherwise why the elaborate designs to screen prospective voters, with detailed questions which can baffle even the educated? The answer was succinctly presented by Sam Nda - Isaiah: "It has been clear even to the most casual political observer that one of the items on Obasanjo's private agenda was to demographically restructure Nigeria. And the tools for the actualization of this grand design are the National ID card scheme and the census. But what people could not be certain about was either it was Obasanjo's own script or a part of a larger irredentist agenda".

Obviously Sam Nda - Isaiah is not Hausa - Fulani hegemonist or dire hard northern chauvinist. But how many northerners running political petty errands for Obasanjo's Tazarce read his article titled "The imminent voters registration scam" in Daily Trust of Monday July 8th, 2002". This article is a must read for anyone interested in the Obasanjo - Yoruba scheme to finally demystify northern - Nigeria.

I am sad to conclude that Northerners who are running pathetic errands and falling over themselves to champion Obasanjo causes are either greedy and selfish, naïve or out right fools. They can take their pick. It is very clear this regime is anti - north and its agenda is anti - north. Any northerner whether a governor, minister, Board Chairman, Director or Personal or Special Assistant serving Obasanjo tazarce and pretend not to know this clear agenda is a sale out.

He or she does not care what happen to his or her people. He or she does not care if northern peasants, farmers, artisans and poor get registered to vote or get disenfranchised. The whole world has been telling INEC and this regime that five days are inadequate to register voters. INEC claims that voters only turn out three days to the end of the exercise. This has no scientific, tested and verifiable basis.

This is onset of the rains in northern Nigeria.

Farmers in the north are busy planting their crops.

They will not have time to go to registration centers to answer what they may see as demeaning questions and have their blood tested. For heavens sake how far does the Yoruba agenda intend to go to politically restructure Nigeria? Yet northerners serving this regime and members of the PDP which is already pocketed by Obasanjo expect us to accept their versions of Nigeria's political future.

This is one betrayal that would not go unchallenged.

They can run their errands and campaign for Obasanjo, but they will never deliver northern Nigeria to Yoruba irredentism.

The blood of Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Kur Mohammed, Laherma and Maimalari were not shed in vain. They were too patriotic, too committed, and too honest to have died in vain. This situation may look intimidating, but we are not intimidated. It may look too frightening, but we are not frightened.

It may look hopeless and helpless but we are neither hopeless nor helpless.

The north is in politically dire straits, with those we elected as governors and national legislators conspiring to deliver us blind - folded to an obvious Yoruba treacherous agenda. But we have been this way before. In fact we were, in 1966, in a more politically worse shape. But by 1970, we overcame this, and the results manifested for 30 years.

Political Lilliputians, who benefited from the sacrifices of 1966 - 1970 and who are now "power brokers" would know that God Almighty does not forsake the cheated. Just as they are forced to registered new parties, even if with a hidden agenda, they will vacate Aso Rock in God's time without humiliating the North.

Jika wrote from Kano.