Disenfranchising the North
By
Abubakar Jika
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.