Which Way, Nigeria?

By Msonter Anzaa

“By 1945 our people would say, ‘I am a Nigerian, I come from Kano.’ But by 1960 they would say, ‘I am a northerner, I come from Kano.’” – Major Immanuel Ifeajuna, one of the 1966 coup plotters.

Crisis can happen in any community and Nigeria is not an exception. However, by now, observers of the Nigerian situation must be worn-out by the country’s seeming propensity for crisis. There is hardly any part of Nigeria today that is not aching. The Niger Delta region – where oil is produced – is still kicking uneasily. The South-East is also agitating for its right to self-governance. Pockets of reports emerge now and then, of skirmishes involving the police and supporters of Biafra, sometimes leading to loss of life. As if this is not enough, those Nigerians who are not participating physically in any of these crises, are sorting it out with one another on social media. The conversations in various groups and forums online are recklessly inciting and incurably vulgar, showing an appalling lack of responsible and mature behaviour. Quite literally, our people are at one another’s jugulars. And these combatants are clearly lined up on unmistakable sides of the ethno-religious divide.

What amazes me is why people who should be spending their time in useful ventures give the better part of their day to arguing, insulting and calling for the blood of fellow citizens. It often strikes me that most Nigerians do not yet feel they are stakeholders in this country. One gets the impression that they don’t care what happens as long as they and their private interests seem to be safe. It is equally disappointing that this attitude permeates every cadre of life in our nation. Most Nigerian leaders treat this country like a sinking ship with no prospects of survival. Since they don’t believe any future exists for Nigeria, their preoccupation is to salvage as much as possible from the country for their own use before she finally collapses. That is why when they steal, they don’t even save in our banks. That is why they don’t invest in our country. They have a safe heaven in another country where as soon as the ship sinks, they can go and continue with their lives. Consequently, it is not even their priority to try to attend to the nation herself. On the extreme, the fact that she may not survive is rather good business for many.

We cannot deny that there is discontentment with the way the federation is structured and administered. Why is there always something to fight about in Nigeria? We have to be honest with ourselves. We know we are not comfortably seated as a nation. We know that our people are dying and the fundamental causes of their death are not being addressed. We know the uncomfortable parts of our history – the long-entrenched mutual suspicion between the regions and the ever-intensifying competition to dominate one another. The Fulani for example, have become more aggressive and unremorseful in their drive for grazing land South-wards. Outrageous incidents where whole communities are sacked and demolished have become commonplace. In Benue, the world was shocked when last year, the rural local government area of Agatu was virtually turned into a theatre of war by herdsmen. It was the same story in other local government areas as well. Only in 2014, the same herdsmen had sacked communities displacing hundreds into camps for months. While the people were yet nursing their wounds, the governors of Benue and Nasarawa were in Agatu to ask them to “forgive” the Fulani and let them resume grazing. Meanwhile in Kaduna State, according to the governor, the invading Fulani were traced to their country and paid in exchange for peace. In both cases, it is the aggressors that benefitted, while the locals who are the aggrieved are nursing their wounds and venting their anger on social media, vowing to defend their lands.

There has to be a way out of this state of affairs. First, we have to reduce competition among the regions and eliminate the possibility of one region dominating the others either politically or culturally. Each region in Nigeria should be given a fair degree of autonomy in their affairs. It should no longer be possible for the federal government in Abuja to, by a fiat, decide which land should be grazed or how oil should be managed in the backyards of those who live with the consequences of such decisions. We must find the courage to overcome our insecurities and negotiate the terms of our relationship as a federation. We must derive a structure that will turn our people’s focus away from other regions to how to develop their regions. Secondly, we must imbibe an attitude of personal responsibility towards this nation in our relationship with those of other ethnic and religious groups. We have to be decent, positive and tame our passion for inciting one another, and realize that if this country catches fire, it will not be other people’s responsibility to put it out. It will be ours.

See also Personal Reflections on Biafra