Can somebody pause and take a reminiscent flash into the remote and immediate consequences of the Jan 15 1966 Coup ably led by a young military Officer, Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu?
The three Big Brothers are really the major hindrance to the peaceful coexistence of Nigeria as a nation. Their preference for nepotistic consideration (i.e. the Buhari example) and undue clamour for sectional advantage as against federal character principle resulting from a merit based true spirit of federalism, given our heterogeneous nature as a people have sown the seed of discord and naked schism created.
Succeeding generations have been left with no option than to imbibe those ugly unholy level of perception and orientation, thus making the bad blood to continue unabated,using religion and ethnicity as their most potent weapons.
Look at it this way; the few western elites then like Awolowo, Anthony Enahoro and others hurried us as a nation into independence, a snake crawled into our pot of water. They should have waited we kill it the South African way; gradual detachment, in order not to loose the pot and the water knowing how difficult or near impossible it will be getting another pot and water. But no, they brought axe and other massive weapons just to kill a snake, forgetting that it requires total carefulness to get rid of a snake in that condition most especially as the life of a nation depends heavily on the said water in that particular pot.
Anthony Enahoro blew it first, called for self regional government. Their Eastern big brother supported, while the other acclaimed bigger brother from the Northern part declined. It wasn’t a show of patriotism, but due to their low level educational background at that time. They feel it will be suicidal and totally disadvantageous to the region should they go for self rule.
But eventually in 1960, independence was granted. Green white green flag hoisted with no room or space for agreement on terms upon which our being together is or was to be built, discussed and harmonized. In a hurry, the powers were haphazardly handed over. The Yorubas and Igbos from the east and west respectively felt shortchanged. While the Yorubas were chameleonic in showing their disaffection, the Igbos displayed theirs openly, as evident in the Jan 15 1966 coup, killing many northern leaders and some of their western counterparts as well.
The reprisal reactions from these unfortunate attitudes, actions and reactions is still being carried on to the present day Nigeria. Most of the issues threatening our ONENESS stem from those developments.
I put it to them, The Three Big Brothers, that while the East and West destroyed the foundation, the North ended up pulling down the entire Nigerian building.
The minority brothers; Igalas, Tivs, Ijaws, Biroms, Ebiras, Igedes, Okuns and others have been the one sustaining the cracked wall and distorted foundation for the time being. The big three explore every opportunities to their advantage, but most unfortunately, to a selfish advantage leaving their people to suffer amidst stolen plenty and leaving the minority as well to no fate considering their contribution to the sustainability of the already shaky foundation.
Therefore, to get out of these mess and redirect our nation, we need reorientation, sensitization, consciousness, awareness and refined enlightenment on our ONENESS. We really need to start relating with ourselves as humans, because before being Muslims, Christians, Hausa, Fulani, Igbo, Igala, Yoruba, Tiv, Ebira, Birom, Okun, black or white. We are first human beings, we must respect the dignity of our individual persons and relate with ourselves passionately as a mass of people that make up Nigeria. These masses of individuals should matter ultimately to whoever is holding forth as the head.
The challenges of poverty, diseases, hunger, malnutrition knows no tribe or race, Muslims or Christians, party and others. The masses matter. One, peaceful and progressive Nigeria is all we seek.
– Mallam Ahmed Suleiman (MAS) writes from Lokoja.
Postscript: This piece is just to draw a lesson from what transpired in the past in order that we are guided in our next line of action and reaction as we seek to redirect our dear nation,and not in anyway attempt creating a bad blood.
