Nigeria came
into being as a result of the British amalgamation of Northern and Southern
colonial territories in 1914. The amalgamation was an act of colonial
convenience for obvious reasons. The Brits wanted one country stretching from
the desert to the Atlantic Coast. Northern Nigeria couldn’t
pay its way while southern Nigeriagenerated
more than enough revenue for its administrative expenses.
The amalgamation laid the historical bitterness, rivalry, and
enmity between the two regions. The two regions are quite the opposite of one
another. The North is largely Muslim. It was the center of the erstwhile
Islamic Empire called the Sokoto Caliphate. The Muslim North look up to the
Middle East and other parts of the Muslim world for affinity, solidarity and
sociopolitical model. The South is largely Christian and highly influenced by
the sociopolitical pattern of the West and traditional African societies. This
was the beginning of a precarious foundation of our federalism.
The foundations of a true federalism are based on the concerns
for the unity and integrity of a culturally diverse nation like ours. Our
historical experience is a sharp contrast to the important foundations of
federalism. Ours is a disruptive and disintegrative sectarian forces coupled
with political rancor and instability prevailing since independence.
The lopsided power sharing arrangement between the federal
government and the states fuels precipitation and intensification of ethnic
conflicts. The politics of ethnicity has remarkably retarded our national
development and has remained the sole engine that drives our modern history.
The unjust monopoly of power and resources by the central government has
galvanized the federating states to advocate for restructuring of the federal
system. The Northerners have never favored restructuring because the status quo
guarantees them a perpetual hold on power and resources at the center.
The latest northern antagonist of
restructuring is Tanko Yakassai. In a recent interview with the Vanguard in
Kano, Yakasai said the restructuring of Nigeria is a
Yoruba agenda. He said the current agitation to restructure Nigeriawas an age
old ploy by the Yoruba speaking group of the south west to enable her to have a
shot at power. He said the desire was driven by envy and hatred for the
northern geopolitical zone. “From Action group to UPN, to NADECO to PRONACO,”
says Yakasai, “the agitation for restructuring is concentrated among the south
west people of southernNigeria.”
“The whole aggression originated from Action group, and the
intention was to deny the North the benefit of the population and land mass,”
continues Yakasai. “It is therefore a gang up to deprive the north the benefits
it’s getting for being richly endowed.” “This agitation is not driven by
patriotism, rather it’s driven by hate and envy and this campaign started with
some politicians in the south west way back in 1959,” says Yakasai.
Why are Yakasai and his northern emirates afraid of
restructuring? Who is jealous of who and for what? Who wants the mass arid
desert? Who is envious of the northern backwardness? Which benefits of richly
endowed north is Yakasai talking about? Show us or name the riches. How come
the “richly endowed” north still remains the least developed and civilized part
of the country? To be sure, Yakasai must be indulged in a prolonged trance of
day dreaming.
Of the 56 years of independence, the
northerners have been in political and economic control of the central
government for 38 years. They have always found it compelling to capture the
central government. Indeed, they believe in the self-fulfilling prophecy that
they were born to rule Nigeria forever.
The arrogation and arrogance to be in perpetual control of the central
government has further marginalized other federating units in the union.
In all the years they have been in
power at the center, the northerners have used diverse strategies and tactics
to maintain and perpetuate the grip on power at the federal level. For 38 years
they have been responsible for the economic neglect and infrastructural decay
of Nigeria. Full of
monumental incompetence, they are the unrepentant pirates and predators of our
economy. Because of their long hold on power at the center, they, more than any
other ethnic group in Nigeria, hindered
the process of national development and integration. For all these years, the
northerners who headed the central government are icons of corruption. National
funds allocated for developments never reached the target groups and purpose.
Agreed all the different ethnicities
that have served asNigeria’s Heads of
State or Presidents have performed woefully abysmal. However, the northerners
who have been in charge for most of the years are the most generously deficient
in democratic leadership. They lack sacrifice, courage, initiative,
imagination, wisdom, and vision. The northerners have exhibited more profoundly
than any of the groups because they have no idea of what participate
leadership, servant leadership, transformation leadership, super-leadership,
and value leadership mean.
The statement from Yakasai is not surprising. That the
Hausa-Fulani feudalists have consciously sought to monopolize power at the
center is not a matter of speculation but of public record. They have
consistently opposed progressive ideas that would chip away their hold on the
center. The northerners have always fought against everything progressive and
prosperous for a true federalism. At the National Conference, they opposed
devolution of power (restructure), resource control, derivation principle,
revenue sharing formula, state police, and the development and exploitation of
mineral resources nationwide. In fact, they want the current 13 per cent
derivation to be further reduced.
Yakasai no doubt, spoke the minds of
Hausa-Fulani hegemonic oppressors by openly confessing their loathsomeness of
the Yoruba race for nothing other than wanting a better Nigeria where
peace, progress, and happiness reign. As a matter of fact, we can take his word
as coming from President Muhammadu Buhari becauseBuhari does not
favor restructuring. I campaigned and canvassed for Buhari. At
that time I believed he was the best choice and the best candidate over the
corruptJonathan. I believed Buhari was best
positioned to reshapeNigeria. But, with
the Hausa-Fulani agenda espoused by Yakasai and surreptitiously pursued by Buhari, and Buhari’s averse
to restructuring, I consider Yakasai’s declaration as a declaration of
war against the Yoruba race.
To Yoruba bastards, prodigals, crumb
eaters, back stabbers, traitors, alatenujes, and akindanidanis that are the
willing allies and ready tools in the hands of Hausa-Fulani hegemonic
oppressors, get your acts together. Stop selling your birthrights for a bowl of
amala. Stop playing a second fiddle to Hausa-Fulanis. Stop selling your own
people to the feudalists. Now is the time for all Yorubas regardless of party
persuasion and religious affiliation to come together and fight the
Hausa-Fulani hegemonic oppressors. Our demand is simple: restructure now or
we’ll opt out ofNigeria!
No more political alliance with the northerners. This is it. For
2019, the battle lines are drawn. We’ll not be used – never again – by the
Hausa-Fulanis. Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola was used by the northerners to set the
West on fire and consequently got rid of Chief Obafemi Awolowo by making sure
he was sent to prison. Yorubas, consider this: Why should we continue to elect
these political parasites into office whose agenda is not the Nigerian agenda?
Why should we abdicate leadership of this nation to the narrow-minded, selfish,
power hungry feudal imperialists? What are we going to get by allying with
northerners to elect another northerner in 2019 that would be different from
their past deformed vision and spineless leadership? The Hausa-Fulanis need us
more than we need them.
The die is cast and there is no turning back!
http://naija247news.com/2016/10/yoruba-race-siege-tanko-yakasai-hausa-fulani-hegemonic-oppressors-bayo-oluwasanmi/
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