Nigeria is a melting pot of
nations, as British imperialism compelled the various nations to have
common ancestry in 1914, with the amalgamation of the Northern and
Southern Protectorates as a British colony. It is also common knowledge
that the views of the various nationalities lumped into one huge area
of British influence were neither sought nor considered.
After independence, Nigeria, like
most countries artificially created to suit the purposes of expired
imperialists, became saddled with challenges of nation-building,
promoting oneness and national unity. It is obvious the root of our
problems partly lies in our historical past, the rest lies with us.
Much as we cannot change our past, there is so much we can do to shape
our future.
The tragedy of the Nigerian
situation is that while the British colonialists used the strategy of
divide and rule, our local power brokers and peripheral capitalists
adopted the strategy of divide and plunder.
Take the over-vexed issue of
zoning as an example. What is essentially an internal issue of the PDP
and its members has been overblown to assume national relevance. Failed
and discredited politicians who are solely concerned about their
selfish interests rather than national interests are being allowed to
set the agenda of public discourse, instead of media practitioners.
Proponents of zoning argue that it
is fair and equitable. It gives a sense of belonging and promotes
stability. Moreover, there is a subsisting agreement reached at the
formation of the party, on power rotation and zoning. Opponents of
zoning are quick to counter that zoning actually negates fairness and
engenders mediocrity, as it excludes competent candidates from other
zones who could be the best for the job. To such candidates, zoning
amounts to being born at a disadvantage. Every disadvantage is hurtful
and unjust. Why should a full-blooded Nigerian, or anyone for that
matter, be made to suffer or endure any discrimination or injustice in
our own country? Nigerians have been elected to the British Parliament
to serve the British people and Americans now have a man with his roots
in Kenya as the American President. To nullify all the seeming
platitudes of zoning, they submit that it violates the provisions of
Nigeria’s constitution. Hence, it is illegal and unlawful.
So, either way, we are under
siege. What hope for the common man who can hardly afford three square
meals daily, let alone afford a bullet-proof vest or personal security
guards?
Most politicians are one fool
makes many. They employ the use of words and phrases coined to fuel
their inordinate ambition. They pretend as though their effort is for
the good of the country but we know them for what they truly are,
devious.
Experience has shown that the
interest of the masses matters less to these aspirants jostling for
positions with desperate zeal. Look at President Obama, his hair went
grey within the first six months after he assumed office. That’s the
trait of hard work. That’s the Badge of Service. The reverse is the
case out here; it is bye-bye to want, hard work and stress. Hunger is
forever banished from their crib right from the moment they assume
office. Then, a ‘reign of terror’ in all manner of SUVs to oppress the
very same people on whose back they rode to office! A man is not good
just because of where he comes from. It amounts to gross disservice to
campaign for Goodluck Jonathan in order to compensate for the wrongs
that the Niger Delta has suffered. That, too, is sectionalism of a
sort. The entire country is President Jonathan’s constituency.
Zoning is both a fact and an
aberration. Zoning is a fact because it exists in PDP’s Articles of
Association. However, zoning is an aberration because Nigeria’s
Constitution does not recognise it. Zoning should not be confused with
federal character, and the PDP is not one of the entities described in
the context of the federal character principles contained in Section 14
of the constitution. It is absurd to think that we could promote
national unity by unfairness or through an illegality.
It is apparent that zoning is a
convenient tool for elite capture of power. It is a means to an end
rather than an end itself. However, the onus is on the PDP and its
stakeholders to re-evaluate and re-negotiate the contentious provision
of power rotation and zoning in accordance with the dictates of
Providence and public mood, if Mr Jonathan is to fly the party’s flag
at the presidential election in 2011.
The overbearing influence of the
party’s state governors also needs to be re-examined, as some of them
are distanced from the people. Public perception of the PDP is that of
an “arrangee party” of money bags. The party needs to re-invent itself
and be more relevant to the aspirations of the people.
The immortal words of the late US
President Dwight Eisenhower cannot be more apt: “If a political party
does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a course
that is right and that is moral, then, it is not a political party; it
is merely a conspiracy to seize power”.
Wind of change
In terms of ethno-religious
composition, the “north” is polarised. It is trash to talk of “northern
hegemony” in this day and age as I.B.M. Haruna, a retired Major
General, did recently. We are well into the 21st Century, soldier man!
The “monolithic north” is fast disappearing like the morning haze on
the ascent of the sun.
Nigerians of northern descent are
now conscious that the so-called interests of ‘the north’ is, in
reality, the interests of the oppressive few.
Additionally, there is a new
political awareness on the part of the northern political elites that
the social, economic and infrastructural development of the region
cannot be tied to ethno-religious interest and cleavages. Consequently,
an unprecedented phenomenon now permeates the country, as we witness
the emergence of ‘New Nations’, New Alliances and the formation of new
Power Blocks.
The wind of change is gathering
strength, ready to blow away those standing in its path and who are
hell bent on milking our country dry. Nigerians are sick and tired of
being led by politicians of dubious quality.
In the not too distant future,
citizen Ali Bassam from Jos will be able to contest for an elective
post in Ibadan, and win based on competence and his programme for the
people of his constituency. It is only then that we can truly say that
Nigeria has come of age.
Ojo is a London-based freelance journalist
