The handshake across the Niger summit
has come and gone. Though the event was fraught with
strategic shortfalls, the move ought to be encouraged by all, because disunity
in Southern Nigeria has been a stumbling block to Nigeria ’s democracy.
Here is why and
how. A definite problem that dogged the Nigerian democracy for ages was lack of
dynamic opposition due to proliferation of political parties. This phenomenon
contributed to systemic dictatorship and, by consequence, a history of power
abuse. The god of democracy came to the rescue by provoking the creation of the
All Progressive Congress (APC). Unfortunately, however, the desired outcome has
been elusive because of another dimension of dictatorship in form of primordial
ethnic tyranny.The gist is that disunity in
Think of any debate
or policy on Nigeria ,
be it constitutional amendment, restructuring of the country or what have you.
When all is said and done, the final decision is hardly based on the salient
points raised through the debates but simply on what the North wants, whatever
that north means. Worse still, instead of the “North” considering the opinions
or the needs of the Northern masses, the final say in the region—or rather
Nigeria as a whole—is typically the sole province of the Northern oligarchy, a
clique of wealthy Northern traditional leaders and retired army generals.
The problem does
not end there. The Northern oligarchy exploits the disunity in the South to a
satanic proportion. Notice how the “North” embraces notoriously corrupt
Southern politicians once they claim solidarity with any vision of the
oligarchy. Also consider that any consequence for corrupt elements in Nigeria depends
on the degree of their relationship with the same shameless plutocrats.
The cumulative
effective is a whistling impunity in the land, and no region has been insulated
from the after-effects. The most unfortunate, however, is that the innocent
Northern masses are the worst victims.
The solution is
where projects like the “handshake across the Niger ” come in. Similar to the path
to effective leadership in a multiparty democracy, there is the need for
regional equipoise between the North and South. Such approach has the potential
to checkmate the perceived Northern hegemony over the South, reduce culture of
impunity and, consequently, allow genuine development in the country.
In short, the
handshake across the Niger
is designed for the South to emulate its Northern counterpart to finally
demonstrate common sense in terms of unity. For instance, though the North is
made up of a multitude of ethnic groups, the region typically speaks with one
voice through central organizations.
In other words,
instead of masquerading with beggarly ethnic antiquities, such as Ohaneze
Ndigbo, Afenifere or the various Niger Delta outfits, the entire South should
simply promote central bodies akin to the different umbrella Arewa groups. The
Southern leaders must be careful to avoid a fall before the rise.
The recent handshake across the Niger is a bold step forward, no
doubt, but its strategy is tangentially myopic. Such strategy has already given
rise to the emerging nickname, “The Igbo/Yoruba Summit”, which is enough to
create peppering mistrust among the minorities in the South.
It can be misconstrued as sowing seeds of socio-cultural
hegemony—so soon—by the Igbo and the Yoruba over not only the smaller ethnic
groups in the South but also other like minds in the true North. That is why
the Southern leaders must learn to embrace umbrella southern organizations over
tribal charters.
One hardly hears of Hausa Union or Fulani Assembly. Neither
does one hear of separate fora for North-West, North-East or North-Central
governors or their legislators.
What we know is North or Arewa, an Hausa term for the north,
not minding that the region is far from being monolithic, ethnically or
religiously.
The South should also guard against unrepentant sycophants who, in
attempt to curry favor from the Northern oligarchy, will stop at nothing until
the vision for southern unity is frustrated. That is precisely how they
frustrated the original Southern Governors Forum initiated in 2001 by the
visionary Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Unity in the South must not be seen as a coup against any
group. It is only a means to an end; the end being the overall unity of Nigeria and
effective democratic leadership. It can also be convenient to continue to heap blames
on the Northern oligarchy and its minions—most of whom are the beneficiaries of
bad leadership in Nigeria —for
thwarting unity in the South.
But that is foolhardy. The blame lies squarely on the South,
which has historically allowed itself to be used to frustrate the desired
Southern unity.
*Ogbonnia
is a commentator on public issues (skcogbonnia@firsttexasenergy.com)
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