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"Let the quislings beware..." by
In a recent interview with the Voice of America (VOA), erstwhile military dictator and renowned ethnic jingoist, Muhammadu Buhari threatened that the activities of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) could lead to another civil war, if the administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo did not do something to curtail their excesses. Along the same line, going by credible reports, the "Lagos State" Police Command, under Commissioner Mike Okiro have essentially taken it upon themselves to show utter contempt and disregard for the rule of law by systemically and methodically engaging in acts of harassment and intimidation against Yoruba citizens in Lagos, under the guise of flushing out suspected members of the Oodua Peoples Congress, in line with the Federal Government directive. This two scenarios cannot be said to be exclusive of the other. In one case you have the persecution of the Yorubas (with an official seal of approval) and on the other, you have a leading northern politician and former head of state essentially justifying the recent clampdown on MASSOB and further engaging in "blackmail" with his rather irresponsible and dangerous utterances. I can assure Muhammadu Buhari and his brethren of one thing though; in the event that his threat of war becomes reality, the encore will be a far more different kettle of fish than he and his Afro-Arab kinfolk bargained for! It does not take much effort to figure out who the forces are that are behind the OPC and MASSOB clampdowns. It is the same forces that have essentially declared an Islamic Republic in the core north, and are hell-bent on imposing their will and aspirations on the rest of Nigeria and indeed Africa. They are Obasanjo's masters and he is their faithful servant. That is why he is willing to sacrifice his blood and that of the children of Oodua for a lie called Nigeria, a lie that no matter how hard they try (Obasanjo and his cohorts) will never become true. They forget that it is impossible to engender truth out of falsehood. BRIEF HISTORICAL CONTEXT: The transition to civilian rule in 1999 was for all intents and purposes stage-managed. The military is still in power and their cronies in "Agbada" and "Danshiki" are still propagating the wishes and aspirations of these eternal rapists, who have bled and continue to bleed that nation dry! Please note that when I speak of the Nigerian military, I am referring to that cowardly, as well as intellectually vacuous and utterly undisciplined group of social misfits, who are bent upon keeping the hopes, dreams and aspirations of Nigerians under "lock and key" forever! The military for one thing have always championed the aspirations and wishes of the North over the rest of Nigeria. Why? Because most Northerners rather than go to school, work or make meaningful contributions to the society would much rather join the army, since a career in the army as was always the case, ensured their future and helped maintain their strangle-hold on power...this was their thinking. This has historically put Nigeria in a state of flux. For one thing, the core North is Arab in culture and Arab in aspiration. The South on the other hand is African in culture and African in aspiration. Some uninformed individuals might wonder as to what exactly I am talking about. Well, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure this out. All one needs to do is look into the annals of history. It is only after a thorough study of historical facts and occurrences that one can then begin to fully understand and appreciate the current trend of events. Please note that in writing this piece, I am not trying to engage in Arab bashing, but I am merely trying to state the facts as they are. The Arabs were the first to invade Africa (In 1500 A.D.). They were also the first to enslave Africans. They, the Arabs have through the likes of the Libyan dictator and renowned terrorist, Muammar Quaddafi (whom all these shameless and daft African leaders are now lining up behind under the guise of some obfuscated Pan-African agenda), always been behind the destabilization of Sub-Saharan African countries, with a view to Islamizing the whole continent. Africans like to believe that Arabs are their eternal brothers. While this may be true, it does not take away from the fact that the Arabs do in fact have expansionist aspirations with regard to the whole African Continent. What makes the Arabs even more dangerous is that they are better positioned (by virtue of their proximity to and within Africa) than Europeans to bring this ultimate goal of theirs to fruition. They have been very adept at using the tool of religion and a feigned sense of brotherhood in this clandestine pursuit of theirs. However, it is these same so-called African brothers that are taking the Southern Sudanese people into slavery today, a fact documented by the United Nations, the United States Government and several international human rights groups. The civil war in the Sudan has raged on for over two decades now with the Southern Sudanese being the worse off for it. The Arab-dominated regime in Khartoum has persistently waged a war of attrition on the South in their bid to create a "truly Islamic Sudanese State." It seemed rather ironic that past Nigerian governments seemingly turned a blind eye to the atrocities of the regime in Khartoum against the Southern Sudanese, while criticizing the apartheid regime in South Africa at the same time. The same scenario in the Sudan is exactly what is being played out in Nigeria at the moment. The only difference is that the full-blown military assault by the North has not begun... just yet! The Hausa-Fulani in reality do not consider themselves to be Africans. This is the basis for their misguided "superiority complex". They have always aligned themselves with the Arab world in both world and continental affairs. At OPEC, the Arabs were always uncomfortable when a Southerner was named Oil Minister. When Professor Tam David-West was the Oil Minister in the 1980s, he tried in vain to make Nigeria a more influential member of the Arab dominated cartel. This of course did not sit too well with the Arabs who needless to say were not very fond of Professor West...eventually he was replaced, yet again with a Northerner, Rilwanu Lukman, if my memory serves me correctly. The Hausa-Fulani, with the apparatus of the Nigerian military have remained undaunted in their bid to carry out the wishes of their Arab brethren. However, their resolve interestingly has always been tempered with ingenious political savvy. The corporate existence of the entity called Nigeria has always been to their benefit (albeit to the callous exclusion of the northern masses whom they have effectively brainwashed). Hence, when there seemed real, the possibility of Southern Secession as a result of events following the June 12th annulment and the subsequent death of Chief M.K.O Abiola, they uncharacteristically panicked, but then they regrouped...to hatch another master plan...or so they thought. They counted on the fact they could always find stooges and sycophants in the South (especially amongst the Yoruba) to help carry out their master plan. Then it flashed like a bulb in their collective heads... Yes! Aremu... Remember he sold his people out in 1979 (less we forget this was when and how it all started), we are sure we can count on him again! They stage- managed the whole thing so that the two Presidential candidates were from the Southwest and both Yoruba men...their thinking was that the Yorubas no matter how upset and frustrated they were, could always be placated and ultimately pacified. They, the North, with their military apparatus pitted Chief Olu Falae (seen as a desirable Yoruba man by his kith and kin) against Rtd. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo (who was and still is considered the least desirable of Yoruba men by his kinfolk). Of course, it was clear whom the North wanted and it was also pretty clear who was going to win. Their calculation was that Obasanjo, who till today is still considered a non-entity by most Yoruba people (including this writer), would once again deliver Nigeria to them...this time in Mufti as opposed to Khaki. Although there are those who say that Obasanjo has undergone a spiritual and psychological rebirth by virtue of his near-death experience, I am not quite sold on this. And frankly it is inconsequential at this point in time. What Obasanjo must and should however realize is that the South is more resolved than ever (the Yoruba in particular) to free itself from the shackles of subjugation and domination by the Arab hybrids to the North. If the Hausa-Fulani indeed feel that they were born to rule, they are more than welcome to do just that... but over themselves! Nigeria is an African (Black) country. The corporate existence of this entity called Nigeria is and will not be contingent upon the de-secularization of the nation. Nigeria is not and will never be an Islamic State! The Northern States by virtue of their declaration of Sharia Law have in-effect seceded from the Republic. If Obasanjo is so blinded by his myopic visions of a one Nigeria, as not to realize this, then he and his Northern backers have got something else coming! The proscription of and continued assault on the OPC, an organization that was in fact created to check the excesses of a sick and despotic kleptomaniac called Abacha, is unconstitutional, and as such cannot and will not stand! It is very clear to see that the Northern power bloc was behind this move going by the recent utterances of several well placed Northern leaders as well as representatives of the Arewa Consultative Forum. The irresponsible statements by the ACF, through their mouthpieces such as Muhammadu Buhari and others at best shows the continued arrogance of the Northern elite that in essence does not bode well for the continued corporate existence of Nigeria. You see, the ACF does not need to have a so-called militia in order to defend their interests. They already have the Nigerian military to do that for them, with the support of their civilian stooges and sycophants in government. While I do not condone the actions of a few social miscreants masquerading as OPC members, a trend where the government through its various "law enforcement" organs is not only selective in enforcing the laws of the land, but engages in extra-judicial impishness will not only lead to these organizations going underground, but could also serve to further harden the position of moderate Yorubas at home and abroad... a situation that may infact lead to the fulfillment of Muhammadu Buhari's wishes. Obasanjo must realize that in as much as he is willing to die for Nigeria (his Hausa-Fulani masters to be precise), we, the Yoruba youth and masses worldwide are prepared to shed every drop of our blood for the land of our fore-fathers... ILEE YO'OBA!! It is time for Obasanjo to stop deluding himself about the political situation in the country and immediately convene the Sovereign National Conference without delay! It will indeed be foolhardy for the Northern elite to think that they can continue to run Nigeria as if it were their personal barnyard. The military apparatus that has for so long kept the Northern Hegemony in place, can not stop this tidal wave of freedom, justice and equity from blowing across the length and breadth of Nigeria, and indeed Africa for that matter. To Baba Wa... Pa Abraham Adesanya: Sir, in light of the recent controversy surrounding the Abubakar Abdusalami Distinguished (imagine that) Lecture Series, we, the Yoruba youth and other progressive individuals for a better Nigeria, express our sincere disappointment at your decision to accompany this accessory to murder and looting, Abubakar Abdusalami, along with Eni Owo Ayo Opadokun to the recent exercise in academic buffoonery held at the once revered Chicago State University. Sir, it is also on record that you also represented this same individual of questionable character following his (Abubakar's) refusal to appear at the Oputa panel upon his being summoned. You were also on record as having criticised the establishment of the said Oputa panel, a panel that is on record as having so far revealed the multitude of atrocities committed by the Abacha mal-administration of which Abdusalami Abubakar was an active member. Recently, in defense of your decision to accompany this former dictator to Chicago, you stated, much to our bewilderment and that of others, "he is a gentleman, he kept his word and handed over to a civilian government." Sir, the truth is Abubakar and his cronies in fact had no choice but to hand over the reigns of power to a democratically elected government. It was either they left or be forcibly removed by the masses (and if they think we were bluffing, then let the military attempt a come-back... ! Furthermore, they hurriedly and mischievously put together a defective constitution and essentially selected one of their own as President. Sir, with all due respect, your actions lately (in particular those that relate to General Abdusalami) have indeed left a lot to be desired. May I remind you sir that Papa Awolowo always took the feelings and concerns of the Yoruba masses into account in all his undertakings. He, Papa Awolowo knew very well that he derived his authority from the Yoruba masses and that whatever he did, he must always put the over-all interest of the Yoruba race above all else. This I reiterate once again, he always did and that is why there is no individual in Yorubaland that can seriously lay claim to the leadership of Oodua's children unless they subscribe to the TRUE tenets of Awoism... in all its ramifications! Sir, I therefore implore you to understand in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS that the leadership mantle of the Yoruba race, entrusted to you by the Gods and our ancestors is one of immense responsibility. It is a role that requires in addition also an enormous amount of courage... that sir, you have clearly demonstrated on occasions far too numerous to mention. I will end sir with an excerpt from your speech to the Pan-Yoruba Congress a couple of years ago: "At the last Congress, I warned that it is not yet Uhuru. The events of the last year have again confirmed to many that we need to be as vigilant as ever. Forces of de-stabilization are prowling all over the land, creating discord where none should have existed. In Yorubaland, we must avoid actions that can cause disunity and rancour in our midst: We must also resist the temptation to be agents of others who seek to destabilize Yorubaland. Let the quislings beware...." -------Pa Abraham Adesanya Soboyejo Alaba Awosika-Coker, Seattle, Washington
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