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The Nigerian Farrago By
I am sure I would certainly fall into the category of those a certain so-called Fulani aristocrat refers to as fascists. Well, if this Fulani "aristocrat" chooses to call me a fascist, simply on the basis of my "belligerent" Yoruba nationalism, then I proudly stand accused! There are several tiers of fascism. The tier to which I subscribe is the one that portrays me, and others like myself, of being cognizant of our nationality (in my case Yoruba) and prepared to do ANYTHING under the sun, to ensure the survival of our people. Those, who in essence have a clandestine agenda, can only view the love for one’s nationality, and a willingness to make sacrifices for the betterment of one’s own, with suspicion. It is when one’s love for self is so blinded that it leads to the questioning of the existence of others, that a genuine fault of that love can then be tendered. The other tiers of fascism are embodied by the Nigerian farrago, which has become nothing but a centralized dictatorship, characterized by stringent and stifling socioeconomic controls. This impetuous monster, aptly identified by the nomenclature Nigeria, has for close to four decades, imposed an inherently inferior and directionless unitary system on its majority and unwilling participants. This embedded Nigerian agenda, has for all intents and purposes, served as the proverbial clog in our wheel of progress. That Nigeria was an apocryphal apparition would be more apt, than to dignify this gargantuan edifice with even the slightest of finite classifications. That Nigeria continues to exist (or is it subsist?) in its current rudimentary state is a testament to the time tested notion, that a house built on a shaky foundation, will eventually crumble... and crumble it yet may! For the Yoruba have a saying that states, "The child that says his or her mother will not sleep, that child is the one that will not sleep." Simply put, Nigeria will never "sleep" until it acknowledges, in its true sense, its diversity, and incorporates in the truest form, a system of government that engenders the spirit of brotherhood, hard work, dedication, selfless service, personal ambition, and an unflinching commitment to purposeful nation building. Obasanjo’s recent display of coy nepotism, with the appointment of Muktar Shagari, the proven son of a proven mal-administrator, goes to show how unserious this farmer is, regarding the resuscitation of the Nigerian dream. Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo, himself, a perpetual failure, is not the answer, I am afraid! He remains an unwelcome irritant to the Yoruba elite who would much rather have a proven and tested leader (regardless of his or her ethnicity) at the helm of affairs, rather than some uncouth and visionless dictator, whose antecedents have shown him to be nothing more than a COWARD, of the highest order. There is no question that a true and viable nation, can in fact ensue from the Nigerian experiment. However, there comes a time when theory must become practicable, and an experiment need be completed. Nigeria can not, and should not remain in a state of experimental stagnation for ever; men and women of vision, and purpose, must brace up to the challenge, or face the very daunting possibility of a conflagration, that may, in essence consume us all. God forbid… we pray. Lest I Forget: Recently, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Obasanjo misled and mis-ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Richard Akinjide (remember him?), stated in a Nigerian Daily on the web, that the recent allegations by AD Governors in the South-West of a plan by the PDP to rig elections, in the region, were, "diversionary tactics by the AD itself to rig the elections." Hmmm… it is true what they say, isn’t it; the more things change, the more they stay the same. The architect of twelve two-thirds is once again at it. There is just something perpetually Afonja-like about those shons-of-the-shoil (please send your vituperations to the e-mail address above). And about Mike Okiro… Perhaps Commissioner Okiro was right in suggesting that incorporating the OPC into crime fighting would eventually lead to confrontation between the popular (and here to stay) Yoruba Militia and the Nigerian Police, in Lagos State. Come to think of it, Mr. Okiro is right. After all, we all know that the greatest concentration of hoodlums and marauders can be found in the "distinguished" Nigerian Police Force. Go ahead Tinubu and other Oodua Governors if you so choose to use the OPC; there is nothing unconstitutional about protecting the lives and property of your citizenry… particularly when they demand it. After all, the Sharia States gave their people what they asked for. That, I’m afraid is the beauty of democracy… something Mike Okiro and his louts, know nothing about!
Soboyejo Alaba Akinboyede Awosika-Coker, Internet and Communications Executive, Seattle, Washington
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