The North and Reality
by
I am beginning to nurse strong beliefs that Nigeria is gradually becoming a
time bomb awaiting explosion. The feeling grows stronger most especially
when I read or hear disturbing comments from a section of Nigerians without
admonition from those in authority or their territorial monarchs and elders.
I am referring to statements credited to some vessels of confusion who
incidentally are of the "Core North" origin completely beclouded with a false
sense of power monopoly. This is absolutely unfortunate.
I easily remember those words of elder statesman - Othman Dan Fodio and I
quote that "Conscience is a wound which only the truth can heal". It is with
that quotable quote that I derive my inspiration for this piece. The
inciting and provoking words of Dr. Datti Ahmed in Katsina is enough to
cause an uprising that is typical of a hurricane especially with the crowds
responding with war chants simultaneously. Umaru Dikko, "busy body" Ali
Mazrui and Maitama Sule have repeatedly echoed the fact that political power
belongs to north whether you like it or not. A fallacy that now has to face
reality.
May I know when this decision or negotiation was made? What do the other
sections of Nigeria have to contend with since the political leadership is
not part of democracy? Doesn't every Nigerian deserve an equal sense of
belonging thus ensuring equal rights too? These questions need answers and
the earlier they answered the better as the Sharia and Maitasine riots
obviously had similar undertones. The impending one might be so volatile
that we may be forced to split up the whole entity called "Nigeria" and then
go our separate ways.
Over the years there has been so much lamentation by some disgruntled people
from the north that the press is south-controlled and excessively parochial
or biased in its assessment of the northern power play. What is even more
intriguing to me is the fact that the press world is an open industry where
those with vested interest use it as an opium of expression and information
dissemination, so why all the noise about southern press domination. Those
who feel free to write basically have the right to do so without permission
or limitation and those who want to sit down and read have the same
prerogative. Likewise those who want to sit down and plan evil war fares
against real and imaginary enemies too.
I think it's high time the north breaks away from the norms and values that
ties their apron strings to their leaders and reason for themselves on an
individual basis like the Abubakar Umars, Bala Usmans and the Balarabe
Musas. That will mark the beginning of the emancipation and liberation from
the shackles of mental slavery and religious bigotry. Until a man seeks
freedom and independence, he shall never see the light and become free from
the chains of hereditary hallucinations. We have had enough of these
senseless killings and fully deserve to sleep the sleep of the just with two
eyes closed. So please let it be.
Uwem Inyang
London
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