Open Letter to Yakubu Gowon
Kindly permit me, Sir, to address you through this medium, as your personality and some current issues affecting the north, have become so stubbornly topical that this seems to be the most suitable way of informing you of how some of us truly feel. The saying goes that a 'stitch in time saves lives'.
My elder statesman, I wish to remind you that on 1st August, 1966, when you were named the Head of State of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces, via a bloody coup that consumed your predecessor, General J. T. Aguiyi Ironsi, two things clearly stood out: first, as a young man below the age of 35 years, you were a role model for all the youths of this country at that time. Many young fathers then from the Middle Belt found it very commendable and convenient to name their children after you. Till date, some of these young men, in their early 30s are living.
Secondly, that coup was spearheaded by officers, majority of whom were of Middle Belt extraction, hence it will not be out of place to conclude that you rode on the back of your ?primary constituency?, that is, the Middle Belt, to become what you were and what your are today. Sir, may I also remind you that you are about the oldest surviving General (in terms of rank) in Nigeria today, and in terms of position, you are the oldest surviving Head of State. How benevolent God has been to you over the years. As the Head of State of Nigeria for nine years (1st August, 1966-29th July, 1975), you presided over a sprawling, promising and richly endowed entity.
It was also during your regime that we had the oil boom of the early 1970s. It was your same regime that dragged hundreds of thousands of Nigerias Buffalo Soldiers (i.e. Middle Belters) into a senseless civil war. And they died in their thousands, too. The few survivors were later to be rewarded by your same regime (according to the dictates of your Hausa /Fulani overlords) with dismissal or retirement from the Army. Your overlords, having satisfied themselves, now pushed their children, who never fired a shot, to be promoted to the highest positions in the Army. What a twist of fate!
I am telling you this as a victim; for my father who was a police officer in the Nigeria Police Force, took part in that your so-called Police action against Biafra. Throughout the many months he was in the bush obeying your orders, we his children and our mother were left hungry in the police barracks at Bombay, Kano, ever weeping and praying to our God for his survival. Even though he managed to survive, the pictures (both imagined and real) that he brought home till date have collectively damaged our family psyche. And pronto after the war, my father was fired from the police force on trumped up charges. On our way back home, we were involved in the famous Langalanga train accident; and even though we all survived, we also lost all, materially. Do I need to tell you what we have passed through all these years for some of our fathers children (like my humble self) to become what we are today.
My elder brother, throughout your regime, you did little or nothing for the Middle Belt. All the money you got from the oil boom was channelled developing Lagos and Kano. Not even the Niger Delta which sourced this oil received such attention from you. You blatantly refused to identify with your people - the minorities of this country. Let me be quick to tell you that if given the same opportunity you had, some other person from another region would have done differently. I am not, by this, advocating that leaders should be parochial or narrow- minded. But even Christ our Lord had a primary constituency in the Jews!
Let me remind you, Sir, that during the regimes of the devil genius and the goggled devil incarnate, you turned your face the other way. Rather than give the duo an honest and states-manly advise, you embarked on a diversionary project christened 'Nigeria Prays'. These are two regimes that for obvious reasons, Nigerians will not forget even in the next century. Yet, you have waxed so strong now as to dump your God (by dumping Nigeria Pray) for politics. And in doing so, you are very regrettably associating with people who have not wished and are not ready to wish this country well.
I am talking of the so - called Arewa Consultative Forum and your position as its Chairman (or Leader?). This is a group that has most vehemently and yet most dishonestly criticised the Obasanjo - led government. At the height of it all, you were, together with General Buhari, mooted as likely presidential candidates. While General Buhari came out to deny this rumour (or so it seemed), you have till date remained taciturn.
I wish to remind you, too, that you have no credentials of a democrat. Evidence: You embarked on an endless transition programme that was towards perpetuating you in governance. If you were not booted out, Nigerias history would have changed radically. The same person you and your Arewa cohorts are trying to chase out was your successor who faithfully handed over power to another Arewa child - himself also pursuing this dirty agenda with you now.
Do you think these Arewa people love you more than Chief J. S Tarka, Patrick Dakotri (your kinsman), Generals Victor Malu, Isaac Alfa, Ibrahim Ogohi, etc? Have you forgotten so soon your 1992 presidential primaries waterloo in Zaria in the hands of the same people you have so cherished all your life? If yes, I am very sorry. Do you also not know that, that was how Chief J. S Tarka was mindlessly misled? Have you soon forgotten Chief M. K. O. Abiolas efforts both in 1983 and 1993? I have been disappointed in you for a very long time now.
During the Abacha years, you publicly apologised to the Ibos over what they suffered during the Civil War. But intentionally or otherwise you forgot/failed to apologise to the Middle Belters who fought and died in their numbers to keep you and Nigeria intact. Also, the aftermath of the sectarian crisis in Kaduna in February, 2000, saw Arewa elders flying to the Igbo - speaking states soothing charged nerves. Even though a lot of people from the Middle Belt and Akwa - Ibom were also affected, no such visit was extended to them. Not even a word of consolation. And you kept mum too. When eventually you offered to speak, you uttered words that sounded as if you were in support of sharia! Have you been converted? Or are you charmed?
I have also not forgotten that the Arewa once drafted you to Makurdi to go and make a case for Aliko Dangote over his failed attempt to acquire B. C. C. PLC. And pronto, like an errand boy, you went and faithfully discharged your assignment. Now that Alhaji Dangote has openly confessed that there is more to it than meets the eye, I wonder how you would now be thinking. You must be feeling thoroughly shortchanged and even ashamed of yourself.
Finally, Sir, I do not mean any harm by these terse words of mine. I am only echoing the thoughts of many. But before I drop my pen, I wish to strongly advice that you immediately retrace your footsteps. This is necessary for two additional reasons:- first that since June 8, 1998, God has been actively participating in the affairs of this country; and He has not spared those that breach public trust and also those who are agents of darkness. Secondly, the Arewa political machine which you have been employed to salvage is damaged almost irreparably.
No human being, including your exalted self can repair it, at least in the foreseeable future. If you have ears, hear very well. Au revoire.