Thursday, 17 May 2012
Let Us Break Nigeria Or...
By Prince Charles Dickson
Many times the Cheetah chases the Antelope, the Antelope outruns the Cheetah not because it is faster than the Cheetah but by reason of the pursuit. While the Cheetah, is chasing food, the Antelope is running for its life.
"I only wish people would get away from this sentimental obsession of believing that those who call for an OPEN DISCUSSION on Nigeria are necessarily calling for Nigeria to break up, or that there is something sacrosanct about Nigeria, and that Nigeria can never DISINTEGRATE into 1000 pieces if care is not taken!
It was MAN that put Nigeria together. It is MAN that is holding Nigeria together as of today. It is MAN that is doing all the things that are threatening to break up Nigeria today. And it is MAN who can sit down to discuss and see if we can work out ways to fix all that is wrong with Nigeria!
If my marriage is threatening to break up, and I refuse to sit down with my wife, and if need be, with family and friends, marriage counselors or pastors and priests, then I cannot be serious about wanting my marriage to work, and not break up!There is nothing called a marriage made in heaven! It is you who can make your marriage a 'HEAVEN or a HELL'!
It is the same with nations: Nigerians are the ones who can make Nigeria a HEAVEN or a HELL for us, if we are only willing to sit down and TALK HONESTLY about what is ailing Nigeria, each group from his or her own perspective, and then see how we can arrive at WORKABLE COMPROMISES!
No one and no group can ever get 100% of what they want from any living arrangement, no matter how perfect!
Living together in a house, in a family or in a nation is always about being ready and willing to make COMPROMISES!
There were very few words that could have expressed the Nigerian situation better than the ones above, they are the virtual words of my friend and brother Dr. Valentine Ojo of Tall Timbers, MD in the USA. It is the story of Nigeria.
As I penned this admonition, MEND struck an AGIP trunk line in Brass Bayelsa, they called it a minor attack, a reminder that the issues are still there.
While they were at it, Mr. President and his erstwhile governor in same Bayelsa called each other liars. While it is difficult to say which of them was saying the truth. The fact is that both men represent the problem with Nigeria-mutual distrust.
Again as Val Ojo puts it- The oil producing areas feel they are being abused, neglected and used, and reaping no discernible benefits from their oil.
However mysterious Gbomo Jomo puts a twist saying "We have constantly warned Nigerians about Goodluck Jonathan and his train of idiots running Nigeria. Events of the last few months have vindicated our position on the inability of this moron to lead Nigeria anywhere but downwards".
Very harsh words, almost unprintable but coming from one's kinsman tells you there is trouble.
"Rather than address serious issues facing the nation and its citizens, Goodluck Jonathan squanders public funds on tribalistic sycophants and thugs calling themselves ex-militants".
This may be a lie, but it is equally not far from the truth.
The non-oil producing areas of the North, especially the North-East - to go by the recent revelations from Sanusi who should know - feel that they are not getting enough attention or their own fair share of the 'national cake'.
Yet we are witnesses of the squandermania, looting, and maladministration that have been meted out to the people there by their own leaders.
The South East feels that they have been neglected and not compensated enough for the ravages of the Nigerian Civil War. At the slightest provocation they are victims, but they have continued to be plagued by the leadership of dealers.
The South West feels they are being shoved away from center stage and gradually being marginalized, and that they are being held back in their desire to move ahead.
The Middle Belt feels that they don't even belong anywhere, neither to the South, nor to the North, that people don't even think that they exist or matter in the scheme of things.
The Muslim North feels that their religion is not being given enough playroom.
The Christian South feels the Christians are being persecuted in the Muslim North which they believe would like to islamize the whole of Nigeria!
Nobody is really happy with the project called Nigeria. From teachers, doctors, farmers, mechanic, security agents.
Just ONE...one CLIQUE which has been, and which is still today benefiting from the current chaos in Nigeria, a CLIQUE that cuts across ethnicity, geographical area, religion, and even educational and social class or status since even ILLITERATES who were once socially disadvantaged yesterday, have today become "honorable politicians" - Senators, Members of the House of Rep, Governors, Ministers, Commissioners, Presidential Advisers, and Local Government Chairpersons - all ENJOYING the GOOD LIFE - at the expense of some 99% of the population!
Shouldn't we better agree to come together and talk about it while we still can, even if those talks are going to be long and surely complex...and even if we may never quite agree on the reasons why some elements in the society are disgruntled?
Must we continue in this fashion like an old rickety truck that is still barely moving, until that truck totally breaks down and can no longer move or even be repaired...?
I do believe this may be the only choice facing Nigeria and Nigerians right now: an open an honest discussion forum - not only with Boko Haram - and call it whatever you like, involving everyone with something at stake, where people can bring out their grievances, justified or not, in the open.
The sooner we resolve to do the more INTELLIGENT THING, the better for all of us I do believe.
Nigeria can simply not continue like this, and hope to exist much longer as one nation. The handwriting is clearly visible on the wall, and we are merely refusing to read it correctly!
The current crop cannot, its not an exercise the present NA can do or want to do but we have to draw modalities. It remains to wait and see if we are intelligent and mature enough to decide to do the right thing Time will tell.
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Thank you very much for what
Submitted by francis cole (not verified) on February 11, 2012 - 20:39.
Thank you very much for what youve said. The north are manipulators thats why we can never ever have correct census figure. They always manipulate the figures to cheat. They brought us zoning, they brought us quota system. They always want other people to dance to their music, but they dont like to dance to other people music. The progress of Nigeria is on hold by them. They beleived that they are majority and where as is a big lie. Our only option is seperation beside this the country would never ever move to no where.
Thank you very much for what
Submitted by francis cole (not verified) on February 11, 2012 - 20:38.
Thank you very much for what youve said. The north are manipulators thats why we can never ever have correct census figure. They always manipulate the figures to cheat. They brought us zoning, they brought us quota system. They always want other people to dance to their music, but they dont like to dance to other people music. The progress of Nigeria is on hold by them. They beleived that they are majority and where as is a big lie. Our only option is seperation beside this the country would never ever move to no where.
Thank you very much for what
Submitted by francis cole (not verified) on February 11, 2012 - 20:36.
Thank you very much for what youve said. The north are manipulators thats why we can never ever have correct census figure. They always manipulate the figures to cheat. They brought us zoning, they brought us quota system. They always want other people to dance to their music, but they dont like to dance to other people music. The progress of Nigeria is on hold by them. They beleived that they are majority and where as is a big lie. Our only option is seperation beside this the country would never ever move to no where.
hahah
Submitted by dunnynext (not verified) on February 7, 2012 - 22:27.
greed and corruption kill...you all sound like a bunch of whiny scatterbrains...
life is simple- let go of the greed and power trips or it will kill you, and i honestly hope it does
The scene at many motor parks
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on February 7, 2012 - 12:48.
The scene at many motor parks in Kano in recent weeks has had a distressingly foreboding smell. It typifies what is happening in many other states in the North. In droves, they are leaving. Some have lived in these places for over 30 years. For many of the families fleeing, until now, their children never knew other place than these states they are deserting now. It is so because the tempers of these times seem urgent, and tragedies often happen when warnings go unheeded.Those who have been following the exodus of many southerners, particularly Igbos have never failed to ask: Why are they leaving? This is a pertinent question. But as the scripture counsels, a prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself but the simple, that is, the foolish pass on and are punished (Ecclesiastes 22:3).
Snc and Mr. Zakari MOhammed
Submitted by Akin (not verified) on February 7, 2012 - 10:08.
I realy am not suprised at MR. Zakari Mohammed's words. It is almost like General O. OBasanjo's claim dat the sovereignfy of NIgeria was vested in him as the president. He was wrong and mr. Mohammed is also wrong. They are all trying to protect their current positions of priviledges and opportunities. They are playing the ostrich, if tje current NASS had the capacity to solve the problem, we would not have known by now.
Answer for these fools: abbas474 and co!
Submitted by O'Yemi (not verified) on February 7, 2012 - 09:05.
I pity the northern masses like you! The day the South you are abusing and calling "kafirs" decides to go their way because of the dummy your leaders sold to you, you will suffer like satan! Ask them (your leaders including Sultan)they can't pray the south go their way, if they have ever said it they don't mean it. But if your approach can't change we would have to result to: "to your tent O ye Israel!" We can't beg for existence!
If the north goes the only good thing we will miss is Suya! As per cheap labour from you guys, machines will replace you!
Anyway I learnt you guys have plenty white sand and you can start exporting that too, but where can you get man manpower to run your state?????? AM sorry o!!
Answer for these fools: Aliyu and co!
Submitted by O'Yemi (not verified) on February 7, 2012 - 08:57.
At Aliyu I expected you to ponder on the facts but alas I am wrong! Truly you can't expect a "1 x 1" mind to understand a "100 x 100" idea! Ask yourself more questions if you will be objective: if its not injustice to have the largest Oil refinery in the whole of West Africa in the Northern part of Nigeria where there exists no single drop of crude oil. Imagine the unnecessary amount of energy wasted in pumping oil to the north? Just to satisfy Northern inordinate interest! If you are not forcing your religion on people why should you say you want Islamic (Jaiz) banking? For your information Nigeria derive revenue from the so called haram banking system (Secular)that we cherish in the South, so you don't deserve to share out of the proceeds since you don't like it? Let everyone use resources in their region for their region, and then you can be justified to practice sharia or boko haram!
are the fulanis prepared
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on February 7, 2012 - 02:38.
Against the backdrop of the call for Sovereign National Conference (SNC) and the planned return of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) due to issue of insecurity, the National Assembly (NASS) has described the move as unfair, diversionary and unnecessary.Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, at the weekend, member representing Baruten/Kaiama federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Zakari Mohammed, said members of the National Assembly had been discussing issues in the minds of people they were representing.
“Sovereign National Conference (SNC) is unnecessary and diversionary and it is the thinking of some idle minds that want to occupy themselves. We appreciate NADECO fought for democracy and democracy is here and it has come to stay and military rule is an aberration. It can never come back to Nigeria
devlution is what we need now not a revolution
Submitted by deri (not verified) on February 7, 2012 - 02:11.
Long before we launched ourselves into the just concluded presidential elections, I called for the hosting of a national confab. To enable us discuss certain grey areas in our constitution such as fiscal federalism, the crisis in jos, the land use decree, petroleum acts, political autonomy for the 6 zones, and the adoption of the swiss model of governance among others. Instead of us wasting our time and resources on an election which would end up creating more problem for us. Today we are exactly where I predicted we will be. What is holding the nation together is not love but the greed for oil revenue. MEND bombed the house of GEJ in 2007. Just weeks after he was sworn in with late Yara Adua. So the idea that MEND had earlier warned us against GEJ is a big white lie. Their fight with GEJ started long before he became presido. Those using them will continue with their acts regardless. Their war was 4 resource control-why are they derailing from their set goals? SNC now!
devolution and not a fake revolution is the answer
Submitted by deri (not verified) on February 7, 2012 - 02:07.
Long before we launched ourselves into the just concluded presidential elections, I called for the hosting of a national confab. To enable us discuss certain grey areas in our constitution such as fiscal federalism, the crisis in jos, the land use decree, petrelum acts, political autonomy for the 6 zones, and the adopting of the swiss model of governance among others. Instead of us wasting our time and resources on an election which would end up creating more problem for us. Today we are exactly where I predicted we will be. What is holding the nation together is not love but the greed for oil revenue. MEND bombed the house of GEJ in 2007. Just weeks after he was sworn in with late Yara Adua. So the idea that MEND had earlier warned us against GEJ is a big white lie. Their fight with GEJ started long before he became presido. Those using them will continue with their acts regardless. Their war was 4 resource control-why are they derailing from their set goals? SNC now!
@aliyu. tears on the way
Submitted by sultanofsokoto (not verified) on February 6, 2012 - 23:47.
Aliyu! You're the goat here! Why are you scared of competition? You cannot assess your competiveness if you have never competed! Yes everything you acheived in life was GIVEN to you through quota, arm twisting or outright theft. No more free ride better start thinking of what you and your kinsmen can do to better your lot and stop laugh thus exposing your goro stained teeth!
you are funny
Submitted by abbas474 (not verified) on February 6, 2012 - 22:57.
d yemi or what ever you call ur namewho told you that the north are forcing there religion on the country,that we did not go to school, pls just try to argue sensible pls
you are the bigger fool,just
Submitted by Damilola (not verified) on February 6, 2012 - 21:24.
you are the bigger fool,just look at the issues are they real or not,but what should we expects from idiots like u Aliyu
Hahahahaha!!! Just see one of
Submitted by Aliyu (not verified) on February 6, 2012 - 19:32.
Hahahahaha!!! Just see one of the pessimistic bigots here. Yemi or what ever u called urself, i expected idiots ,like you to be sensible and reasonable after readin such an objective and truhtful write-up. But just imaging the rubbish comin frm you. For any small reason now, it is ur type that will be shoutin that they went to school. See ur level of arrogancy! Fool!
DEVOLUTION IS THE ANSWER 2
Submitted by Ejiofor Ezika (not verified) on February 6, 2012 - 17:57.
It might interest the readers to know that the scots are planning for referendum on their independence from Britain in 2014. Alternatively, they are considering 'DEV max' where by entire wealth generated in their domain will be given to scottish government.The scottish government will now pay to Westminster for defence. This is best model for Nigeria
DEVOLUTION IS THE ANSWER 1
Submitted by Ejiofor Ezika (not verified) on February 6, 2012 - 17:37.
There is an urgent need for sovereign national debate to determine how various ethnic nationalities will co-exist with one another. To my mind, devolution is the main solution to Nigeria's numerous challenges. In the UK, the scots have their own currency, have different educational,healthcare, legal etc policies from England, Wales and Northern ireland
You do nothing against the truth
Submitted by O' Yemi (not verified) on February 6, 2012 - 17:21.
As long as Nigeria remain to stand on the present foundation there will be crisis till Jesus will come. There are too many things to be questioned:
who told us that the north has the population they are claiming?, how can the north have more local government areas than the other regions put together? why will they have more personnel in the armed forces, police, immigrations etc compared to other tribes? why must one tribe feel their religion should be forced on the nation as the guiding principle? Why should one tribe say they won't go to school and still want us to allow they to lead all in the name of quota system?
