Thursday, 17 May 2012
Nigeria – Not Yet Ready For A Revolution!!
By Elue Madu
A few years ago, I visited Nigeria and found myself at the new sprawling estate in Lagos called the Victoria Garden City (VGC). What struck me then was how VGC was on one side of the road with its plush homes, gardens and adoring beauty, while a huge slum stood directly across the road from it. I believe that poor side of the road was referred to as Maroko.
I am aware that more estates like VGC have since sprung up. One that caught my attention recently is the AMEN Estate at Lekki, Lagos. I had asked myself then what it would take for the poor folks in this slum to rise out of anger from their shanties and run over the exclusive VGC estate across from them. After all, the poor folks far outnumber the rich ones inside the estate. I could not understand how the poor folks felt everyday they walk pass the huge entrance into VGC estate and see the expensive cars coming in and out of VGC and not be tempted to throw a stone. My feelings about this became even stronger when I saw a sign that circulated a lot on the Internet that read “One day the poor will have nothing left to eat but the rich”. This sign correctly captured the feeling I had then.
When I probed, I was told that Nigerians are typically not violent people. They see rich people, and aspire to be like them.
They go to any length to find out what these rich folks are doing and try to imitate them. That explains why 419 caught on so widely among young people. It was the fad then, and poor people saw how the participants quickly ascended the throne of wealth with little effort and minimal challenge from authority and Government. True to type, the Naija attitude kicked in and soon everyone was into 419 in Nigeria, or knew someone who was. This attitude explains why the kingmakers and lords of 419 can now openly display their wealth by buying up huge home at VGC. Poor folks across the road see this and pray to become like them one day.
I was suddenly jolted from my Naija slumber when I saw Nigerians rise to protest the recent petrol price increase (otherwise called subsidy removal). I thought Nigerian masses had finally woken up. They had crossed the threshold of pain and suffering. There was nothing else to live for. They were ready to rise like other Africans in Tunisia, Egypt, and the Middle East. They were ready to stand up to the rouges who have entrenched themselves in power and use that power to suppress the masses. I had gathered a few of my older friends to discuss the development, and I recall I was the only one with any expectation of a prolonged standoff. My friends laughed at me for even thinking that Nigerians will sacrifice anything for the survival or sustenance of Nigeria. I was hopeful. I really believed that the events around North Africa and the middle East that toppled long-reigning regimes could just rub on Nigeria. Boy, was I wrong!! The strike action was over by the second week. It was even more painful the way it ended without fanfare.
A mere announcement by the labor unions accepting a unilateral decision by “King” Goodluck Jonathan to minimally reduce the initial rate was all it took to end what would have been a showdown with great potential to salvage a stagnant, dying state called Nigeria. I am afraid to ask how much those union leaders got in exchange for their cooperation. Lost in the meaningless and inconclusive effort are the people who died during the clashes.
First, let me get this off my chest. I listened to the debate and commentaries on the oil subsidy removal, and will like to respond to my dear sister and minister for Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. She kept reminding us that she really did not have to be in Nigeria working as a minister at this time. That she left behind a more comfortable existence to accept the headache of turning around the Nigerian economy. I beg to differ from that her notion. She came from the World Bank. We know the record of the World Bank even as it relates to the industrialized nations talk less of the poor ones. If the World Bank or her cohorts in the IMF had any workable solutions, Europe and America will not be in the financial mess they are now. I challenge her to take that her “expertise” to Greece, Spain, France, and even the great USA, and help them find a way out of their financial woes. Where was Ngozi and her world bank when the Soviet Union collapsed under the weight of her economic burden? So, the next time Ngozi throws this at the faces of Nigeria to appreciate where she has come from I ask that someone should dare her to walk away and return to continue the policies of economic strangulation at the world bank office. Yes, that is what the World Bank knows how to do well and Nigeria can do without it.
What did Nigerians really expect from the subsidy strikes? Did they expect that the likes of Ngozi, Sanusi and Madueke will speak for them? I listened to the debates and heard Sanusi claim that the thieves (cabal) of the petroleum industry as it currently exists are so powerful and rich that they can buy anybody. Let anyone convince me that anything will change after adjusting the pump price. Is anyone under the illusion that this cabal will simply fold tent and walk away ingloriously? With the kind of money Sanusi alluded to, I can now say with certainty that all of the Government speakers who favored the subsidy removal have been bought over and over. They are now mere mouthpieces of the cabal, while masquerading as representatives of the people. If Nigeria is truly serious about dealing with the issue, then the root should have been addressed. That root is the ‘cabal’. We can beat around the issue all we want, and nothing will change until we get serious about this reality.
So, I was wrong in assuming that Nigerians were ready for a fundamental transformation of our dear country. I ask what will it take? How many more instances of injustice can we stand? How many more people will suffer and die silently? Sadly, I still see the ethnic lines of thought and ideas about the way forward still permeating our polity. My observation is that the bulk of the current leadership against the ruling class has come from the Yoruba tribe. I dare to ask where the other ethnic groups stand on this issue. I can imagine the average Easterner telling himself that he is not ready to sacrifice for Nigeria. Not after that terrible civil war that ravaged the East not too long ago. The East will be glad to see a showdown between the West and the North, but it ain’t gonna happen. Let me remind folks who harbor this line of thought that the events that became the civil war started in Western Nigeria. Easterners at the time laughed as Akintola and Awolowo battled each other for control of the West. Then, it happened, and the war became one of the West joining the North to crush a by-standing East.
Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are bound to repeat it.!!
Elue Madu
Writes from the USA – contact me at growshort@yahoo.com
Comments
17 comment(s)
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I like that comment.
Submitted by lagosbay (not verified) on March 15, 2012 - 15:52.
I like that comment.
PLEASE CHECK ON YOUR BRAIN CELLS
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on February 8, 2012 - 14:33.
It is obvious that you dont know anything and have no single idea on the role your tribe played in the civil war from the beginning to the end. You can afford to write what ever nonsense the comfort environment you are has made you to write....... we dont blame you. You are not worthy to have an iota of life in this planet earth.. useless idiot!!!!!! You need to go back to primary school or hire a lesson teacher to teach you more about the Nigerian civil war and the sabotaged role the west and south south played before and after.
absolute malarkey
Submitted by kd (not verified) on January 30, 2012 - 21:59.
you are ensconced in the comfort of your adopted country pontificating to your 'inferiors' in a pathetic attempt to stir us to revolt and sacrifice our lives which you probably consider valueless. mister, if you are convinced about the imperative of a revolution, come down and lead it. if not, shut up!
1967 all over again
Submitted by UZUKWU (not verified) on January 30, 2012 - 21:07.
I totally disagree with the reasoning in your article and agree completely with those who say you are spewing out rubbish. In the 60's the Igbos were a victim of sophisticated entrapment by the Yorubas and the North. This will never happen again. This is the reason behind why we refused to be hoodwinked by the noisy and totally irresponsible professional agitators from the West to participate in a totally worthless subsidy strike. Over 50percent of the votes President Jonathan secured in the presidential election was cast by the Igbos and we make no apologies about this. This is a government in which the Igbos are major stakeholders and we will do everything humanly possible to make the government succeed. No amount of blackmail or killings of Igbos in the North will make us ever again fall into the trap of the West and North again.
u want regime change-go ahead but count the SS out
Submitted by deri (not verified) on January 30, 2012 - 20:29.
The writer is just one of those confused 9jas. He still does not know what hit his balls with regards to the failed (occupy 9ja project) It was sponsored by the fulani elites who killed abiola and his wife against GEJ. 9ja is 51 yrs old. Poverty was not created by GEJ whose resources was used by leaders of the 3 old regions, to better their lot. The masses are no fools. During the presidential election some were asked why they pefer Jonathan to buhari. Their answer was Buhari has been there before and left the country in a mess. What happened to ANAMCO MOTORS and Volks under buhari? Allow the man with (no shoes) whose money has been feeding the nation have a go at the centre. Occupy 9ja will continue to fail because we are selfish. We put self before nation. Time for the Senate and House to initiate moves which will empower the 6 zones politically. U cannot call a man a fool and expect his people to follow u mumu-ishly to their grave again.
Stop spewing rubbish
Submitted by Chekwube (not verified) on January 30, 2012 - 17:39.
Mr Elue stop echoing rubbish and trying to instigate a war between the east and north.
Nobody has relegated the north especially militarily and nobody ever will. Not the east or west.
The armed forces is still largely made up of northerners and there is nothing the south can do about it.
The south east just want to live in peace and to have a sense of belonging in Nigeria.
1967 All over again!! – part 2
Submitted by Elue (not verified) on January 30, 2012 - 15:55.
The East is again feeling cool that they have relegated the North to the background militarily. They hope their pseudo “King” Jonathan will save them. The lesson from the last civil war is that you undermine the North at your own peril. They will reach a point soon when they will once again get the agitating West on their side, and we will have 1967 all over again.
I am just a voice in the wilderness!!
Write about something else
Submitted by Chekwube (not verified) on January 30, 2012 - 14:34.
Their is mass exodus of the Igbos from the north because they've been the major southern casualties in the Boko Haram killings.
But Mr Elue would rather write about what is closer to the heart of Nigerians than human life: Oil.
The protests only goes to reinforce my belief that the only thing still holding this British contraption called Nigeria together is oil.
Igbo turn coat
Submitted by Chekwube (not verified) on January 30, 2012 - 14:18.
Elue, your name sounds Igbo, but your comments betray you as just another Igbo hater and turncoat. In your own words, "...To kick the crap out of the east."
And why did the Gowon government solicit the help of their former colonial masters just to fight one ethnic group? Doesn't that tell you so much about the resiliency of the Igbos?
There you go, joining the ignoble list of rabid Igbo haters who continue to mock them for losing a stupid war.
I hope you're content with your Nigeria that you have now.
Check your facts
Submitted by Chekwube (not verified) on January 30, 2012 - 13:58.
Elue, now you sound like a Hausa-Fulani apologist. Ironsi never looked down on any military officer and he naively tried to pacify the north but emotions were too high in that region over the killings of their prominent politicians.
Ignorant article on so many
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 30, 2012 - 12:15.
Ignorant article on so many levels.
Get your facts in order
Submitted by Chekwube (not verified) on January 30, 2012 - 12:13.
Mr Elue, I am not against any partnership with the west. But why must you think our non-alignment with any region may lead to the east having to go to war? Why must the east always be the sacrificial lambs for any crisis in the country even when they are not involved?
And get your facts right. Go do some research. Ojukwu was one of those who foiled the so called igbo coup of Jan 1966. If he didn't recognise the government of Gowon he wouldn't have had any meeting with him at Aburi.
1967 All over again!!
Submitted by Elue (not verified) on January 30, 2012 - 06:53.
Chekwube, you express the same feelings of non-alignment the East had when Awolowo and Akintola battled. Nobody could have predicted the 1967 war. The North could not fight a war with their young officers. Gowon, Murtala, Buhari and co were young. The Easterners looked down on them. They were despised and undermined by the so-called superior Eastern officers of Aguiyi-Ironsi , Ojukwu and co. Ojukwu felt he was the most-educated officer to ever put on a military uniform, and could not serve under the command of some Northerner. He (Ojukwu) went to some of the best schools in England. We now know that a 33 year old Gowon simply solicited the help of Western officers, Awolowo and the British to kick the crap out of the East.
Dreaming indeed
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 23:57.
Indeed, I'm also of the opinion that this writer is dreaming. We can't crucify the Minister of Finance for coming bacj to Nigeria to serve. As she done anything wrong bu doing that? I can't understand why some Nigerians are bent on turning issues on its head!
Remain where you are
Submitted by Chekwube (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 23:17.
Elue Madu, I was enjoying your piece until I came to the closing paragraphs.
There will never be another civil war(atleast not in the literal sense) between the regions of the country. The domination of the Hausa-Fulani in the armed forces has seen to that.
And if you think the south-east will suffer another civil war just because they didn't participate in the sham oil protest as your last paragraphs seem to imply, then you're a foolish, wicked, cold-hearted bastard and should remain abroad where your stench is far from us all.
You are a dreamer. You stay
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 18:08.
You are a dreamer. You stay up in the diaspora to write rubbish about your fatherland as if it is eldorado in your country of abode. Oh, I have forgotten that there are no slums in those countries you hide your head. Well, wake up and smell the coffee, this is the real world
Imaginary country
Submitted by bala (not verified) on January 29, 2012 - 15:24.
Nigeria is not a real country,she is imaginary .Everything of a real country are missing .Everyone expected Nigeria to tear away since June 12,1993,but look at where we are today worst than then.Churches and mosques everywhere yet Nigeria is the world's capital of corruption.
