Many times you hear jargons such as 'Nigeria my beloved father land' or 'Nigeria the giant of Africa'. If Nigeria is really the giant of Africa as some of its citizens claim her to be, would it not be more effective if these claimants are silent about the deceptive bigness of this shame of Africa? This 'giant of Africa' has now become a source of shame and ridicule especially when size does not mean strength or greatness. A cursory look at some African countries considered minor by Nigerians, will expose a great surprise about what greatness is all about.
Lets forget about Ghana and the fact that she is now becoming a sing post to real planning and national integration but lets focus on such countries that we hear very little about. Just to mention but a few, Mali, Senegal, Guinea Bissau and Burkina Faso. There is no need going far off West of Africa hence the mention of the four countries as listed above. Consider how the people from those countries and indeed other nationalities of the world introduce themselves when you meet them and compare that to the way the so-called 'Nigerian' introduces himself/herself when you first come in contact with them. There is almost always that hint of hesitation in introducing yourself as a 'Nigerian' considering the fact that it does not actually exist in the heart and mind but rather a way of escape to those who do not want to become beast of no nation. Many have failed to address this problem to their own detriment.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content1'); });
That we have failed to address the above problem which is at the root of the current mayhem in the land, will eventually lead to the violent disintegration of the fraud that we inherited from yet a dubious British colonial masters. Roping people who have no cultural, ethnic or religious background to make it easy for them to administer and collect tax, was a crime against the people of Southern half of the contraption called Niger-area. Why is the Northern part of the country hanging unto Nigeria as if its existence is that important to them? When did the islamic North get to the realization that the Niger-area nation, being a viable a viable business must be defended by every means possible including the elimination of 30,000,000 from the Old Eastern region? If the oil that is causing so much pain to the inhabitants of the land were to be discovered in the North, could any of the leaders from that region say that it is better to kill off the inhabitants just to secure the oil?
Why is the North afraid of going it alone on their own? Are they afraid of working harder to earn a decent living rather than being parasites on the body of the rest of us? How can the looters of the land claim that we are one when the very resources they are fattening on, is causing death and misery to the very people whose land is raped and desecrated by the oil companies while the willing collaborators, the successive rouge governments look the other way. Is this the 'giant' that we need to be proud of or the one that we need to mock and shame to oblivion?
While all Nigerian leaders from the government of Gowon to the present impostor Yaradua, were busy doing everything possible to weaken the conquered during the war. They figured that sowing the seed of discord among the Igbo and the rest of the people East of the Niger, will guarantee them access to the rich oil & gas deposit in the Delta. They used the very divisive tool that 'Nigeria' inherited from the British colonial masters to subjugate the people of the old Eastern region while taking advantage of the resources and caring less about the land and its people. This is what became of the giant that was never destined to be strong. The corrupt British leadership knew what will become of Nigeria that was the reason they made sure that the leadership of the fragile contraption, was left in the hands of the weakest link-the islamic north.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content2'); });
In almost fifty years after granting dubious independence to Niger-area, the same colonial masters are now admitting that they did not only fail but their servants in Niger-area failed even to provide prison to its prisoners. Britain is now discussing on building penitentiaries to accommodate Nigerian inmates in its prisons. This is the one country whose leaders over the years, have done everything to ruin Nigeria including being a safe heaven for stolen money and a place where criminals from Nigeria find protection. Umaru Dikko was protected by them even when it was obvious that he was a known criminal. Now they want to build jail for asylum seekers, refugees from its failed project Nigeriana. That Nigeria failed, is no more news worthy but what could have been done to stop her from her self destruction remains a challenge to its criminal leaders. They forgot about justice and equity and yet wanted peace to reign in the land. They made slaves out of free born and killed and continues to kill just to maintain their places. Abuja was built out of the proceed of petro-dollar that they claim was deposited in the Delta for the benefit of the Northern oligarchy.
The Islamic north have been feeding on the disunity among the people of the Southern part of the country especially those of the Old Eastern Region. Biafra was collectively humiliated due to the seed of discord that was sown by the British using this same 'divide and rule' method. You now hear about the Ijaw being against the Itsekiri, the Ibibio being against the Anangs or even Cross River loosing its oil wells to Akwa Ibom State. This is what the 'giant of Africa' thrives on and this also has led to her fall. Instead of building around its people and empowering them, Nigerian looters invest their loot in foreign banks as well as real estate that is now falling apart in those countries. Their stock have fallen so bad that the source of all the wealth they've been siphoning overseas, is now falling away from their grip. These are the last stages of the dying 'giant of Africa'. Instead of addressing the root causes of the uprising in the Niger Delta, Nigerian Yaradua and his advisers thought that they could hoodwink the agents of the people-MEND-who are seeking emancipation from the shackles of bondage and oppression that they represent. This sort of joke have been played many times over in the past and in those times, the selfish leaders have always had their way. Now the die is cast and
The 'giant of Africa' is now begging for some sort of 'peace' to enable them gain access to the oil. If the resources have been well utilized, there would have been no need for the fake offer of amnesty. When the history of the failed nation of Nigeria is told, part of what must not be left out would be its inability to use its vast resources to lift its people up. Can any village, town, state or nation be great or giant by ignoring its people? Ignoring the people who are suppose to be the bedrock of any nation, leads to the downfall of any country and Nigeria that self acclaimed 'African giant, appears to be on course to a devastating fall that she may never recover from.
Yusuf N'danusa
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('comments'); });