I don’t know about you, but for me, the turning point in my attitude towards everyone who supports, contributes, and or reaps from the status quo that frustrates progressive political development amongst the distinct nationalities that inhabit the parts of the Niger basin that the British carved into Nigeria was reached that fateful December 25, 2009 when Mr. Farouk AbdulMutallab attempted his terrorist adventure on that jetliner. I must caution ahead of time particularly those who must quickly resort to name calling, that I’m not a bigot. Neither am I a separatist.
But I must make bold to quickly add that I’m sufficiently educated to discern the dangers that his action signals to the rest of the inhabitants of our parts of the Niger basin. It’s a danger that derives from the societal patterns of authority that are integral to his socialization. As it is, the Nigerian project, which is structured to perpetuate that danger and wield it against the rest of the distinct nationalities, to hold them to ransom is preferred and upheld by prominent elements including Mr. AbdulMutallab. Shouldn’t those who prefer otherwise self-preserve?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about disintegration here. Even then, what there is sacred about a political arrangement that spawns misery and danger to people? I’m talking about achieving progressive political development amongst the inhabitants of our parts of the Niger basin.
In physical and metaphorical terms, I’m not a large mouth. Those who know me, and those who have seen me up close, will attest to that fact. For quite some time now, I’ve been consumed by deep thoughts about the proper measure to adopt and use to realize that progressive political development. The issues that I raised in “The Time is Now!” derived from that deep thought process. I’m saying that it’s noble for nationalities that rightly feel aggrieved in Nigeria to not abdicate the responsibility of rising up to play role in the determination of their collective destiny.
I’m not alone when it comes to those who raise their thought in that regard. The other day, my worthy brother Rudolph Ogoo Okonkwo raised pertinent issues that are similar to those that I raised in “Now Is The Time!” But he seemed bogged down at the point when he talked about belling the cat. For me, there’s no cat involved, and the bell will likely act true to type—generate distracting noises.
The quest to achieve that elusive progressive political development amongst the nationalities didn’t start today. What has lacked in recent times is the determination to move it forward because it’s been bogged down for way too long. Some mistake it as belling the cat! I
I’m going to embark on a humble step that could help point me towards the proper way on that. It’ll begin with a listening/consultation engagement that will begin in my immediate kindred to sound my kinsmen and women out about the issues. I wouldn’t know what I’ll hear from them, but I’ll work my way out in that engagement to other kindred in our village. There’s no doubt that the concrete steps that are necessary for that forward leap will emerge from that listening/consultation endeavor.
●E.C. Ejiogu, PhD is a political sociologist.
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