I CAN’T quite find the words to qualify the sadness I’m currently
experiencing. It is often the cross of decent, well-mannered people to
have to defend, in this era of dangerously uninhibited, provocative
opinions, the right to still believe in intelligent discussion and
analysis as opposed to fear-mongering and bigotry.
It is also a shame that rational minds eventually run out of steam
when arguing with irrational, xenophobic people while said racists or
ethnically obsessed persons seem to possess unending reserves of energy
with which to spew out hatred.
Britain, like Nigeria and the United States, is in danger of losing
its soul to racially or ethnically prejudiced, intolerant politics and
politicians. Boris Johnson, Donald Trump and Goodluck Jonathan are three
different characters who witnessed and some might say aided their
countries’ veering towards what every 21st century citizen, with all the
opportunities for knowledge and shared experiences this era possesses,
should refuse: close-mindedness, disassembling rather than bringing
people together, breaking down bonds and unions rather than building a
better future as one.
Division for selfish motives
Boris Johnson and Donald Trump have shown the sort of opportunism
which is unfortunately too common in politics and we as Nigerians are
all too familiar with their style, which preaches division for selfish
motives: Trump uses terrorism, the idea of America being overrun with
Mexicans and Muslims the same way Johnson used migrants to spread fear,
hatred of difference and of the unknown.
They hope to be voted in by those looking to blame others for
economic downturns and unemployment. The Brexit referendum was an
ingenuous ploy by Johnson to force a plebiscite whose resultshe might
never have had any intention of upholding (he must have studied at the
Babangida school of politics).
Boris Johnson seems less sure and even less specific about the UK’s
future without the EU, leading many to speculate his attempt to seize
power on the heels of the Brexit vote might fail or that it was, as we
say here in Nigeria, “dead on arrival”. Even Trump, realising the need
to appear “presidential” is attempting to temper some of his statements
about Muslims. Nationalism, separatism and chauvinism feature heavily in
politicians’ playbooks when they have little else to contribute beyond
manipulations of popular frustrations and romanticised notions of a
country’s pre-eminence during a fantasised racially pure past.
Comparing Brexit to the agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra is
only possible in this context of similarities between economic collapses
which callous politicians would rather not address, calling instead for
political breakaways which resolve nothing. The regions of the UK which
voted “out” of the EU are underdeveloped in comparison to the regions
which voted “in”. The states of the South-East in Nigeria are not nearly
as developed as the States of the South-West, yet Igbos have been
unwilling to query their governors as to the spending (or overall
whereabouts) of the huge sums received by their states as their monthly
allocation. Instead, they continue to look to the Federal Government for
solutions to local problems, manipulated by their home-grown leadership
which has done little for them.
The idea of self-determination is a well-orchestrated propaganda
created to build-up resentment against the rest of Nigeria, therefore
shielding the real perpetrators of underdevelopment, state governors,
from investigation. It is corruption which makes the Nigerian case
dissimilar to the UK one: Brexit and Biafra might both be pro-home rule
but only one of these autonomist movements has its roots in corruption.
Corruption, first of all, of the federalist dream of local governments
bringing development to the people and then, of the 13% derivation, or
agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Corporation and others,
which, without good leadership to make use of these advantages, haven’t
done much for the people.
If the 36 states of Nigeria had utilised their budgets for their true
purposes over the years, one would be in a strong position to wager
that the Niger Delta Avengers would be too busy going to work to
“avenge” their political patrons’ fall from grace, Boko Haram members
would be too busy farming to fall prey to the political machinations of
their sponsors and pro-Biafra supporters would also be gainfully
employed and thus too pre-occupied with the business of making an honest
living.
Consequences of isolationism
Those rejoicing due to the Brexit vote don’t see the far reaching
consequences of isolationism in our globalised world where trade is a
network of complex agreements or where students and all manner of people
benefit from the accessibility and inclusion institutions such as the
EU enable. As for the Biafra agitation, it is the result of political
competition between ethnic groups, where the idea of marginalisation is
used by elites to lobby for federal jobs and contracts. It has nothing
to do with the common man who remains poor no matter what ethnic group
is in power.
Nigeria is greater together: with our federation intact, our land
mass and population, we stand a chance of becoming a world power, if we
begin to elect talented and resourceful people, rather than the
unimpressive, unskilled individuals we’ve had so far. The United
Kingdom’s time as a world power might be over: like Russia, the UK has
gone from empire to federation or “union”, which couldn’t withstand the
onslaught of individual ambition. Now let us consider the role, in all
of this, of the third politician I mentioned earlier: Goodluck Jonathan.
Under him there was little to no public agitation for Biafra so one
must wonder how much of today’s demonstration is authentic. After all, a
South-South president might have been the perfect person to understand
feelings of neglect.
Feelings of neglect
The small-minded might wish to see the South-East or the South-South
secede, they might confuse the UK leaving a political organisation such
as the EU with the debilitating act of a nation losing one of its
territories. The Nigerian political elite have been irresponsible.
They’ve taken advantage of our collective naiveté and our greed.
Jonathan squandered the opportunity to rid us of ethnic politics.
As a representative of a minority group, he could have built
something incredible for this country which no one before him has done: a
meritocratic system where the best and brightest are called to lead or
to serve not because of their religion or where they come from but
because of what they have to offer. Jonathan could have been in the
history books. Sure, he conceded defeat (Cameron just resigned
voluntarily and no one in his country is calling for him to receive a
Nobel prize) but he could have gifted Nigerians something greater: a
country free of separatist tendencies, if only he’d awarded less
contracts to militants and done more to develop ordinary, law-abiding
people.
EFCC and Nigerian banks
The EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu, recently pointed out the complicity
of bank MDs in the corrupt acts perpetrated by generations of
politicians. Indeed, money laundering can’t occur without the aid of the
banking sector. With Governor Fayose naming Zenith Bank as one of the
alleged sponsors of his campaign, it is definitely time to beam the
search light on our opaque banking sector.
What is most surprising is that the governor doesn’t seem to realise
that his revelation is self-incriminating. Corporations can’t sponsor
politicians: this is illegal so Fayose just inadvertently helped justify
EFCC freezing his accounts. After all, the Constitution grants
governors and presidents (not any lawmakers mind you) immunity from
prosecution but not from investigation. As a matter of fact, politicians
aren’t gods.
Coup rumours
In this day and age? Corruption is fighting back. Nigerians, remain
vigilant and remember that corruption kills, regardless of ethnic and
religious differences. The guilty are a united front, forget the
squabbling on the pages of newspapers.
They’ve taken advantage of our gullible nature. Let this fight be the
last, the final showdown, where we retake this country from those who’d
see it divided rather than accept there is only one power block: the
undivided, unconquered and uncensored Nigerian people.
NaijaMoneyMagnet
NMM
No comments:
Post a Comment