Nigeria In Ebullition
“An elder cannot be in the market and a child’s head will be badly molded”-Yoruba proverb
The situation in the country is pensive, as it is, going by the happenings over the couple of months. A situation where the South-Eastern youths hang axe on their head demanding for self-rule, however, using whatever means to paralyze the Nigeria government, and their Northern youths counterpart saying enough is enough of the overbearing actions and inaction of the Igbo extractions.
The Yoruba’s, the third power broker, in the country are looking bewildered as to what is going on. One wonder could it be that the earlier prediction by the United State of America, USA, few years back that Nigeria, as a country, would break-up come the year 2015, was merely miscalculated, and supposed to be in this year, 2017.
How did we get to this place?
The South-Eastern youth’s outcry, however, started immediately after the defeat of the then incumbent President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the PDP-led government to the All Progressive Congress, APC. Besides, the reason is not far-fetched. The hullabaloo chiefly came as a result of the disgruntled Igbo youths extraction under the aegis of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu agitating for secession from the Nigeria government.
The claim was over the unfair mistreatment they currently find themselves under the Buhari APC-led government. Likewise, their complaints range from marginalization, religious sentiments, tribalism, indigenization and non-adherence to federal character in selecting men to high ranking position of the government. Besides, they laid the whole blame on the government for the lack of jobs for teeming Igbo youth populations who have left schools.
The path taken to achieve their self-determination is diverse and awkward. Among many activities undertaken to drive home their agendas were peaceful protestation at different strategic places across the country bearing the proposed flag of the Biafra Republic, launching illegal indigenous radio stations in the South East to draw attention of new members to their cause, minting and trading their paper currency are few of their disturbing methods the government found breaching the public peace and the law of the land.
The last straw that broke the Carmel’s back was the quit notice issued by the coalition of Northern youth groups to all the Igbo extractions living in the Northern geo-political zones of the country irrespective of their political leanings toward the agitation before or on October 1, 2017. This actually took everybody by surprise!
Moreover, the leaders of the coalition of Northern youth groups felt it is high time the misguided elements and torn in the flesh of our dear nation left, and give the other two tripods stand –Hausas and Yorubas that made the country eternal peace, once and for all.
The ultimatum drew attentions of Arewa Consultative Forum and Northern Elders Forum who berated the youths. However, a statement was issued by her spokesperson, Prof. Ango Abdullah, that the youths only spoke for themselves but all the same nothing could be further from the true from what belligerent Northern youth groups uttered.
Meanwhile, while this lasted some might in the North were out rightly opposed to Northern youth groups’ solution to the impasse. Among them is the Emir of Kaduna, Alhaji Shehu Idris, the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shetima who said no, the ultimatum would not materialize.
On the other hands, the Ohaneze Youth Council (OYC) is unhappy about the development, on the other hands, the Yoruba pan socio-cultural group, Afenifere, is the middle man pacifying the other two main power brokers to allow dialogue through referendum according United Nation charter in article 1(2) that one of the purpose of UN is “to develop friendly relation among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of people.”
