By our Correspondent.
The prevailing political climate in the country has empowered renewal awareness among the people of the Region, who are involved in fighting for the actualization of the 2014 National Conference Report, or for the Ethnic Nationalities Conference, in the midst of empty threats from men and women in government, who are continually benefiting from the wrong system.
One could only kill someone with an idea but cannot kill an idea. The light and dawn of liberty will continue to be rekindled, never to be extinguished. The Middle-Belt youths especially have been the most affected by the problems of the present Islamic agenda now in an advanced stage. The reality of the moment is the continued ethnic conflicts, genocide, civil disturbances, terrorism, government oppressions, natural disasters, dictatorship, election manipulation, bribery, corruption and fraud – both in the lower and higher cadres of government organizations.
The article you are now reading is part of the resurgence of that spirit of freedom and liberty. For some decades, people in the Region have suffered, and are still suffering, from inconceivable neglect. To back with salient facts, the genocide that is taking place in Benue, Southern Kaduna, Plateau, Southern Borno, Yobe and other Christian-dominated areas, particularly in the Middle-Belt Region, is completely unacceptable.
What they are experiencing today, are the activities of imported foreign Fulanis by the present administration to Islamize the country, a grand plan by this administration decades ago. That is why the President has not opened his mouth to denounce the many killings. It is part of the grand master plan to Islamize the country.
In the present 21st Century, the people abhor violence as a means of seeking redress as much as it lies in their power and to seek peace and pursue it even, if it costs trials and tribulations. The end-in-view to this non-violent posture in the past was to maintain the political unity of the country, hopefully, that it would enhance the economic growth of the people of the Region in particular.
But bad governance and violation of human rights have stirred up anger and manifestation by youths. E.g., End-Sars, lack of enforceable sharing of Executive Officers and non-equal Ethnic and Religious representation in military and other arms of security services, and lack of transparency, etc.
The Region is as a body with many parts, with each part playing its necessary and vital role for the health and wellbeing of the whole body. Tribes, tongues and faith may differ, but their goals and aspirations are the same – to liberate and develop their people and lands. Also, to stretch forth hands of fellowship to other groups from across its length and breadth. And, of recent, the indigenous Hausa ethnic groups inclusive and need for them to ensure political will, to ensure their continuous survival, and to ensure democratic governance. It is better late than never.
The people should resolve to fashion out, nurture and sustain separate but decent identities for themselves. To these aspirations, the Middle-Belters commend same to the Hausa people. The task they should set for themselves will not be an easy one. There are traitors and saboteurs both amongst them and from their oppressors. The people should not be deterred at all, as a decent future is the reward of the just.
Since the election that brought in the present administration was funded by ill-gotten money, so the government will not reflect the will of the people. Sadly, the resultant conflicts have become a phenomenon in the political life of the country. Till date, the prolonged years of military rule has left behind a Unitarist posture and structure in the political and economic life of Nigeria.
The people of the Region especially have been deliberately marginalized and so lack the economic patronage. It is important that, they organize themselves and be cohesive to gain political power, which has deprived them from so many years of political and economic gains by the administration of the defunct Northern Region and the present administration.
The people should not confine themselves to only Protest Politics but that the country be restructured so that they can, in their Region, address the social, economic and political problems.
What is happening in Southern Kaduna is ethnic genocide. The economic and political deprivation of the people of Southern Kaduna ethnic nationalities is a designed policy by the administration. It is a long time plan for political marginalization being perpetrated by established power elite that enjoys a preponderance of political power over the Southern Kaduna ethnic nationalities, and it has continually used this power to threaten their security, identity and other areas of the Region. The Middle-Belters are solidly behind their struggle.
The time for Ethnic National Conference is much needed. This will enable them commence the great renaissance of blending their cultural, economic and political objectives into a social framework, in order to provide social justice for their people.
The concept of democracy must not start with one-man-one-vote but with inter-ethnic equity and social justice for all its nationalities, and a concept, which is embraced by HRH Gwamna Awan, who was in his days the longest serving Monarch in the State. He was deprived of his right and privileges and entitled to a position of First-class Chief, which the powers that be victimized him until after so many years of the departure of his detractors.
Gen. Zamani Lekwot was made a sacrificial lamb. Bishop Dr. Matthew Kukah, an activist; Rev Dr Musa Asake, Sen Haruna Aziz, Secretary Peter Buba, the Chief of Kwoi and many others are still in the struggle, which will continue until Gurara State is created. Joined in the struggle are, Dr. Mailafia, Hon. Jonathan Asake, Engr. Bawah Magaji, including many clergy men and women.
In Southern Borno, their marginalization and victimization have been similar to other ethnic groups in the Middle-Belt Region. The people of Southern Borno, for 37 years or over, have made request for the creation of Savannah State out of the defunct North-Eastern State. The request was first submitted to Justice Irikefe Panel. Their struggle is for the survival of their people and others with whom they share common aspirations.
The National Conference of 2014 (in its winding-up) recommended the creation of the State and many others within the Region but these were not created. The political activists in that state remain passionate and resolute in their pursuit. The fore-runners of other states are: Elder Paul Bassey, a political activist; Alex Mshelia, a political activist, a scientist and Captain of Industry; Col. Andrawus Sawa; Sen Ali Ndume, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, and so many others are still actively struggling for the realization of their dreams.
The Region is blessed with a treasure of distinguished retired elders, who are ever ready to back-up the younger generations of men and women in the self-determination struggle.
Land is the base upon which the economic activities are predicated, and to dispose the people of their farmlands and homesteads is tantamount to depriving them of their livelihood. It has become abundantly clear that the indigenous youths, men and women have been seriously short-changed by this administration. The youths should not allow themselves to be, or play the roles of spectators in the political activities.
As a result of the amalgamation of commercial interests that produced NIGERIA, history has confirmed that the “junior” partner of the British in the enterprise, the Fulani Islamic oligarchy, has always seen the nation as an extension of its commercial, political and religious interests.
To the Muslim in North, the Nigerian nation of their dream is an Islamic nation. While the rest of the nation may be striving progressively towards 21st Century development and civilization, they worked assiduously backways to a 5th Century, an expression of Islamisation. This is the goal the present administration is evidently prepared to complete.
The terrorists brought in by this government have successfully ousted former President Goodluck Jonathan. In continuation, it is now fighting, maiming, destroying, killing men and women, rendering them widows, orphans and confiscating their lands, while their houses have been completely destroyed, and the survivals have nowhere to go.
Sir Ahmadu Bello, in 1st October, 1960 (Parrot Newspaper), 12th October, 1960, republished on 13th November, 2002, by the Tribune Newspaper, Ibadan, said, “The new nation, called ‘Nigeria,’ should be an estate of our great-grandfather, Uthman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities of the North as willing tools, and the South as a conquered territory and never allow them to have control over their future.”
On the other hand, the reply of Northern Emirs to West African Students Unions (WASU) appealed for support towards Nigeria’s Independence. (Obafemi Awolowo, Path to Nigerian Freedom, Faber and Faber 1947, P.51) quoted this: “… holding this country together is not possible except by means of the religion of the Prophet. If they want political unity, let them follow our religion.”
In order to complete the agenda, the present administration has come out with the Muslim-Muslim ticket. This writer holds the view that, Nigeria has never been a nation; there has never been a genuine attempt to build a nation out of it because there is no national consciousness and, so, the country remains the product of the forcing together of different nations and the ethnic nationalities for the economic interest of the British, with the consequent sacrileges against the culture and tradition of the people of the country.