I have watched with disdain struggling to contain the many utterances of supposed elder statesmen on whose shoulders many have hinged their actions and thoughts, invariably their public disposition precipitates peace or war. The words of Karl Marx, Martin Lurther King jnr, Mahatma Gandhi and the likes of Prof Ikenna Nzimiro have all in their sphere of influence dictated some of my actions; hence to many their words form an action template that dictate their reactions to social phenomenon. Bearing in mind how words have set nations at war, the choice of word becomes an act of integrity or cowardice since such utterances have immediate and long term effects.
This piece is informed by the recent threat to peace most notably by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) through its scribe, Prof Ango Abdullahi. It is worthy of note to state that Professor Ango is a former Vice Chancellor and by virtue of such position the apex in academic hierarchy his words should reflect intellectual sanctity. I Am therefore amazed and taken aback on the level of carelessness Prof Ango has spoken concerning the state of the Nation. It is undoubtedly clear that Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder even the slightest of ‘whisper’ can set it on fire. Blurred by religious, ethnic and political sentiments he has exhibited what I can only describe as a function of ‘intellectual depreciation’. He had earlier declared that the state of present day Nigeria is as a result of the sacrifices of the north, this presupposes that its resources both human and material form the bedrock for the relative peace and development in the country. For this I question his sense of history and even current reality. The 1914 amalgamation was more of economic than political reason, the British because of the administrative cost incurred from the north decided to merge the south which had surplus resources to run the administration of the north. Local and international research has shown that Nigeria is a mono economy run on petrol dollar. I do not intend to undermine the north as no region can claim sole responsibility for the political, economic or social development in Nigeria, as resources anywhere within Nigeria’s territorial jurisdiction belongs to all and its dividend a benefit for all.
Also condemning in strong words the declaration of a state of emergency coining it ‘a declaration of war on the north’ Prof Ango did not only challenge the sovereignty of Nigeria but gave credence that Boko Haram is a baby of the northern ruling elite formed to destabilize the polity as preached by Gen Buhari on the eve of result declaration of the 2011 general elections, this may support his recent call for the resignation of the President for his inability to end a disease that has defiled all cure only waiting for the ‘election of its cause’. It seems ridiculous reading through the newspaper dailies of May 22, 2013, that the NEF intends dragging the government to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, the killing of almost on a daily basis of Nigerians nay Christians do not constitute crime against humanity for Prof Ango, does this not purport a story of kettle calling pot black. Is high time you drag Boko Haram to the Islamic council and engage yourselves in a frank talk centered on the fact that Nigeria does not belong to the north or any region like you have said, hence no region should claim birth right to the seat of power. In like vein politicians and activists in the south should learn to guard their utterances with diligence. They must realize that you can’t use illegality to fight illegality.
Note: Boko Haram is a religious militia group that claims its ideology is founded on Islam; it abhors western education and undermines any political institutions not based on Sharia , since its public emergence in 2009 about 3000 lives have been lost and properties destroyed.