Think of The Unthinkable: Notes on Nigeria's Future

[_Waziri_]

In our bid to contribute to the current debate in the light of the viability of Nigerian Federation , a workshop was organised few weeks back that drew  many participants  from different parts of Northern Nigeria. Below is the sharp and short presentation of one among our elders who graced the occasion.

ABBA Kyari, the presenter is a lawyer by profession NOT a military general as he was mistakenly represented in other websites. I hope this correction will be noted by many who maintained a contrary perception earlier. Thank you once again

BEING A PAPER PRESENTED AT THE WORKSHOP ON STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES IN  NORTHERN NIGERIA  . (17TH AND 18TH JULY 2004). TEEJAY GUEST HOUSE, G.R.A,   ZARIA   .   KADUNA      STATE  .



In his 1994 Inaugural Sardauna Memorial Lecture, the late Ciroman Fika made a powerful case for the unity and indivisibility of this country.  While many shared his thoughts by mere instinct, his advocacy was backed by a knowledge that is extensive, varied and profound. In a nutshell, the thrust of his argument is based on the trends of globalization.



But if we examine historical trends since 1945 and all the ingredients of globalization as demonstrated by the Italian Diplomat Boris Biancheri, it is worth our while to reflect on the unthinkable and not be prisoners to the superstitious pair of words: - Unity and indivisibility of Nigeria.  This is not a case for the division of the country, but just to demonstrate that history will not have special rules for Nigeria .



Within the ambits of globalization are two distinct trends ? integration and fragmentation.  While at the economic, technological and information spheres the trend is towards integration, the social and political trends tend towards fragmentation and yet we seem to have gone into a self cocoon that Nigeria will be an exception.



Let us take a brief review of the state of nation states in the last six decades, since the signing of the UN Charter in San Francisco in 1945.  At that date there were about 50 countries.  Twenty years later the states had multiplied to about 100, due largely but not only restricted to decolonization.  Prior to that was the decline of the great multi-ethnic units which began at the end of the 1st World War with the dissolution of the:



(a)  Austro-Hungarian

(b)  Trsarist and the

(c)  Ottoman; empires.



The collapse of the Soviet Union led to the independence of 15 Republics while the fall of Yugoslavia led to the creation of 5 republics.  Today there are over 200 countries registered as members of UNO and the process is still continuing.



The examples stated above are admittedly at the international level, but ingredients of fragmentation are also to be found within countries, particularly in Nigeria where the landscape is dominated by the following trends:



(i)   accentuation of differences to the detriment of whatever creates common causes

(ii)   the decline of the centre in favour of the periphery





These trends are compounded by the following tendencies:



(a)  Separatism

(b)  Provincialism

(c)  Parochialism



Some of the trends and tendencies will inevitably exist in any polity and need not ring alarm bells, but to exist in one polity at the same time with such vehemence, should make us think of the unthinkable, that this place may just fragment not out of our desire but as the logical consequences of the drift we have found ourselves in.  Nigeria is like a ship that is rudderless or a plane on automatic pilot and may run into rocks or sand or crash in a wilderness.



Even at the integrative trends of globalization, the economic agenda which is basically to create not just a capitalist-world order but market societies, has the potentials of replicating the injustices of the global economy within national economies with devastating consequences for social stability.  The state and its agencies will not be neutral in this.



These notes are just to remind us that while we fight for the federal cause, we should not be one-dimensional in reviewing the state of the nation.



The message is simple, fight for a just Nigeria ; think of the unthinkable or be prepared to be condemned to perpetual slavery.

[Dave_McEwan_Hill]

A very thought-provoking article submitted by Waziri. Nigeria faces the crossroads at this point in time not only in constitutional terms but also in economic terms. The mismanagement of Nigeria's economy and resources creates tensions which may lead to constitutional change for the wrong reasons.

David McEwan Hill

[mallamt]

Very thought provoking.  This puts a question to us as to what is the reason behind our taking a position in a debate/discussion in this forum?  Scary as the thoughts put forward in the presentation may be they are very real and it is time we also start being real or else not even our children will be spared.  We must not fight for change for change sake but for a purpose that will advance future generation of nigerians rather than oppress them.

[Ibro2g]

Very Well said Mallamt, but I'm afraid its ur words Mr.Dave that I fear is coming fast reality.
 The present Nigerian administration is making alot of short term economic policies that wouldnt favour the country in either long term or short term. One of which was to cut down the salaries of the civil service by 20%, claiming it'll now be used to build up for thier pensions, it which other God forsaken country?

Waziri...we await the results, of few who bearly think among those who dont even think at all.

[_Waziri_]

Ma gud ppl,

Baba David, Ibro2g and Mallamt I believe we can all see from the above why the fragmentation of the Nigerian Nation is inevitable? For me I always see it a point of duty to us to puirsue the project of breaking this country in such a way we can have near-complete-peaceful separation.

If we refuse to do that the country may choose to break on its own with maximum injury incurred.

Waziri

[alhaji_aminu]

salam

Well written piece. But does anyone think our Northern Businessmen and political leaders will listen and implement what is raised in the Workshop?

Jibo Nura had a very interesting presentation in the same conference. It can be found in the www.gamji.com

Thanks all

[mallamt]

myadudu

now you have hit the nail on the head.  That is exactly where the problem lies for the north - our present leaders (i do not even think we should call them that) are not leaders they are rudderless have sold their morality and sense of right and wrong, decency etc.  I shall surely read Jibo Nura's presentation.
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_Waziri_

I do not agree with you.  Yes their are problems, fragmentation is not the solution.  The problem of nigeria goes far beyond fragmentation, the injustice, lawlessness and lack of direction will continue even if we fragment and any of the other  fragmented pieces will be blamed for the problems of the other.  so fragmentation will only go further to complicate matters

[_Waziri_]

Ok if we say fragmentation cannot be a solution then how can we avoid the trend that is splitting countries apart since the beginning of the preceding century to this day?

Yes, actually I see the fragmentation of  our country to be a historical inevitability even according the content of the paper above. What I am saying is let us sit down and see how we can willingly do it with minimal damage incurred. Instead of us to wait for it to DO itself, which carries the tendency of inflicting  maximum injury on us all. This is all I said.

I did not say fragmenting our polity will provide all the solutions to our problems but yet I believe it carries the tendency to reduce our suffering. I have discussed this on this board long before I started the Organisation of the above-mentioned Workshop.

For myadudu, the answer is just simple:

Whenever you see society decaying, the problem lies with 3 categories of people

1. The Leaders
2. The Intellectuals
3. The Rich

I will want to believe by act of commission or ommision somewhere, I fall among one of the above mentioned categories. I defined myself. I believe someday Allah will call me to account on the roll He has saddled me to play in the society.

So I will here say to all the categories of people you mentioned above, what Sa'adu Zungur said years back:  

Mudai hakkinmu mu gaya muku

Ko ku karba ko kuyi dariya

But nevertheless the stone has just been unrolled.

[_Waziri_]

Once again for a clearer picture of what I mean, this paper on my page at  dawodu.com can help, here is the link:

http://www.dawodu.com/waziri1.htm

[alhaji_aminu]

salam

waziri if i may digress a little, wai ta yaya zan sami littafin Sa'adu Zungur ne? I have littafin Aminu Kano, Shehu Yar'adua da Sardauna and I think karanta na mallam Sa'adu will complete the picture.

Also, I agree with your observation on the responsibility of people (individual, leaders, intellectuals etc) in changing the society.

Allah shi taimakemu baki daya.

Bissalam

[_Waziri_]

Amiinuddeen,

You will certainly enjoy reading about Zungur. Sa'adu Zungur:

1.  A disguished emotional poet
2.  Distinguished scholar in the Rank of Sheik Abubakar Mahmud Gumi, he was reading Mudawwana at the age of 21( If you know about how Karatun Zaure is you will appreciate this better)
3.  He was the most educated among them ( Aminu Kano and Sadauna) since he had a Diploma from Yaba Colllege of Technology. While I think they were all not morethan grade II.

Also he was the most articulate activist of his time. NPC was his initiative. NEPU too was his initiative before he shun everything to start a fresh campaigm back to the real roots, i.e, the system as practiced by Sheik Usman Danfodio. In one of his  political and emotional poems titled Arewa Jamhuriya ko Mulukiya, he says:

Shehu Abdullahi hakikatan
Yabarmana gadon gaskiya

Ilimi Hikima addini duka
Da dabarar sarrafa duniya

Muka lalata muka wargaza
Yau gashi anai mana dariya

Jahilci yaci lakarmu duk
Yasa mana sarka har wuya

Bakunanmu yasa takunkumi
Ba zalaka sai sharholiya

......Ya Allah kai mana agaji
Don Mu kauce kunyar duniya

.....Ilimi mai umfani duka
Inda Addininmu ya rataya

......Infa Addini ya raunana
Babu Alkhairi nan duniya

I think I can get a copy for you. But I do not know how to easily get across to you. For now there is nobody around here coming up to USA. Maybe you can suggest.


I remain most grateful

Waziri[/b]

[alhaji_aminu]

salam

waziri nagode. I thinking giving me the isbn number will be enough. I can get the book, if i have the isbn, from a library...

[_Waziri_]

You have it here Amin:

978-32929-1-9

[al_hamza]

MAY ALLAH (S.W.T) BLESS SA'ADU ZUNGUR AMIN

[EMTL]

Assalamu alaikum,

let me share this with you....

My Fears for Nigeria, Balarabe Musa

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Former governor of Kaduna State and chairman of the People's Redemption Party (PRP) Alhaji Balarabe Musa, has predicted that Nigeria may soon disintegrate if government does not take measures to check what he described as the socio-economic imbalance and high level of corruption in the country.

The present socio-economic system is unjust and it will lead us to tragedy. "

Balarabe spoke yesterday when a delegation from the Ebonyi State government paid him a visit in Kaduna.

According to him, "the living condition of Nigerians has worsened, there is general insecurity and the leaders no longer operate in accordance with the constitution.

It has become a society of the most powerful and if you have money, you can do anything, and it is stolen money.

"No country in the world has ever survived on this level of corruption and stealing, where the people no longer matter."

Musa regretted further that the polity will continue to witness permanent instability with the possibility of either military takeover of power or a civil war.

He recommended a non-capitalist system of governance based on the recognition of the dignity of the human person.

Leader of the delegation who is also Ebonyi State Commissioner of Information, Dr. John Otu, described Balarabe Musa as an inspiration to young generation of politicians in the country.

According to him, "you exude so much aura that will live long after you."

He said the Ebonyi State Governor, Dr. Sam Egwu was in the process of building bridges of brotherhood across all sections of the country.

The delegation had earlier paid a condolence visit on a former Minister for Special Duties, Alhaji Wada Nas over the death of his wife. In his condolence message, Egwu said, "we understand how you feel and the grief you are passing through in this dark moment. But we urge you to take heart and encourage yourself in the fact that your lovely wife led a life of fidelity and committed service to your family and community. Similarly in his condolence message to Nas, Vice President Atiku Abubakar prayed the Almighty Allah to grant the departed eternal rest in Aljannah. According to Atiku, "death is always a companion because some of us who believe that from Allah we come and to him we shall return."