By virtue of his experience, when former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon speaks on issues, such as ethnic agitation, the nation should listen. He led Nigeria during the 30-month civil war. Amid the separatist agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), he warned against the use of force to rein in the agitators. But the Directorate of State Services (DSS) has vowed to deal with any group or individual that pursues divisive tendencies. How should the agitators be handled? ADEBISI ONANUGA asks.
FORMER Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon needs no introduction. When he speaks on ethnic agitation, the nation must listen because he led the country during the 1967-1970 civil war.
But last Wednesday, when he advised against using force on ethnic agitators, it did not cut any ice with the Directorate of State Services (DSS). Not even when Gowon warned that no nation could survive multiple wars.
As chairman of a national seminar on “Unity in diversity” organised by the DSS, Gowon advised nationalities agitating for restructuring or secession to avoid the mistake of the past, which plunged the country into a civil war.
He noted that the various political agitation and multiplicity of calls for regional autonomy and clamour for restructuring of the federation or secession of certain regions from the country had given birth to emergency nationalist agitators, emphasising that the calls were not in the interest of democracy which recognises the right of individuals on such issue.
To him, the agitators are better off not pursuing such interest just as he said the Federal Government would do well not to use force on the agitators except only as the last resort for and in defence of security and the peace of the nation.
“We need to think of the danger our actions poses to the innocent and law abiding citizens. Agitators or whatever name they go by, need to read up history that no nation survives multiple civil wars. The life of the people is worth more than whatever profit they hope to make out of the business of hate and sheer murmuring. Agitators are better off not pursuing personal interest just as the Federal Government will do well not to use any force on these agitators except only as the last resort for and in defence of security and the peace of the nation.”
But the DSS thought otherwise. Its Director-General, Lawal Daura, said the agency would deal with anyone pursuing divisive and separatist activities that threaten the unity of the country and national security.
Daura said the agency would not fold its arms and watch agitators tear the country apart.
He restated the position of the Service that all groups or individuals bent on pursuing their divisive and separatist activities that threaten national security should have a rethink.
He said the security and law enforcement agencies would not watch while agitators carry on activities that put at risk the lives and properties of law-abiding and innocent Nigerians.
“We will deploy the full amalgam of the security infrastructure to deal with subsisting and emerging developments capable of endangering lives and properties as well as our corporate existence as a nation,”he said.
Potential for violent protest
Although the views expressed by the duo of Gowon and Daura are divergent, observers believe that their positions stemmed from the activities of the likes of Nnamdi Kanu of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), believed to have the potential of becoming violent and, subsequently, lead to ethnic war.
Twelve days ago, commercial activities in Owerri, the Imo State capital were brought to a halt when Kanu visited pro-Biafra supporters in their thousands who lined up at Fire Service junction and Wetheral Road, Owerri to receive the IPOB leader. Out of fear, businesses were shut to avoid attacks by the Biafra supporters.
The IPOB leadership, after its visit to Ebonyi State on July 27, reportedly said the next state would be Lagos and threatened to shut the city when he arrived.
In response to the threat, the Yoruba Youth Congress (YYC) and the Coalition of Southwest Youths group said the safety of Kanu was not guaranteed if he proceeds on his planned visit. The Yoruba Youth groups, led by Prince Dapo Adepoju, warned Kanu to stay clear of Lagos, saying the centre of excellence was not part of the Biafra.
The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (ACYF), a coalition of socio-political groups in the north, last June 8, issued a three-month ultimatum to all Igbo in the 19 northern states to vacate the region. Led by its National President, Yerima Shettima, the group threatened that if the Igbos failed to leave by October 1, it would forcibly evict them. The group viewed a sit-at-home protest organised by two pro-Biafra groups, IPOB and MASSOB, in remembrance of the Biafra republic, as a threat to national security as well as the country’s corporate existence.
Observers believe that threats of these agitators and seperationists are all geared towards calling attention to alleged marginalisation and subsequent bargainings from the state. There were also those who see the threats and counter threats as weakening the country’s unity and national security and puts at risk the lives and properties of law-abiding and innocent Nigerians, except if nipped in the bud.
The activities of ethnic agitators have continued to raise concerns among Nigerians especially when viewed against the background of the decision of the DSS to deal with them. But how best can this be done without it resulting in a war, retain national unity security? Constitutional lawyers reacted to the issue.
Lawyers suggest a way out
Constitutional lawyers versed in the law and activisim advised against the use of force to rein in the agitators. Those who spoke include Second Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Asssociation (NBA) Monday Ubani, Constitutional lawyer and university don, Chief Wahab Shittu, former Chairman, NBA, Ikorodu, Mr Dotun Adetunji, Lagos lawyer, Abayomi Omoyinmi and Lead Advocate, Constitutional Rights and Peoples Development Advocacy Initiative (CRAI), Mr Ikeji Ikechukwu.
‘Restructuring is key’
Ubani said Nigeria is at a crossroads with these agitations and often violent threat of secession from various ethnic groups. “I am a firm believer in a united Nigeria where justice and equity reigns supreme and, therefore, will not support any threat for its dismemberment. However, we must appreciate the ratio (reasons) for these agitations and frequent calls for restructuring by various ethnic groups in Nigeria,” he said.
According to him, a peep into countries as diverse as Nigeria and how they have managed to run a flawless system where justice and equity prevails, shows that “these countries set out with clear objective to put in place a correct structure that makes it possible to address everyone’s fears and deprivations.
“When fears and denials are abolished in a diverse nation, the tendency to agitate for division is usually zero.
“Contrast the aforementioned with Nigeria where the system is run on manifest injustice, denial and iniquity. Take for instance the creations of local governments, states by past military governments and the over centralised bureaucracy being run in Nigeria at the moment. They are manifestly unjust, insensitive, self serving and provoking.”
He added: “How does one justify over 60 items in the exclusive list in the constitution of a multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-linguistic nation like Nigeria?
“What compounds the problem the more is that clear and patriotic suggestions for amendment and change of the iniquitous status quo is met with deaf ears and arrogant replies from certain persons in the polity, especially the political elites who are benefiting from the unjust system.
“The exasperated populace are left with no option other than to intensify the agitation and calls for change of the status quo.”
Ubani cautioned that violent agitations and acts that tend to depict the existence of another sovereign state when such “sovereign” state is not legitimate cannot be tolerated by any serious sovereign state, but in doing so, the sovereign state has to be very careful in the method and manner it deploys in tackling the issue to avoid conflagration in the system.
“This is where the advice of Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd) the former Head of State against the use of excessive force against ethnic agitators and restive youths becomes very apt. Application of wrong prescription to these agitations have consequences often grave if care is not taken.
“The advice is for the government of the day to strive to do the right thing by paying due attention to what the people they govern are saying in order to address them adequately thereby avoiding unnecessary violence, threats and possible wars. The country presently is not at peace with itself, therefore conscious effort by leaders should be made to reduce tension by taking heed to what the majority are saying.
“The issue on the frontburner is restructuring and the government will be harming itself terribly if it fails, refuses and/or neglects to address it squarely. The Senate and House of Representatives who claim to be the representatives of the people should not play the ostrich by jettisoning the requests and demands of the people by voting against devolution of power to the federating units. The government should remember this: a stitch in time saves nine, or a word is enough for the wise,” he advised.
‘International mediators, strong
intelligence needed’
Shittu agreed with Gowon on the need for restraint to avoid descent into another civil war which could precipitate needless anarchy with fatal consequences on lives, property including order and cohesion of the society.
“l will favour constructive engagement through dialogue with stakeholders in the affected areas including leaders of these separatist groups.We may also need to quickly enlist the services of international mediators to bring parties to the negotiation table.There is also need to deploy strong intelligence to identify sponsors of these uprisings against the state with a view to taking necessary action. Above all government will need to address underlying causes of there deepseated grievances going forward,” he suggested.
‘Engage the youth in dialogue’
Omoyinmi argued that using force against ethnic agitators and restive youths by the DSS is not the answer or the best approach to the matter as this would and could only aggravate the situation for the government.
According to him, force can only be a last resort where there is clear evidence that the agitators and the restive youths actions have occasionned serious violence in the country leading to destruction of properties, loss of life of citizens and perhaps where such actions is treasonable.
“The government should, however, engage the youths in a meaningful and serious dialogue. The government should implement policies to provide enabling environment in the country for the youths, to take care of what the youths are agitating for within the ambit of the laws of the country. The policies for economic growth that will engaged the youths and accommodate them with prosperity of life worth living in the country,” Omoyinmi advised.
‘DSS is right’
Adetunji while cautioning the Federal Government and security agencies against using excessive force against the ethnic agitators also noted that the DSS,which is one of the security agencies in the country is equally right in its decision to deal with any group or individual pursuing divisive and separatist activities.
“The DSS in my humble opinion is equally right as it is part of the security institutions that give backbone to statehood. The unity of this nation is a sacred trust entrusted upon the security agencies and they must be seen to be defending the unity, peace and stability of the nation at all times. So, I am satisfied with their utterances. If the same question is posed to other security agencies aside from DSS, don’t be surprised that some of them will sound more ruthless than the DSS in the circumstance.
“They would have met my expectation if they really sound ruthless, vow and/or threaten to decisively deal with the agitators threatening to tear the country apart.
“An idle hand is said to be the devils work
