SIR: I have great indignation for the ethnic war lords on both divides who are fanning the embers of division! When this gasoline they’re spreading all over the nation is ignited, they also will not be spared by the seed of destruction that they are sowing in the land.
When the chips are down the delivery of the dividends of democracy is paramount. You think the people of Daura are happy with Buhari? Didn’t they damage the windshield of his private helicopter? Imagine if we had an Okon as president who has been able to eliminate poverty and provide the basic necessities of life to the people; will they pelt his helicopter with a stone?
Some years ago, the former Minister of Works, Adeseye Ogunlewe was on Arise News to address the grievance of Yorubas which took the centre stage at the time. Some felt that Igbos have taken over Lagos State especially their land. Ogunlewe gave a smart response; he said that the Yorubas shouldn’t blame the Igbos or express their hostility towards the Igbos since the Yorubas in Lagos sold more than half of Lagos to Igbos including Lekki and other adjoining areas. He also mentioned areas like Amuwo-Odofin, FESTAC and several other prominent estates. He went ahead to list other parts of Lagos dominated by Igbos. For him the schism and antagonism against the Igbos was not only unnecessary and late but self-inflicted. Was he taking sides? He merely gave an objective analysis of the situation.
It is apparent that there is a big crack in the wall and we should be thinking about how to mend the wall rather than identify with a cleavage and exacerbate the bad situation.
Both the Igbos and the Yorubas must as a matter of urgency de-emphasize and de-escalate their differences and focus on what binds the two ethnic together. Many from both divides are digging up historical antecedents to justify why both ethnic groups must go on separate ways. This is grossly unnecessary and a very difficult agenda to pursue. The clamour for an independent state from both divides through different separatist leaders are yet to scratch the surface as per the attainment of self-government or independence. So, why engage in a wild goose chase?
The Igbos should stop laying claims to Lagos! It is insensitive for some folks to be harping on that! Have the Igbos made humongous investments in Lagos? Emphatically yes! Have they bought lots of landed property and real estates in Lagos? Again, emphatically yes! Have they massively settled in Lagos? Emphatically yes; but are they the owners of Lagos? No! Every state has its aborigines.
Ethnocentrism has become a hydra headed monster which has forcefully reared up its ugly head in our polity and we must deal with it before it incinerates our country. One of the challenges facing the president-elect, governors, especially the governor of Lagos State and other political leaders is to de-escalate the ethnic tension fueled by the 2023 elections.
The Nigerian Peace Committee, headed by Nigeria’s former Head of State, Abdusalami Abubakar should go beyond creating the platform and atmosphere for political aspirants to sign the peace accord to expanding the scope of their responsibility by injecting programmes that mitigates and douses ethnic tensions and hostilities both during and after the general elections.
The seeming preponderance of ethnocentrism in Nigeria can be effectively dealt with by intentional policies and programmes. We shouldn’t become architects of a self-immolating nation, Nigeria.
•Nnamdi Abana,
<abanannamdi@gmail.com>