By the titling of his book, he nearly caught the bug too — Nigerian Political Parties and Politicians: A Call for National Unity.
Now, what was this? A scholarly voyage into the daemons of Nigeria’s lack of nationhood? A campaign for Nigeria’s nationhood at whatever cost? Or simply a young patriot’s cry for his beloved country, a passionate plea for some magic, despite stark contradictions?
After some initial critiquing, he somewhat relented and adjusted the title: Nigerian Political Parties and Politicians: Winding Road from Country to Nation.
Though the author eventually agreed there ought to be some conditions precedent before a geographical space morphs into a nation, the “unity romantic” in him dies hard still! In his new “winding road” would appear a stubborn optimism that Nigeria would somewhat get it right, and become a nation founded on justice.
These are the patriotic exertions of Bolaji Samson Aregbeshola, a young Nigerian graduate of Biological Sciences (BSc) and Public Health (MSc), both from the University of Lagos, Akoka.
Those exertions were products of sorties to public libraries in Lagos to keep the mind occupied, in those anxiety-gripping seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and even years, after National Youth Service; but before nailing the ever elusive job.
For the young Nigerian graduate, that is a season of immense anguish, great self-doubt, baleful impotence, resentment against a seeming cruel and unfeeling society and an aggressive questioning of the usefulness of the Nigerian government — and state.
But what would make a youth — and a trained scientist, not social scientist — invest his hurting hours in tackling the Nigerian question?
For one, Bolaji has had his own Nigeria experience. He spoke of his first-ever visit to Abuja, Nigeria’s “united” capital, with no place to stay. He approached some fellow Nigerians for help. They asked him where he came from. He told them Osun State.
Then came the ugly epiphany: seek out your Yoruba people to house you! No malice. Just matter-of-fact. It was then the full impact of the question of his nativity dawned on him. In Nigeria’s federal capital, the proud symbol of Nigeria’s unity, it was probably not enough to be simply Nigerian!
Though this experience cannot be generalised as routine, since a good many Nigerians have less clannish mindsets, that singular experience jolted the author to the not-too-pleasant side of the Nigerian experience.
Then another, on the economic front, en route to a promising — or sedentary? — career in Nigeria’s federal civil service. He had sat and passed the necessary examinations and interviews; and was well-neigh assured, on merit, of the “slot” — slot because it appeared a thriving convention for active relations in service to secure “slots” for their own.
Even then, a phone call from a “powerful” minister secured the “slot” for his own “people”! As in the George Orwell original, in the Nigerian Animal Farm, some animals are more equal than others!
But even that did not mellow down Bolaji’s Nigerianness. Even now, the author seems an incurable romantic of “national unity”; who believes (not unreasonably) it shouldn’t matter where you come from; and that your Nigerianness should be enough to corral fair opportunities, so long as you are native to the geographical area called Nigeria.
Fine principle. But it is a moot point if, in reality, it really works that way.
Did that trigger the literary odyssey into the past that resulted in Nigerian Political Parties and Politicians? Maybe. Maybe not.
But the author’s findings did not support the glory often ascribed to the titanic past, of pre-independence and early independence era, even with the groundbreaking achievements of the original three regions.
Immediate pre-independence and post-independence Nigeria indeed boasted brilliant policies — and development — that made many to put their bet on Nigeria as the country to watch among the denizens of the Black race.
The titans also boasted remarkable personalities, in three pioneer regional premiers of Chief Obafemi Awolowo (West), Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (East) and Sir Ahmadu Bello (North), even as the West set the policy and developmental pace.
But the politics was as ugly as the policies were brilliant. That was where Nigeria got it wrong — and that is where, 54 years later, it continues to get it wrong.
That is the notorious point this book emphasises, even with the author’s seeming patriotic fixation with “unity”. Yes, things have got progressively worse. But that is because everything stemmed from a flawed political foundation.
The genesis, of course, was the British uncritical support for northern demands, in exchange for the region’s leaders’ perceived malleability, in contrast to southern leaders’ perceived difficulty.
Match that with the South’s fatal mistake that, because the North was educationally disadvantaged, it would be a sitting duck for southern domination. What you get is the foundational recipe for Nigeria’s perennial crisis: a skewed federation ruled by the worst, but doomed to perennial challenge by the best.
Even, the book’s lunch into political intrigues tends to support the Greek Parmenides’ stance that nothing ever changes.
For instance, how does Premier Samuel Ladoke Akintola’s vandalism of the Western arm of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), in building his Demo coalition against the rump of Awolowo’s Action Group (AG) in the sweepstakes for the West, different from President Olusegun Obasanjo’s cannibalisation of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in this present Fourth Republic?
Then, the frantic Michael Opara NCNC coalition with Awo’s AG (hitherto sworn political enemies) to form the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA), after the SLA masterstroke — how is it different from the defection and counter-defection between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto, Kwara, Kano and Adamawa states?
And political histrionics: how is the Ahmadu Bello 1953 quip that “the mistake of 1914 has come to light”, in response to Chief Anthony Enahoro’s independence motion in the federal Parliament, different from the Lamido Adamawa walkout threat at the ongoing National Conference, in reply to which Sir Olaniwun Ajayi was absolutely spot on?
As folks did not call the Sardauna’s bluff 61 years back, what stops another Lamido from playing the blackmail card in 61 years time, if the NC does not call the Lamido Adamawa’s bluff now, and erect an equitable base for sustainable unity?
Bolaji Aregbesola’s book has reinforced the notorious fact that Nigeria’s politics and politicking have always been dirty. That accounts for the country’s eternal illness and perennial crisis.
It is time to fix it, or it will fix us. Wish the NC delegates realised the danger we are all in!
