“Everyone is a foreigner somewhere, today it is Lagos; tomorrow it<\/p>\n
could be anywhere else”<\/p>\n
The statement by the Oba of Lagos and the brouhaha that followed is
\nthe reference point here. Pertinent questions are the validity of
\nthe Oba’s sentiments, and how many other cities or communities are
\ncurrently dealing with similar tensions.<\/p>\n
Before beginning to proffer solutions, it is worthwhile to play some
\npossible scenario to set the scene.<\/p>\n
(1) Abians discover large deposits of oil in their State. With
\nprudent use of the additional revenue, the State really transforms
\nthe economy and wellbeing of its citizens. Within a few years,
\nAbians no longer do menial or blue-collar jobs. Spotting the gap in
\nsupply, many Hausas migrate to Abia and begin to fill the jobs and
\nto provide services that indigenes would not deign to touch. Such is
\nthe abundance of opportunity and the number of migrants that within
\na decade the new comers now constitute a majority. What will happen
\nif a block vote by the settlers demands Sharia law as a condition to
\nsupport candidates for governor?<\/p>\n
(2) A radical governor revolutionises rulership in Sokoto State by
\nmaking education mandatory till secondary level, and also financing
\nit. The transformation in lives results in a huge explosion in
\ndemand for services. Over a few years, powerful interests from
\nYoruba land respond by moving offices and employees in large
\nnumbers. These families relocate and settle all over the state. On
\naccount of their economic significance and dispersal across the
\nState, the settlers insist that a form of Yoruba customary law
\nshould operate side-by-side with Sharia. How are the indigenes
\nlikely to respond?<\/p>\n
In each case there are legitimate demands, but are they appropriate?
\nWould the first guests have been welcomed if they made such a
\nrequest on arrival? Now, it is easy for the elite to dismiss these
\nissues and obfuscate reality with sophisticated arguments and logic.
\nHowever, they are often far removed, economically and socially from
\nthe trouble spots. The privileged do not have to compete with
\nnon-indigenes for survival opportunities. Neither do they live in
\nlocalities where residents are directly impacted by the dress-code,
\nsocial conduct, and religious practise of their neighbours. So to
\nthem, the problem is selfishness, in-hospitality, intolerance, or
\nsome other hidden agenda.<\/p>\n
We should learn from the Europeans and the problems they have had
\nwith integration of migrants. The issues are real and cannot be
\nwished away. What we see in some parts of Europe is a failure of the
\npolitical elite to balance the economic benefits of migration with
\nthe social costs. The United Kingdom has struggled with an influx
\nof Eastern Europeans; in the Federal Republic of Germany, Turkish
\nimmigrants have faced exclusion from the mainstream; and in the
\nFrench Republic, French identity has remained controversial and
\nelusive for descendants of North Africans.<\/p>\n
Some of these “foreigners” were already resident in their adopted
\ncountry before Nigeria became independent! What went wrong?
\nLeadership failure, had opened up an opportunity for far-right
\nnationalist politicians to gain political relevance. These fringe
\nparties offer themselves as vents for the concerns of threatened
\ngroups. In return, they gain bloc votes that put them in the
\nlimelight, and the corridors of power. From there, they project a
\nfulsome agenda on an unsuspecting but hitherto apathetic majority.<\/p>\n
It is important to restate that Nigeria is not as divided as some
\nfringe political activists will suggest. The results from the last
\nelections must not be taken at face value, and construed to mean
\nthat the SS and SE see the world distinctly from the rest of the
\ncountry. Nevertheless, our present relative peace and unity must not
\nbe compromised by further complacency by the elite. It is time to
\nthink of, and act on, strategies that will strengthen our bonds and
\nmend the breaches in our relationships, in a New Nigeria.<\/p>\n
O.J. Oyewole is a socio-political analyst & commentator<\/p>\n
@NewNigerian (Twitter)<\/p>\n
lanre@net-technologies.com (email)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
“Everyone is a foreigner somewhere, today it is Lagos; tomorrow it could be anywhere else” The statement by the Oba of Lagos and the brouhaha that followed is the reference…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22263,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n