By Remi Oyeyemi<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will
\nnot; nothing is more common with unsuccessful men with talent. Genius
\nwill not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the
\nworld is full of educated failures. Persistence and determination alone
\nare omnipotent.\u201d<\/p>\n
– Calvin Coolidge<\/p>\n
\u201cTo choose the right moment in which to act is the great art of
\nmen\u2026\u201d Napolean Bonaparte<\/p>\n
I have been watching the fast pace with which the so-called country of
\nNigeria has been tumbling towards tragedy. I have been watching the
\ntragedy it has become for its peoples. I have been watching the disgrace
\nit has become for those who carry its green passports. I have reached
\nthe conclusion that salvaging Nigeria is a mission impossible. I have
\nreached the conclusion that breaking up Nigeria is the only viable
\noption. There is no other way out.<\/p>\n
I am aware that there are many who mouth UNITY every day when in fact
\nthey do not believe in it. I am aware there are people who keep chanting
\nthat TRIBALISM is our bane when indeed it is our real strength. I am
\naware that most of us like to be politically correct and say, Nigeria
\nmust unite when in fact we all know that breaking it up is the best
\nthing for the peoples of this geographical expression.<\/p>\n
I look through the various component ethnic groups in Nigeria and I am
\nnot able to identify a single one that expresses satisfaction. The Edo
\nis not satisfied. The Mumuye is not satisfied. The Ibiobio is not
\nsatisfied. The Efik is not satisfied. The Anang is not satisfied. The
\nIjaw is not satisfied. The Igbo is not satisfied. The Nupe is not
\nsatisfied. The Agatu is not satisfied. The Magale is not satisfied. The
\nYoruba is not satisfied. The Kataf is not satisfied. The Kanuri is not
\nsatisfied. The Ogoni is not satisfied. The Karekare is not satisfied.
\nThe Tiv is not satisfied. The Khana is not satisfied. The Lamang is not
\nsatisfied. Even the Hausa-Fulani is not satisfied.<\/p>\n
It is my view that the silent majority are angling to extricate
\nthemselves from the contraption called Nigeria. It is obvious that every
\nethnic group wants deliverance from the bondage called Nigeria. It is
\nevident that no one believes in the quagmire called Nigeria. None of us
\nhas any emotional connection to the country called Nigeria. It is not
\nours. It is not our making. It does not belong to us. No one wants it.<\/p>\n
Nigeria is not a nation. It is a country of nations. These component
\nnations desire to be independent nation-states. A country or a nation
\n(for the purpose of this context) is more than the physical buildings.
\nIt is more than a beautiful Capital Territory. It is more than the
\nexistence of powerful armed forces. It is more than a government that
\ncontrols.<\/p>\n
A nation, to exist has to be ingrained in the psyche of its citizens.
\nThere has to be that emotional connection. It has to run as blood in the
\nveins and marrow in the bones of those who subscribe to it. A nation is
\nthat consummated indescribable feelings that command the unalloyed love,
\npermeated with buoyant affection and infused with unsolicited loyalty of
\nthose who subscribe to it. A nation is that which is patently invisible
\nbut translucently obvious and recurrent in the gliding waves of the sea
\nof sub-consciousness, of its people.<\/p>\n
This is not the case with Nigeria. We all have nothing in common. Our
\naspirations are different. Our hopes are different. Our dreams are
\ndifferent. Our primordial attachment is very strong. No one likes to be
\ndominated. No one likes to be in bondage. No one likes to be enslaved.
\nNo one likes it when others take advantage of him or his\/her people. We
\nare all ethnic jingoists. Yet we are unwilling to accept it. We are all
\nin denial. We all pretend to be Nigeria lovers, when indeed we all hate
\nNigeria. Our ethnic group is where we derive our identity. It is where
\nwe derive our worldview. It is where we derive and form our character.
\nIt is what describes us as human beings. It is the kernel of our
\nauthenticity. It is what makes us unique. It is what makes us special.<\/p>\n
As I wrote elsewhere, a Yoruba man anywhere in the world would do his
\nbest to raise his children in Yoruba ways. An Ijaw man would do the
\nsame. An Igbo man would do the same. An Efik man would do the same. A
\nKanuri man would do the same. A Mumuye man would do the same. An Edo man
\nwould do the same. Every man would do the same. None of us would raise
\nhis child as a Nigerian. This is because Nigeria does not exist in our
\nconsciousness. It is not in our psyche. There is no emotional
\nconnection. There is no cultural connection. There is no identity
\nconnection. There is no sense of belonging of any sort.<\/p>\n
It is noteworthy that those mouthing ONE NIGERIA are those benefiting
\nfrom the tragedy represented by Nigeria. Those who are advocating that
\nNigeria remains one are doing so not because they love Nigeria, but
\nbecause they love their pockets. They are the ones who get the big
\ncontracts and refuse to execute them. They are the ones who appeal to
\nthe primordial sentiments when they lose out in the struggle for the
\nloot. They are the ones who mouth national unity when they get inflated
\ncontracts. They are the ones who have no regard for their own people
\nback in their communities. They are the ones who care less for the
\nsufferings of the poor. They are the ones who live ostentatiously and
\nflaunt their wealth to make poor people envious.<\/p>\n
They are the ones who are quick to point to their friends in other
\nethnic groups as if, were Nigeria to break up that friendship would
\ncease. I have Ghanaian friends. I have Togolese friends. I have
\nSenegalese friends. I have Liberian friends. I have American friends. I
\nhave British friends. This does not mean that we have to be in the same
\ncountry to remain friends.<\/p>\n
There are those who tout inter-marriage, as a reason Nigeria should
\nremain one. This is balderdash. I know many Igbo who are married to
\nAmericans. I know many Yoruba who are married to Germans or British. I
\nknow many Ghanaians who are married to peoples from the geographical
\nlocation called Nigeria. This does not mean that they necessarily have
\nto come from the same country to remain married.<\/p>\n
It is my view that there would be better relationships among the peoples
\nof the different nations of Nigeria if each were to control its destiny.
\nIt is my view that there would likely be more friendships across the new
\nborders. There would likely be more marriages across the new borders.
\nThere would be less hostility across the new borders. There would be
\nmore geniality across the new borders. All we need is just go for it and
\nbreak up Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Nigeria is not a viable entity. It is a tragedy. It is a misnomer. It
\nshould cease existence. We all have to go our different ways. This is
\nmore so because this is what we all want severally. We all do not want
\nNigeria. We are all dissatisfied with Nigeria. Nigeria has betrayed us.
\nOur hopes are dashed. Our dreams are unrealizable within the Nigerian
\nstructure.<\/p>\n
Those who work hard are in penury. Those whose lands are producing the
\nresources are in poverty. Nigeria deprives those who value education.
\nNigeria impedes those who value cattle rearing. Nigeria constricts those
\nwho want to be international businessmen. Nigeria is rebuffing those who
\nwant to make Arabic education a priority. Nigeria is holding back those
\nwho want to jump into the age of technology. Nigeria is denying those
\nwho want Sharia law. Nigeria is depriving those who want a secular
\nstate.<\/p>\n
Nigeria is impeding those who want merit. Nigeria is humiliating those
\nwho value integrity. Nigeria is disgracing those who want self-respect
\nand dignity. Nigeria incubates crime and criminals. Nigeria is lawless.
\nNigeria encourages uncouthness. Nigeria encourages abuse of elders. It
\ndisparages the youth. It undermines our age long traditions.<\/p>\n
I am not a religious person. I hate churches. I loathe mosques. But
\nsomething nudges me about the existence of the Supreme Being. Though, I
\nam not sure about this, I am willing to entertain myself with the
\nthoughts of such. To this extent, I am declaring that I have the proof
\nthat Nigeria exists against the WILL of ELEDUMARE.<\/p>\n
I do not know about the Jewish Yahweh. I do not know about the Christian
\nGod. I do not know about the Islamic Allah. But I know that the
\nEledumare of Yoruba people is not deaf. He does not wait 60 years
\nwithout responding to supplications as the Christian God and Islamic
\nAllah have obviously done. The Yoruba Eledumare is swift and effective.
\nWe have abandoned our roots. We have abandoned our fore fathers. We have
\nabandoned our ways. We have abandoned our identities. We go around in
\nborrowed robes. We are following the wrong faiths. This is why the
\nprayers would never avail Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Why, for example, should the Ogonis remain in Nigeria when they are
\nbigger than 22 countries represented in the United Nations in terms of
\npopulation? Why? After all, there is a country (Monaco) represented in
\nthe United Nations which size is just 1 square mile! Then talk about the
\nEdo nation. Talk about the Efik nation. Talk about the Igbo nation. Talk
\nabout the Tiv nation. Talk about the Nupe nation. Talk about the Yoruba
\nnation. Talk about the Hausa\/Fulani nation among many other nations
\nchained together in bondage and subjugation in the Nigerian miasma. Why
\ndo we all choose to believe the lies that Nigeria cannot break into as
\nmany countries as the peoples of the presented geographical location
\ncalled Nigeria want?<\/p>\n
The Hausa\/Fulani should consciously seek their freedom from this
\nmiserable Nigeria. They could go it all alone. If Burkina \u2013Faso and
\nNiger Republic could survive, the Hausa\/Fulani could survive too. The
\nKatafs need to be free from Nigeria. The Igbo have to be free from
\nNigeria. The Ijaw have to emancipate from Nigeria. The Yoruba have to
\nextricate from Nigeria. The Edo have to disentangle from Nigeria. The
\nEfik must seek freedom from the Nigerian burden. The Tivs should throw
\noff the yoke of Nigeria. We all must work together to consign Nigeria to
\nthe dustbin of history. It is Nigeria\u2019s destiny. It must break up.<\/p>\n
If Nigeria breaks up, it would increase the competition among all of us.
\nThose who want to move fast to develop would do so. Those who want to
\nslow down would do so. Those who want Sharia would move to adopt it.
\nThose who want to be an extension of the Vatican City could do so. Those
\nwho want to educate their citizens could do so. Those who want to rear
\ncattle would do so. Those who love Osama Bin Laden could follow him.
\nThose who want a Taliban dominated nation would have the freedom to do
\nso.<\/p>\n
The Yoruba nation is saddled with the governments it loathes. The Yoruba
\nnation is prevented from following its vision. The Yoruba nation is
\nimpeded from the pursuit of its dreams. The Yoruba nation is made to
\nabandon its true character under duress. The Yoruba nation is made to
\ndenounce its true self under the threat of economic and political
\nannihilation. The Yoruba nation has had its fabric torn to tatters. All
\nthese have been possible because the Yoruba nation is chained to the
\ntragedy called Nigeria.<\/p>\n
We all want to have our nation-states where we can hold people
\naccountable. We need to do away with the protective evil umbrella that
\nNigeria spreads over the evil doers in our respective nations. We ought
\nto stop pretending that we want Nigeria. Nigeria must break up. We all
\nneed to work towards this. It is the best option available.<\/p>\n
I know breaking up Nigeria is a titanic task. I know most people are
\nafraid to express this truism. I know most people are scared to
\ncontemplate this reality. But I am convinced that this is the DESTINY of
\nNigeria. I know that those who are benefiting from the Nigerian misery
\nwould resist. But we have to take a cue from Calvin Coolidge to be
\npersistent and determined.<\/p>\n
I call on the nations of Nigeria to begin their liberation from Lord
\nLugard\u2019s contraption. The DESTINY of Nigeria is the freedom of all
\nnations subjugated under its misnomer. Nigeria can never give us peace.
\nIt must break into pieces. It is Nigeria\u2019s DESTINY.<\/p>\n
“In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been
\ngranted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I
\ndo not shrink from this responsibility – I welcome it.”<\/p>\n
-John F. Kennedy, January 20, 1960.\u00a9 REMI OYEYEMI<\/p>\n
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android [1]<\/p>\n