By – Ifeanyi Emmanuel Citadel Okonkwo.
I had a roommate during my diploma days in school. I consider him dirty and dirt is one thing I cannot live with. It is absolutely not negotiable to me. We would fight over the bed, foodstuff, kitchen, etc. But when we are outside, we are the best of companion. He was a better friend. So one day, we came across a quote – a conversation between the great Zik and the great Sarduana (Ahmadu Bello). Zik had said “Let us forget our differences and move on” But the Sarduana noted “Azikiwe, we cannot forget our differences. Let us understand our differences to be able to move on”.
We laughed. Then I told him I cannot breath nor be happy with dirt and home for me, is a place where I must be able enjoy fresh air and have peace within. He told me, home for him is a place where he should not be restricted and where he can be as non-nonchalant as possible and still be accommodated, home was freedom. We then found another room beside the one we lived in and separated one another’s things. We lived happily ever after as friends. He would come to my place sometimes and we would chat and he would sleep over. I could tolerate him for the night and start doing cleaning the next morning. I would go to his place briefly, and crack jokes of his great dirt. I was fond of him as he had many fine talents, one of which, he is a good adviser.
ONE NIGERIA
The truth is that Nigeria, like I and that friend of mine, is an amalgam of different entities. It is has its unity in diversity, but we tend to close our eyes to the diversities in the unity.
Why is it that in our cultural-socio-
Political-economic relations we would always hear speeches like – “That is the yoruba man for you” “haha, he is a typical Igbo man” “He is not going to hear you oh! He is a hausa/fulani man oh”.
Now, it is not in doubt that before the depraved amalgamation, we were culturally different. Some may find excuse in the cultural dynamism theory, but this is rebutted by the irrefutable reality of volksgeist. Even, cultural dynamism in its chameleon nature is never holistic. This is why the oji tradition in igboland remains; the eyo festival and practices remains real in a megacity like Lagos, etc. Even our laws continue to respect the different customs of the various people with the caveat of repugnancy test.
Economically, we could say we have been more successful as a result of the amalgamation. This explains why the Igbo man in the North does not want to come back. the reason why the Igbo’s in Lagos are happy where they are even though they still feel marginalized. To these other voices, economical progress cannot be sacrificed for cultural or political realities.
Politically, there was never a similar political structure. What we have now is a creation of series of unsuccessful patterns developed from the attempt to keep the unity in diversity. It is further tainted with the “born to rule” syndrome/
culture, the greed that sprang corruption, and the radically opposed ideology of best method. It appears it is not working hence the Biafran cry, the Niger Delta, etc. The diversities in the Unity cannot be ignored.
SECESSION
It would appear that the economic and social benefits of staying together cannot be dismissed with a wave of the hand. Why do business under the structure of partnerships/board of directors thrive more than a one man business? Why do companies merge?
The truth, every businessman knows, is that no small business empire can flourish in the competitive world on its own. This is why conglomerates are built. Empires are feared and respected.
The sad reality which every champion of Biafran knows and fears in his/her heart is that smaller constituents too will break out. There would be chaos and unending secession. The Economy will fall. And for a thousand of years, we shall all make reference to the sad day.
The fear is also in the hearts of any innocent leader or NGO who will want to support the cause.
The way? Now, one does not cry in vain. Something must have led to it. That thing must be fixed or the wailing would persist. The wailing here I believe is the marginalization, intimidation, expropriations, etc of the secessionists.
What bites me restlessly is how do one respond to the above cries with further killing, marginalization, threat and the likes? No innocent and reasonable person would respond the way the Nigerian Government have thus far responded except if the aim is to follow the first part of the Machiavellian principle of governance of a new principality or except the press/media are covering lies. How can a government fire on its citizen, keep quiet on the plea of the governed, bury protesters alive, flaunt and disobey court orders over detention of a citizen, make categorical statements against a session of the governed, etc? I will pulse, to examine the Machiavellian principle.
in his book ” The Prince”, Machiavelli has advised in Chapter 5 that when a prince/leader/government wishes to keep a state accustomed to live in its freedom under its own laws, it must either 1. completely destroy it, 2. Go and live there in person or 3. set up a government from the people, that will continue to pay allegiance to the prince. Machiavelli concluded that the first 2 options are better, as in the third case, men cannot be trusted.
Unfortunately, Machiavelli’s principle of destruction would hold sway when the rebels are in the same community. That time is long past. The Biafrans are scattered everywhere now. Infact, It would appear that some none Igbo’s are pro-Biafrans too. There cannot be a complete destruction and to continue to hurt some is to annihilate the fury of all and win the sympathy of non-biafrans. If this is what the government of Nigeria or a political few is trying to achieve, then they have failed. For they continue to make the re-structure talks even impossible. They continue to tell the world that indeed, these Biafrans are marginalized.
The option of the government going to Igbo land to stay may be productive at the end run, if it will be there developing the place and other needs of the Biafrans. However, this may seem too obvious and may be dismissed as a political move.
The option of setting up an alliance government there is what has been holding this country till date. In fact, it is not necessary whether the Government in the Biafran States as acclaimed, have allegiance or not. The Constitution and inadequate Federal Structure makes it so.
But the wind of diversity blows much stronger now that I cannot but agree with Machiavelli that the last option seldom lasts.
RESTRUCTURE
Any talk about restructure without addressing the opposed Constitution would, to my mind, be useless.
The truth is that much depends on the quality of restructuring the Government is trying to achieve here.
In my book, “The conflict in Islam, Human Rights and Constitutional Democracy in Nigeria” I have noted that the Islam faith/religion is a way of life which does not see the Constitution as the ground norm, rather Allah/Quran is.
Certain practices therefore, for those who are Islams will continue to hold sway. And that is a problem for the others who do not believe. And these others must now live in harmony with them?
That is the problem behind any solution founded on Federal System of Government bearing the same Constitution. The various states/constituents should have their own Constitution while certain powers in area of mutual understandings are left for the head government that is international sports, international security, passage towards international trade, etc.
Now like the resolution between I and that friend of mine, The restructuring would lead to the sustenance of the various cultures, a political structure founded and balanced on the people’s cultural and socio-political way of life; an opportunity for the various states/constituents to boom its economy and develop its infrastructures; a better recognition of local governments bringing government very close to the grass roots; more job opportunities; respect for State laws; etc.
Any restructure short of this, is like a eunuch trying to pregnant a virgin.
