Nigerian statesman Chike Obidigbo says he is “tickled” that the northern part of Nigeria is now ready for division of Nigeria into its constituent parts.
Chief Obidigbo was referring to statements credited to Prof. Ango Abdullahi, a respected northern leader who recently reportedly suggested that Nigeria’s instrument of amalgamation of 1914 has expired and that the constituent parts of the country should consider going their separate ways.
Obidigbo said that history beckons for a separate homeland for the Igbo nation, which fought a bloody three-year civil war for separation in 1967 following a genocide against it in several parts of Nigeria.
The erudite scholar said he has always believed that “Nigeria is far too big for one black person to rule profitably and successfully” and that he subscribed to the viewpoint that “black Africans lack the detailed exposure, mental capacity, integrity, and objective mind to preside over the affairs of such huge geographical contraption made up of people with diverse socio-political and cultural backgrounds.”
He believes that those in authority can only pretend that what he described as Nigeria’s forced union is not a time bomb that threatens to blow up at the slightest provocation if we fail to act in a civilized manner to settle this undying rift amicably.
Regarding the alleged marginalization of his ethnic group – the Igbos, since after the civil war, Obidigbo said it is “interesting that the north is complaining merely fourteen months after being out of power,” even though it actively worked against a Southeastern president in 2023 which was its right based on the informal presidential rotation arrangement among the six geopolitical regions of the country.
“It is evident that the North is pained that Tinubu may have tricked them into supporting his ambition to be President, even when they knew that it was actually the turn of either South East or South South to become President in 2023.
“It is possible that some of the northern leaders were blinded by either greed or hatred for Igbo to support Southwest to become President again after the zone had enjoyed 16 cumulative years as President and Vice President, leaving Igbo totally out of the political equation”, he added.
Nigeria was amalgamated in 1914 from self-governing indigenous kingdoms with fundamentally different cultures and worldviews. Since then, it has struggled to find a common basis for nationhood. The difficulty in creating a foundation for unified aspirations has bred a corrupt ruling elite to sustain it, which has stifled the country’s economic growth and prosperity amid relentless socio-political tension.
Comment, Like 👍, share this article, and Follow us on our social media handles.
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
